Speaking for Yourself: A Guide for Students

As a student, and in any profession based on your studies, you need good oral communication skills. It is therefore extremely important to develop your ability to converse, to discuss, to argue persuasively, and to speak in public. Speaking for Yourself provides clear, straightforward advice that will help you:

• be a good listener
• express yourself clearly and persuasively
• contribute effectively to discussions
• prepare talks or presentations
• prepare effective visual aids
• deliver effective presentations
• perform well in interviews.

In short, it will help you to express your thoughts clearly and persuasively — helping to achieve your short and medium-term goals as a student and your career goals.

As a student, and in any profession based on your studies, good oral communication skills are essential. It is therefore extremely important to develop your ability to converse, to discuss, to argue persuasively, and to speak in public. This is one reason why, whatever subject you study, you will be encouraged to discuss your work in seminars and you will have opportunities to give short talks or presentations.
Most people probably take for granted their ability to speak; not thinking much about it until the have to address an audience, or attend an important interview. However, just as your first impressions of other people are based on how they look and how they speak - so are their impressions of you. In every conversation, as well as when you give a talk or presentation, or are interviewed, you are not only conveying information about the subject being discussed but also presenting yourself.
Speaking for Yourself provides clear, straightforward advice that will help you:
Be a good listener Express yourself clearly and persuasively Contribute effectively to discussions Prepare talks or presentations Prepare effective visual aids Deliver effective presentations Perform well in interviews In short, it will help you to express your thoughts clearly and persuasively - and so to achieve your short and medium-term goals as a student, and your career goals.

Robert Barrass has many years experience of helping students on degree and diploma courses at the University of Sunderland to improve their writing and other key skills. His other highly successful books on key skills, also published by Routledge, include Students Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing in Coursework and Examinations and Study! A Guide to Effective Learning, Revision and Examination Techniques.