COMM 101 P.2

The ready availability of huge quantities of information from computer technologies raises which of the following challenges when making an informative speech?

All of the above, Information overload incorrect, Going way over your time limit incorrect, Providing too much detail incorrect

A topical organizational pattern

Breaks nicely into types, classifications, or parts of a whole, A topical pattern does not explore the nature of problems and possible solutions (that is a problem-solution pattern); it also does not suggest a sequence of events (that is a chronological pattern).

An informative speech always calls for action to be taken by an audience.

False, A call to action is persuasive, not informative.

A transitional statement and an internal preview are the same thing.

False, A transitional statement connects what was said with what will be said, but provides no specifics. An internal preview specifically identifies points to be made.

A signpost is an internal summary.

False, An internal summary reminds listeners of points already made; a signpost is simply a marker that notifies listeners that a particular point is about to be addressed. Signposts can be particularly effective when they alert listeners to where you are in your speech, e.g., "My third and final point . . ."

Sometimes there is no substitute for showing the actual object to your audience. For example, you need to show the actual assault rifle to your classmates during your public speaking class on campus to illustrate key points made about the weapon.

False, Bringing an assault rifle onto a college campus is almost always illegal and would likely frighten many members of your audience, who may not trust that the weapon is unloaded and "harmless." In this case, a picture, drawing, or video could be used to safely familiarize your audience with this weapon.

A preparation outline for a speech is one in which simple words and phrases are used in outline form, and a presentation outline is a full-sentence version.

False, It is the opposite.

PowerPoint slides or a Prezi presentation can enhance any speech.

False, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech would not have been enhanced by a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation. Most informative speeches can be enhanced by such visual aids, but many persuasive speeches, eulogies, toasts, award presentations, and acceptance speeches do not require such visual aids and may actually be less effective with them.

Impromptu speaking is the preferred way to delivery an important speech in almost all situations.

False, Most speeches benefit enormously from preparation and most speeches are not impromptu.

A narrative informative speech provides a demonstration of how to use an object or perform a specific activity.

False, Narratives are a version of storytelling, not demonstrations.

Articulation is speaking words correctly as indicated in any dictionary based on Standard English rules.

False, That is pronunciation. Articulation is speaking words clearly and distinctly.

The difference between informative and persuasive speeches is easily determined.

False, The difference between informative and persuasive speeches is more a matter of emphasis along a continuum than always definite and obvious. The line can be blurry.

The Monroe's motivated sequence is a chronological organizational pattern.

False, The motivated sequence is a problem-solution pattern with the added elements of a visualization step and an action step. The five steps follow a logical sequence but not in a time relationship.

You should strive to eliminate vocal fillers because listeners immediately notice them and are distracted by them

False, Vocal fillers are often unnoticed by listeners unless they become frequent. An occasional um or uh will not diminish the overall effectiveness of your presentation, although when frequent, they may be the only part of your speech that is memorable! Practice not using vocal fillers during casual conversation with friends and family, and do try to remove them from your formal presentations

It's most effective to read the narrative when telling a story.

False, While there may be some times that reading is necessary in any speech (e.g., when quoting an expert), it is rarely effective to read anything to an audience (see Chapter 10). Keep in mind that you want to sound natural, not artificial.

A main point in an outline can be divided into a single subpoint.

False, You don't divide anything into one. If I divide a stack of cash into one, I get all the money and you get bupkis. There must be a minimum of two subpoints for division.

The Monroe's motivated sequence is an organizational pattern that

Has 5 steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.

Which of these vocal techniques can induce interest?

Increasing and reducing your volume, Both increasing and reducing volume can be used to stimulate listening; maintaining a constant volume may be perceived as tedious or boring. Make sure you have the microphone appropriately placed if you must amplify your voice-if it's too far away you will not be heard; if it's too close it may blast your voice and distortion will occur.

"I want to explain how you can avoid identity theft" is an example of a

None of the above, It is an explanation type of informative speech

Which of the following is sound advice about different methods of speech delivery?

None of the above, Memorization, especially for short speeches (e.g., toasts at weddings), may be appropriate and effective. Extemporaneous delivery is widely applicable but may not work well in some circumstances in which precision of phrasing and accuracy of details are essential. If you bring a manuscript with you, even if you intend not to use it, you will likely use it and all the disadvantages of manuscript speaking will almost assuredly surface.

Guidelines for competent use of visual aids include

None of the above, Simple visual aids are preferable to complex aids, which can be confusing and cluttered. Sloppy, unattractive, amateurish-looking aids can detract from your speech. Even a single misspelling or grammatical error in a slide heading can stick out like Miley Cyrus's tongue, and draw unappealing attention.

The ideal speaking rate for any speech is

None of the above, There is no ideal, specific speaking rate. It depends on the context. A motivational speech may have a higher rate than a eulogy. An informative speech on a complex subject may have a much slower pace than a persuasive speech before a knowledgeable audience. A speaking rate between 140 and 180 wpm is appropriate for most speaking situations.

The comparative advantages organizational pattern compares two things and argues that

One is significantly better than the other, Comparative advantages pattern claims that one policy, program, person, or practice is significantly better than another, not that both are equally valid or insufficient to warrant adoption.

Computer-assisted presentations are enhanced by the following:

Practice with the technology before giving your presentation correct, Reading your slide to your audience is boring and amateurish. Don't go animation and graphics crazy-it can distract an audience with razzle dazzle. Always practice with the technology, or problems will likely occur during your presentation.

You should replace your presentation outline (a full-sentence outline) with a __________ outline-an abbreviated outline (with only key words and phrases)-when you're getting ready to deliver your speech.

Preparation, While you prepare a speech by constructing an outline composed of full sentences, you should revise that outline into a preparation outline (an abbreviated version of the full sentence outline) because it is far easier to glance at a word or phrase outline and trigger points to be made than to try to read entire sentences under pressure of speaking.

You want to demonstrate the perils of gum disease. Which of the following would be an effective visual aid?

Showing a large photo of gum disease, Answer "a" is likely to garner no volunteers; who wants to be embarrassed in front of an audience by having his or her gums examined for disease? A large photo of gum disease can be useful as long as it's not overly graphic, which may repulse an audience. Answer "c" is a timeconsuming option and is likely to look amateurish, even silly.

Which of the following is a common mistake made by speakers who use visual aids?

Standing in front of the visual aid, blocking the audience's view, Standing in front of your visual aid is a common mistake speakers make. Answer "b" is appropriate (see text explanation). Answer "c" is also appropriate because leaving a visual aid open to the audience's view when you are not referring to it can distract from what you are saying when the aid is no longer relevant to your point.

There is little reason to use visual aids if your choice of aids serves no useful purpose.

True

Using several different-sized fonts for each PowerPoint slide is not advisable because it may confuse your audience and make reading text difficult.

True

One of the chief problems with reading a manuscript speech is the likelihood of getting buried in the manuscript and failing to make eye contact with your audience.

True, Ironically, while you may think that reading words is easier and will appear smoother than speaking extemporaneously (or from an outline), you are more likely to feel stressed by the need to pay attention to both your words AND the audience when reading, and this can cause you to stumble or lose your place in your speech.

"Tell us what we don't already know" is a useful guideline for informative speeches.

True, It isn't informative if your audience already knows what you are conveying.

Tables are great for isolating and clarifying a lot of information.

True, Lists of numbers and facts can become tedious; charts and tables can provide easy-tounderstand comparisons of facts and statistics. Be careful not to overwhelm your audience with too much data, and make sure you further clarify your data with large headings and professional composition.

A speaker's outline should always flow from the purpose statement.

True, The purpose statement acts as the blueprint for your speech. Don't build your house without a blueprint, unless you want to replicate the famous Winchester Mystery House (see http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/tours.cfm), and don't build your speech without beginning with a specific purpose statement.

"Having considered the serious harms from debt default, let's now consider what can be done about this crisis" is an example of

Using a transition, Answer "a" does not state specific points (e.g., "My first point . . ."); "c" does not preview specific points but only mentions that the speaker may do this next (not clear at this point); this statement is not a summary of key points already made, just a brief mention that harms have been considered without specifying what they are. Answer "b" links what was said with what will be said-a transition

How do you know whether your informative speech goes beyond what your audience already knows?

You must first analyze your audience. Obviously, not even all adult audiences will have a college education, although often your audiences will already have knowledge of the simple basics of your topic. In order to choose a topic that will likely interest your listeners and will be well-suited to their knowledge, concerns, and expectations, you must conduct an audience analysis

A manuscript speech is most appropriate in which of the following circumstances?

You need to be precise in your phrasing to avoid offense or legal difficulties, The president of the United States may need to speak from a manuscript displayed on a teleprompter to avoid any misunderstanding that could provoke an international incident. Using a manuscript, however, is not a viable solution to an unprepared speech.

Presenting the pros and cons of potential solutions to a serious problem

is a type of informative speech as long as no specific solution is advocated correct, Offering pros and cons without taking a position is informative.

Sound delivery advice includes

look directly at your audience, typically beginning with the middle of your audience, then looking left, then right, and back again to the middle, taking in the full sweep of your listeners, You want to establish direct eye contact to connect with listeners and to keep their attention, but not to the extent that it comes across as creepy staring at a single person in the audience. Looking above listeners' heads or down at the floor breaks connection with listeners and looks uncomfortable and awkward. Take in the full sweep of your audience, not just one segment.

You are giving a speech on Middle East crises in the last decade. Recognizing that most members of your audience cannot identify most countries and their locations, you should

show a large map of the Middle East taken from a geography book, Answer "c" is correct because a geography book would provide a professionally drawn map; if enlarged on a screen, this would be immediately effective. Answer "d," a table with directions, isn't visually interesting and would be confusing if you did not already know points of reference for location.

A narrative speech is best when

the story is well-suited to the audience, Reading destroys most narratives. Not all stories are meant to be serious, so a serious tone doesn't blend well with a humorous narrative.