Public Speaking Midterm Short Answers

Define and give an original example of each of the elements of the communication process

- Encoding is the process of taking an idea or mental image, associating the image with words, and then speaking those words to convey a message. For example, whenever you tell someone to go fetch you something you forgot in a particular spot. You are explaining to them where to get the object using words because of the mental image you have in your head of where you left it. - Decoding is when one turns words into mental images. For example, when a child explains to their parent what they want to eat for dinner, the parent listens and creates a mental image of what it is they will be making before cooking it. - Communicator refers to all the people in the interaction or speech setting. For example, when a person calls their friend over the phone, they are both the communicators because they both are talking to each other. - The message involves the verbal and nonverbal behaviors enacted by communicators and interpreted with meaning by others. An example of a nonverbal message is the way a person may dress, talk, stand, and present themselves to someone without even saying a word. - Channel is the means through which the message travels. An example of a channel is when people use social media to communicate with people online. The channel there is the device you're using to message the person you are talking with. - Noise is anything that interferes with message transmission or reception. There are four different types of noises: physiological noise, psychological noise, physical noise, and cultural noise. An example of physiological noise is when a person has a really bad headache that impedes them from taking their test to the best of their ability. - Worldview is the overall way an individual visualizes, engages, and interprets the world. There are five components to our worldview: epistemology, ontology, axiology, cosmology, and praxeology. An example of an ontology could be when a group of people believes in natural medicine while another group of medicine believes in modern medicine. - Context is where the speech or interaction takes place. It also includes the type of relationships we have with others and the communicative rules that govern those relationships. For example, a teenager may speak differently when talking to their family at the dinner table than they do when out at a party with their friends.

How does the thesis statement differ from the specific purpose statement?

A specific purpose statement is a tool you will use as you write your speech that will later be converted into a thesis statement. The thesis statement will encapsulate all your main points in a sentence or two and will give your audience a preview of what your entire speech is about.

What are the differences between beliefs, attitudes, and values?

An attitude is a learned disposition to respond in a consistently favorable or unfavorable manner concerning a person, object, idea, or event. Attitudes can also change whereas beliefs and values cannot change as easily. Beliefs are principles/assumptions about the universe that are more durable than attitudes because beliefs are hinged to ideals and not issues. Lastly, values are guiding beliefs that regulate our attitudes. They are the core principles driving our attitudes and beliefs.

What are the four basic functions of introductions, and why are these functions important?

Introductions must gain the audience's attention and their goodwill, they must state the purpose of the speech and they must preview the main points. The first two functions focus on getting the audience to want to listen to you and the last two functions help the audience understand you. For any speaker, it is important for all four of these functions to be met in your introductions so that your audience has your full undivided attention.

What is the difference between global and patchwork plagiarism?

Plagiarism is when a person copies someone else's work and puts their name on it to pass it off as their own. Global plagiarism is when a speaker presents a copy of someone else's speech and copies it word from word. While patchwork plagiarism is when the speaker attempts to change up a couple of words here and there from someone else's speech to make it look like their own.

Checking the quality of your evidence is an important step in refining support for your argument. What are three elements that you should look for when determining source quality? Why is each element necessary?

The first element that you should look for when determining source quality is to check that each claim offers strong reasoning that properly supports your ideas. The second element determines whether the source considers competing perspectives. The third element checks to see that your source offers supporting data and citations for its arguments. All three of these elements will determine if your source is of the best quality so that your speech may contain strong information.

What are the four basic functions of conclusions, and why are these functions important?

The four basic functions of conclusion are to prepare the audience for the end of the speech, present any final appeals, summarize and close, and end with a clincher. All four of these functions are important because they will create a strong conclusion that will help tie in the introduction and complete the speech. Conclusions ensure that the audience has understood the speech and that is why it is important to not include any new information and end it with a line that will keep your audience thinking.

What is the difference between paraphrasing and directly quoting a source?

The main difference between paraphrasing and directly quoting a source is that paraphrasing takes information from a source and puts it into their own words while still crediting the source just without quotation marks. A direct quote uses quotation marks because it copies the sentence or sentences word for word.

What is the difference between the linear and transactional model of communication?

The main difference between these two models of communication is that in the linear model there is no ongoing conversation. In the linear model, the person who is speaking sends their message through the channel, and then the person who picks up the message receives it. That is it, there is no way for the conversation to go back to the sender again like in the transactional model. In the transactional model, communication is seen more as an ongoing circular process that is constantly affected by those we communicate with and noise.

What are the three types of speeches? For each of the three types of speeches, give two examples of an occasion or situation in which that type of speech might be given

There are three different types of speeches that all carry different purposes based on the occasion. The first one is an informative speech where the presenter informs their audience about a concept by defining, describing, or explain. This can occur when a student is presenting their report to their class or when a news reporter is informing the audience about a recent event. The second speech is a persuasive speech where the speaker tries to change their audience's beliefs or feelings towards something. This type of speech usually occurs during a political campaign and sales pitches to customers. The third speech serves more to entertain or commemorate where the speakers bring up a particular memory or try to amuse the audience. This speech can happen during the wedding toasts and eulogies.