the political speechwriter's companion pdf

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The Political Speechwriter's Companion A Guide for Writers and Speakers

• Robert A. Lehrman - American University, USA
• Eric Schnure - American University, USA
• Description

The Political Speechwriter's Companion  guides students through a systematic “LAWS” approach (language, anecdote, wit, and support) that politicians can use to persuade their audiences into taking action. In the highly anticipated Second Edition, esteemed speechwriter and author Robert A. Lehrman has teamed up with one of the "go-to-guys" for political humor, Eric Schnure, to offer students an entertaining yet practical introduction to political speechwriting. This how-to guide explains how speakers can deliver: 

• language the audience will understand and remember, 
• anecdotes that make listeners laugh and cry, 
• wit that pokes fun at opponents but also shows their own lighter side, and
• support in the way of statistics, examples, and testimony. 

Packed with annotated speeches from the most recent elections, technology tips, and interviews from speechwriting luminaries, this edition offers the most practical advice and strategies for a career in political communication.

“All of us who write and speak and try to help others do so should be grateful. "

"A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it."

 " By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read: "

"This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work ."

" The Political Speechwriter's Companion is the first book on speechwriting I ever read, and it's the first one I recommend to anyone seriously interested in speechwriting as a craft. If you work in political communications (or really any type of communications) this belongs in your office." 

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Sample materials & chapters.

Chapter 1: The Political Speech

Chapter 4: Research

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The Political Speechwriter's Companion

A guide for writers and speakers.

Political Communication | Public Speaking

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• DESCRIPTION

Can you really learn to write speeches? The Political Speechwriter's Companion guides students through a systematic “LAWS” approach (language, anecdote, wit, and support) that politicians can use to persuade their audiences into taking action. In the highly anticipated Second Edition, esteemed speechwriter and author Robert A. Lehrman has teamed up with one of the "go-to-guys" for political humor, Eric Schnure, to offer students an entertaining yet practical introduction to political speechwriting. This how-to guide explains how speakers can deliver: 

• language the audience will understand and remember, 
• anecdotes that make listeners laugh and cry, 
• wit that pokes fun at opponents but also shows their own lighter side, and
• support in the way of statistics, examples, and testimony. 

Packed with annotated speeches from the most recent elections, technology tips, and interviews from speechwriting luminaries, this edition offers the most practical advice and strategies for a career in political communication.  

Available formats

Introduction: why speechwriting matters, chapter 1. the political speech, chapter 2. persuasion, chapter 3. audiences, chapter 4. research, chapter 5. structure, chapter 6. language people understand, chapter 7. language people remember, chapter 8. anecdote, chapter 9. wit, chapter 10. support, chapter 11. beginnings, chapter 12. problems, chapter 13. solutions, chapter 14. writing conclusions, chapter 15. delivery, chapter 16. ethics, chapter 17. the uneasy partnership: advice for speakers and writers.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

• A foreword by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)  offers a rare view of the speechwriting process drawing from his four decades as a national figure.
• An expanded discussion of ethics clarifies for students the definition of an unethical speech and provides examples of recent speeches that were plagiarized or misleading. 
• New content on technology provides students with new websites and avenues to communicate—making it easier for students to their conduct research and expand their reach.
• Influences from political life are integrated throughout each chapter to help students understand the motivation for speeches and the true stories that have influenced the language. 
• New co-author Eric Schnure draws from years of speechwriting experience to help students develop good speechwriting skills. Called by one reporter the "go-to-guys" for political humor in Washington, he also provides insights into the roasts that are part of Washington life. 
• An expanded discussion on persuasion provides students with a critical assessment of the elements of persuasion, as well as the reasons why persuasive speech has dominated the field. 
• A new interview with Dr. Elvin Lim, author of The Anti-Intellectual Presidency, enables students to develop a more nuanced view about issues discussed in the book by examining the views of someone whose ideas are opposite of the authors. 

KEY FEATURES:

• Annotated Speeches provide students with important notes and help clarify the variety of techniques used in speechwriting. 
• Interviews with some of the best speechwriters in the country offer students helpful tips for crafting a successful speech. 
• “Behind the Scenes” insights from historic speeches give students a glimpse into the work that it takes to pull off an effective speech. 
• Multiple exercises throughout the book enable students to practice and build their speechwriting skills. 
• A “Speechwriter’s Checklist” at the end of every chapter reminds students of the most important things they will need to remember when drafting a speech. 
• “As Delivered” boxes point students to a series of web links where they can watch the speeches being discussed in the book.  

“All of us who write and speak and try to help others do so should be grateful. " Lamar Alexander United States Senator for Tennessee

"A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it."   Al Hunt Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News Washington Bureau

 " By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read: " Dan Pink New York Times bestselling author, and former White House speechwriter

"This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work ." Susan Page Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY Author of “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty”

" The Political Speechwriter's Companion is the first book on speechwriting I ever read, and it's the first one I recommend to anyone seriously interested in speechwriting as a craft. If you work in political communications (or really any type of communications) this belongs in your office."  David Litt Former Speechwriter for President Obama Best selling author of ”Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years”

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• in Language Arts & Disciplines
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Publisher: CQ Press

Category: Language Arts & Disciplines

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The Political Speechwriter′s Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition

Can you really learn to write speeches? The Political Speechwriter′s Companion guides students through a systematic "LAWS" approach (language, anecdote, wit, and support) that politicians can use to persuade their audiences into taking action. In the highly anticipated Second Edition, esteemed speechwriter and author Robert A. Lehrman has teamed up with one of the "go-to-guys" for political humor, Eric Schnure, to offer students an entertaining yet practical introduction to political speechwriting. This how-to guide explains how speakers can deliver: 

• language the audience will understand and remember, 
• anecdotes that make listeners laugh and cry, 
• wit that pokes fun at opponents but also shows their own lighter side, and
• support in the way of statistics, examples, and testimony. 

Packed with annotated speeches from the most recent elections, technology tips, and interviews from speechwriting luminaries, this edition offers the most practical advice and strategies for a career in political communication.  

• ISBN-13 978-1506387741
• Edition 2nd
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher CQ Press
• Publication date July 17, 2019
• Language English
• File size 19115 KB
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

" By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read: "

"A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it."

"This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work ."

About the Author

Product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07VYRXTCS
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CQ Press; 2nd edition (July 17, 2019)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 2019
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 19115 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 536 pages
• #72 in Public Speaking & Speech Writing
• #264 in Public Speaking Reference

About the authors

Robert lehrman.

As a student at the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop in the 1960's, Bob Lehrman studied with then-unknown novelist, Kurt Vonnegut. One day Vonnegut told Bob he could have an assistantship but he'd have to teach speech.

"I know nothing about speech," Lehrman said.

"You better learn," Vonnegut said. "It pays 1800 bucks."

Chastened, Lehrman took Vonnegut's advice, stayed a chapter ahead of his students, and when he went into politics, knew how speeches were made.

Since then, this novelist, teacher, journalist, and speechwriter has spent over four decades writing speeches. He served as Chief Speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore and, in 2004, as Chief Speechwriter for the Democratic National Committee. As a speechwriter he has written for political figures, celebrities, actors, heads of nonprofits, and corporate CEOs, including those from Fannie Mae, Texaco, and Pfizer.

He wrote the first edition of The Political Speechwriter's Companion, published in 2009, and collaborated on the second edition with his longtime co-teacher, colleague, and friend, Eric Schnure.

He also teaches the subject. As an adjunct professor, Lehrman has taught speechwriting and public speaking at American University for two decades, as well as at Johns Hopkins and George Washington University.

It was at AU that he created the political speechwriting course he and Professor Schnure teach, which won him AU's 2010 University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Appointment.

Lehrman speaks about speech often at other campuses, conferences, and associations, and appears often on TV. He's lectured and led speechwriting workshops in the U.S. and around the world, including countries like Australia, South Korea, and Vietnam.

With a B.A. from Tufts University, Lehrman also has an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop, where he studied with Vonnegut and Richard Yates. He has written on politics for the New York Times, Washington Post, The Hill, CNN.com, and many other publications, including a series of widely read cover stories for the Christian Science Monitor.

In an earlier part of his career, Lehrman published four novels, including the highly praised Defectors (Morrow, 1988), and two award-winning novels for young adults: Juggling, an ALA Best Book for 1982, and The Store That Mama Built, one of three finalists for the National Jewish Book Award for young adults. In 2012 he entered Narrative Magazine's winter short-story contest and won first prize in that widely read literary journal.

Born in New York, Lehrman is married to Congressional Research Service analyst, Dr. Susan Thaul. They have two children, Eric and Michael, both in the film and TV industry in Los Angeles, and two grandchildren, Theo and Miles.

Lehrman ran track and played soccer in high school and college. These days he plays table tennis, where he loses regularly in tournaments--but holds his own against the table tennis robot installed in his garage.

Eric Schnure

Former White House speechwriter and co-author of The Political Speechwriter’s Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers, 2nd Edition (SAGE, August 2019), Eric Schnure counsels leading executives and organizations, helping make their messages more memorable, their words more effective and their delivery more powerful.

In addition to strategic communications and speechwriting, Eric lectures and conducts workshops around the world on speechwriting, storytelling, leadership communications and the art and science of persuasion. He has developed and run seminars and training sessions for global companies including Google, Marriott, GE, UPS, HP and Airbus, as well as international institutions such as the European Commission. Eric also teaches as an adjunct at American University and Johns Hopkins University.

Prior to opening his own firm in the fall of 2013, Eric served as Director of Executive Communications at GE. In that role, he was responsible for creating communications platforms for the CEO and other leaders, as well as helping develop and execute strategies that helped build, enhance and protect the global industrial conglomerate’s reputation and brand.

Eric began his communications career in the White House in 1993 as a speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore. Eric also served in senior communications roles at the United States Department of Housing and at NASA. After leaving government Eric was a principal at the public affairs firm Dewey Square Group.

Eric is known in Washington for incorporating humor into speeches, and in 2004 he co-founded the Humor Cabinet, a communications consulting firm. He is a Friend of the Gridiron, the venerable club of journalists famous for its annual roast, and he has written countless one-liners and roasts for celebrities and

politicians. Roll Call described Eric as one of Washington’s “go-to guys” for political humor.

Eric Schnure graduated from Hobart College and received a master’s degree in International History from the London School of Economics. He lives in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife and their two sons.

A native of upstate New York, Schnure was skating almost as early as he was walking and remains an avid, albeit often-injured, hockey player. He still has all of his own teeth.

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The Political Speechwriter′s Companion 2nd Edition A Guide for Writers and Speakers

• Author(s) Robert A. Lehrman; Eric Schnure
• Publisher CQ Press

Print ISBN 9781506387741, 1506387748

Etext isbn 9781506387734, 150638773x.

• Edition 2nd
• Copyright 2020
• Available from £ 34.00 GBP SKU: 9781506387734R180

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The Political Speechwriter′s Companion: A Guide for Writers and Speakers 2nd Edition is written by Robert A. Lehrman; Eric Schnure and published by CQ Press. The Digital and eTextbook ISBNs for The Political Speechwriter′s Companion are 9781506387734, 150638773X and the print ISBNs are 9781506387741, 1506387748. Save up to 80% versus print by going digital with VitalSource. Additional ISBNs for this eTextbook include 9781506387758, 9781506387727.

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“All of us who write and speak and try to help others do so should be grateful. "

"A classic for anyone who cares about speech, or covers it."

 " By far the best book on speechwriting I have ever read: "

"This solid guide for speechwriters and speechgivers, written by a pair of the top practitioners of the art, makes both the philosophical case of why speechwriting matters and the very practical one of precisely how to make a speech work ."

" The Political Speechwriter's Companion is the first book on speechwriting I ever read, and it's the first one I recommend to anyone seriously interested in speechwriting as a craft. If you work in political communications (or really any type of communications) this belongs in your office." 

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