Offers some specific recommendations for strengthening speech communication as a discipline. Reports briefly on a survey of opinions regarding the quality of offerings in speech communication. (JMF)

Presents Georg Simmel's methodological synthesis as a means of unifying the following contrasting systems of inquiry in the study of speech communication: (1) the artistic endeavor of rhetorical criticism and (2) the scientific or empirical study of communication behavior. (PD)

Contrasts what is taught by child language theorists and the traditional speech communication educators and suggests a new curricula which will better prepare children as competent communicators. Outlines needs and methods of disseminating new information so that it will be incorporated into the language arts curricula. (JMF)

Demonstrates the importance of the speech communication discipline in corporate advocacy or issue management. Characterizes an emerging field that reflects an ancient tradition of issue analysis; shows how effective advocates are trained through speech communication curricula; and suggests additional areas of help in educating effective issue…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 27 items from the ERIC database in the area of speech communication. Areas highlighted include the nature of the discipline/profession; teaching/learning; theory/research; and applied communication. (JMF)

Examines models and treatment approaches for communication apprehension: (1) conditioned anxiety--systematic desensitization; (2) negative cognitive appraisal--cognitive modification; and (3) skills deficit--skills training. Provides direction for future treatment research. (PD)

Hypothesized that college students' learning from a videotaped lecture will be enhanced by the instructors' nonverbal expressiveness. Results support a positive effect for affective learning and suggest that nonverbal expressiveness directly influences attitudes toward the lecturer and the videotaped message. (PD)

Case study confirms that a teacher's classroom communication behavior is affected by concerns about communication. Identified three types of teacher concerns about communication--self, task, impact--and then established a relationship between these concerns and patterns of behavior. (PD)

Found that children aged 3, 4, and 5 who are more attractive to peers communicate in a more contentious, impression-leaving, dramatic, open, and animated style. Those children who are more attractive to teachers have a style that is more attentive, friendly, and relaxed. (PD)

Analyzed the following teacher communication behaviors: nonverbal immediacy, interpersonal solidarity, and communicator style. Studies suggest that perceptions of instructor communication variables differentiate effective and less effective instructors. (PD)

Investigated perceived personality and behavioral correlates of the ideal interpersonal communication instructor. Results indicated there was a two-dimensional structure underlying students' judgments: an evaluative dimension and a less well-defined activity factor. (PD)

Urges speech communication educators to adapt their curricula to the needs of potential law students. Describes a course of instruction which includes units on communication theory and the legal/trial process, interviewing and counseling, negotiating and pretrial strategies, and special topics in judicial communication. (PD)

Describes a course taught in 1980 to train college students to be intelligent critics of presidential primaries. Focused on primaries in New York and adjoining states. (PD)

Describes a program to certify state and district judges of high school debate tournaments. Covers constructing the written test, evaluating the ballot test, implementing certification, and assessing the program. (PD)

Describes a visual media course which covers the following: (1) communicative value of basic elements of design in photographs; (2) construction of messages in photo essays and advertisements; and (3) technique of scripting for moving images in scratch films. (PD)