Week 3: Chapter 8 - Supporting Your Ideas Assignment
True or false: Statistics cannot be distorted or manipulated
False
Match the figure on the left with its rounded-off number on the right.
238,855-- 239,000 29,029--29,000 25,054,161--25 million 763.065--763
True or false: Listeners do not generally care whether or not a speaker provides the source of his or her statistics.
False
True or false: Statistics cannot be distorted or manipulated.
False
Speeches without examples generally come off as which of the following?
Impersonal Vague
Which of the following statements about expert testimony are true?
It lends credibility to your speeches. It is especially important to use when your speech is on a controversial topic.
Speakers have a(n) ______ responsibility to use testimonies accurately and effectively
ethical
True or false: It is generally better to use statistics from a company or an organization that has a vested interest in the figures.
False
In the group of numbers 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 12, 27, the ______ is 10, and the ______ is 12.
median; mode
The mean, the median, and the are basic statistical measures that determine characteristics of a given group of numbers.
mode
Citing the views of experts can make a speech
more persuasive.
When you are presenting your speech to an audience and are using testimony, statistics, or examples, it is important to remember to
cite your sources orally.
When using testimony, it is best to make certain that the source
*is unbiased. *is qualified on the subject at hand.
To quote or paraphrase someone correctly, it is essential that you
- do not quote out of context. --do not misquote. --do not violate the meaning of the statements being paraphrased.
Which of the following questions may be on a list about effectively using statistics in a speech?
Are my numbers from reliable sources? Do I use statistics to quantify ideas? Do I relate the statistics to the audience?
Which of the following should you do to make sure your statistics are representative?
Different groups of a population sample must be in correct proportion. The sample size must be large enough.
the term for using another person's ideas or words without giving credit to that person.
Plagiarism
Examples used in speeches are used for which of the following purposes?
Reinforce an idea Clarify an idea Personalize an idea
Polly is giving a speech about the world economy. She offers interesting statistics about the gross domestic product of several countries, all of which are in the billions of dollars. How could Polly have improved her speech?
She could have translated the large numbers into terms listeners can relate to
What is the best way to present a series of statistics during a speech?
Simple graph
Clive says in his speech, "According to Suzanne Smofield, 93 percent of chemo patients who ingested some form of medical marijuana found relief from nausea." What should have been included in his oral citation?
The source of the information (book, magazine, newspaper, etc.) The date the information was published
Although you do not need to recite all of the information in your Works Cited list about your source, which of the following should you typically include in your oral citations?
The type of document, the author, the date published, and the author's qualifications
What is the main reason to use statistics in a speech?
To give your ideas numerical precision
In her speech about the maternal mortality rate around the world, Hannah included the following: "According to the CIA's World Factbook, Sierra Leone has the highest death rate, at 1,360 per 100,000 live births. The Central African Republic follows, with 882. Chad and Nigeria are not far behind, at 856 and 814, respectively. The United States ranked 138th with a rate of 14 deaths per 100,000 live births." What did Hannah fail to do when using statistics in her speech?
Use numbers sparingly
What makes quoting out of context so dangerous?
You can twist someone's remarks to prove something completely different from what was intended.
In a speech about childhood obesity, Terence told the story of the real-life case of a young girl who spent her time watching television and eating junk food. He went into detail about how the young girl ended up in this situation. This type of supporting material is defined as
an extended example.
When giving a speech about homelessness, Trina describes Jules, the youngest child of a family of four, all of whom have been living on the streets for six months. She talks about how Jules has never had a bedtime story read to him or a warm breakfast to wake up to. Trina is using this example to ______ the ideas in her speech. (Select all that apply.)
personalize support
Because numbers can be interpreted in many ways, what should a speaker avoid when including numbers in a speech?
Biased sources
Pedro gave the following example in his speech about unemployment: One older guy lost his job and was unemployed for the rest of his life. What could Pedro have done to make more of an impact on his audience?
Pedro could have used a more vivid, detailed example.
When using statistics in a speech, a speaker should ensure which of the following?
That the statistics are representative of what they claim to measure
When should you use statistics in a speech?
only when needed
If you are giving a speech with many abstract ideas that are hard to explain, which of the following would be the best supporting material to use?
Examples
"About 1.4 million shelter dogs are adopted each year" is an example of
a statistic.
In addition to quoting or paraphrasing text accurately from supporting material, it is important both for ethical reasons and for credibility to
identify your sources aloud in a speech.
You have decided to take up running. You have a friend who has been running and coaching a long time. She tells you to go to a specialty store and look for lightweight, flexible running shoes rather than buying cheap shoes online, so you do. You were influenced by her
testimony.
Which of the following questions should be asked when evaluating the validity of statistics?
The type of document, the author, the date published, and the author's qualifications
A speaker should be wary of testimony from self-interested, or ______, sources.
biased
Certain types of examples can personalize your ideas by adding ______ interest to them.
human
Which of the following might be found on a list about how to best use testimony in a speech?
Do I use testimony from unbiased sources? Do I give credit to the original source of all quotes? Do I identify the sources of all testimony?
Which of the following are guidelines for the effective use of statistics?
Explain any statistics that are used. Use visual aids to clarify statistical trends. Use statistics sparingl
In her speech on how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver, Julie began by saying, "Suppose you are having dinner with a friend when suddenly your friend can't seem to catch her breath. When your friend begins to turn blue, you realize she is choking." This is a type of ______ example
Hypothetical
What are the key points to keep in mind when using testimony in a speech?
Paraphrase accurately Use unbiased sources Quote accurately Use qualified sources
Tansie was preparing a speech about the value of final exams for high school seniors. To gather some statistics, she asked 10 of her girlfriends in the junior class for their opinion. Six were against final exams, and four supported them. Why are Tansie's statistics not usable?
She only spoke with girls, which is not representative of the student body. She only spoke with juniors, which is not representative of the student body. She only asked 10 people, which is not a large enough sample.
Josh was preparing a speech about home real estate and wanted to give an idea how home prices had fallen in all seven recognized neighborhoods in his city. He found that the rounded percentage decreases were 3, 3, 5, 6, 7, 7, and 19. Why would using the mean, or average, decrease be misleading?
The last value would skew the result.
What is the problem with the following numbers (25.7 inches, 62,789,499 people, 78.55 kilometers per hour) being used in a speech?
They are too complicated to be easily understood by listeners.
Some statistics are better understood when the audience can actually see them, such as in a graph. What are these types of support materials called?
Visual aids
Statistics are similar to ______ in that they are often cited in passing to clarify or strengthen a speaker's point.
brief examples
Speakers have a(n) ______ responsibility to use testimonies accurately and effectively.
ethical
An expressive delivery is especially important when using ______ examples in a speech.
extended
Research has shown that the impact of examples is ___________(increased/decreased) when they are combined with statistics that show the examples to be typical.
increased
Samantha explained her grandmother's trick for grilling hamburgers by saying, "To yield the juiciest burgers, my grandmother told me she would make a small impression on the top of the burger, then she would place a small ice cube in that indentation while the burger grills." Samantha was ______ her grandmother.
paraphrasing
f you were giving a speech about a Japanese tsunami, and you quoted a local survivor on the hardships endured, you would be using ______ testimony.
peer
A vivid example can be very effective in reinforcing an idea in your speech, but for such a purpose you should be especially certain that it is a(n) ______ example and not an exceptional case.
representative
Brief examples are also called
specific instances.
Among the tips for using statistics are to
use numbers sparingly. round off numbers. name the source of statistics.
True or false: You can only be found guilty of plagiarism when you quote material verbatim.
False
Quotations or paraphrases from trusted sources that are used to support a point are known as
testimony
During his speech on gun violence, John is presenting statistics on gun violence in major metropolitan areas. What could John do next to make sure his audience understands the impact of these facts and figures?
Provide an example about a person affected by gun violence that represents a typical situation
Illustrations, or narratives, are a type of supporting material referred to as
extended examples.
Which of the following questions should be asked when evaluating the validity of statistics?
Are the statistics representative? Are statistical measures used correctly? Are the statistics from a large enough sample? Are the statistics from a reliable source?
Phaedra is giving a speech about chronic illnesses among children. At one point she mentions that more than half of American children are living with a diagnosed chronic illness. Because this is a startling statistic, what should Phaedra have done during her speech?
Given the source of the statistic
Which of the following are benefits of using peer testimony in a speech?
It provides authenticity. It has an emotional impact.
Darnell feels confident that his speech on the benefits of plastic shopping bags will be persuasive because of the testimony he will provide. This testimony comes from two expert witnesses: one who is the president of a successful plastics manufacturing company and one who is a research scientist conducting studies funded by the plastics industry. Should Darnell feel confident that his speech will be convincing?
No, because his testimony is likely to be biased by sources whose work depends on the plastics industry.
When using a hypothetical example in a speech, it is wise to include which of the following to support the example?When using a hypothetical example in a speech, it is wise to include which of the following to support the example?
Statistics Testimony
Which of the following statements about using concrete examples in a speech are true?
They have a strong impact in listeners' beliefs and actions. They can make ideas more personal.
In your speech, you discuss the health problems of obese children. Which of the following sources would be the most credible and reliable source of testimony?
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
What is one of the best ways for a speaker to explain a technical process or term to an audience?
Use an example
Which of the following are ways to enhance your delivery of extended examples during a speech?
Use eye contact Vary your voice volume Vary the speed at which you speak
When you use examples in your speeches, they should be which of the following?
Vivid Richly textured
Examples that make the most impact on an audience are usually which of the following?
Vivid Specific Richly textured
When you paraphrase someone to provide testimony in a speech, you
give the gist of someone else's statement in your own words.
You are giving a speech about school violence, and you briefly mention Columbine, Virginia Tech, and the Amish school shootings in a sentence. You are using
specific instances.
When using costs or other monetary measures from different years as a statistic in a speech, it is important to consider the of the dollar in terms of inflation.
value
Numbers, especially large numbers, can be hard for listeners to
visualize
Changing the speed and tone of your __ ______depending on the type of example you are giving can affect how listeners respond to your speech.
voice
