Communications Final Exam Explanation of terms

central idea

Choose your topic Determine your general purpose Write your specific purpose statement Tie it all together by composing a clear concise thesis statement/central idea Central ideas are what exactly you want your audience to remember after they have heard your speech, the three main points that will be covered in your speech • Should be in the form of a sentence. • Not be a question • avoid figurative language • should not be vague

logos

Clear, concise and logical arguments provide substance to the speaker's message. humans are fundamentally reasonable and are capable of making decisions based on what makes the most sense.Arguments are supported and can be based off:Facts,Statistics,Studies,Examples,History, Evidence

vocal fillers

Common verbal fillers include um, uh, ah, er, you know, and like. The best way to minimize verbal fillers is to become a higher self-monitor and realize that you use them. Many students are surprised when they watch the video of their first speech and realize they said "um" thirty times in three minutes. Gaining that awareness is the first step in eliminating verbal fillers, and students make noticeable progress with this between their first and second speeches. If you do lose your train of thought, having a brief fluency hiccup is better than injecting a verbal filler, because the audience may not even notice the pause or may think it was intentional.

articulation

First, vocal delivery can help us engage and interest the audience. Second, vocal delivery helps ensure that our ideas are communicated clearly.

Monroe's motivated sequence

Get the attention of your audience. Use storytelling , humor, a shocking statistic, or a rhetorical question - anything that will get the audience to sit up and take notice.Convince your audience there's a problem. This set of statements must help the audience realize that what's happening right now isn't good enough - and needs to change. Use statistics to back up your statements. Talk about the consequences of maintaining the status quo and not making changes. Show your audience how the problem directly affects them. Discuss the facts. Elaborate and give details to make sure the audience understands your position and solution. Clearly state what you want the audience to do or believe. Summarize your information from time to time as you speak. Use examples, testimonials, and statistics to prove the effectiveness of your solution. Prepare counterarguments to anticipated objections. Describe what the situation will look like if the audience does nothing. The more realistic and detailed the vision, the better it will create the desire to do what you recommend. Your goal is to motivate the audience to agree with you and adopt similar behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Help them see what the results could be if they act the way you want them to. Make sure your vision is believable and realistic.

ethnocentrism

In order to adapt the message to the audience it is important to become aware of your own ethnocentrism and to avoid prejudice and racism. When you judge another culture solely by the values and standards of your own culture you miss significant aspects of the other culture of the members of your audience.

inclusive language

Non-discriminatory language avoids false assumptions about people and helps to promote respectful relationships. A commitment to inclusive language is an important attribute of a modern, diverse and inclusive society. Inclusive language enables everyone to feel that they are being reflected in what is being said.

information speech

One of the goals, perhaps the most essential goal that drives all informative speeches, is for the speaker to inform the audience about a particular topic.make the audience remember. Most memorable speeches have emotional appeals that audiences continue to talk about long after the speech is delivered, and sometimes even after the life of the speaker. To make sure that the information contained in a speech is remembered by the audience, the deliverer of an informative speech should combine organization, repetition and focused visualizations to increase the effectiveness of the speech and the likelihood that the audience will leave informed.

plagarism

The first step of ethical speech preparation is to take notes as you research your speech topic. Careful notes will help you remember where you learned your information. Recalling your sources is important because it enables speaker honesty. Passing off another's work as your own or neglecting to cite the source for your information is considered stealing. This unethical act can result in several consequences, ranging from a loss in credibility to academic expulsion or job loss.

active listening

The goal of this repetition is to confirm what the listener has heard and to confirm the understanding of both parties. The ability to actively listen demonstrates sincerity, and that nothing is being assumed or taken for granted. Active listening is most often used to improve personal relationships, reduce misunderstanding and conflicts, strengthen cooperation, and foster understanding.

stereotype

Think about your audience: what do they look like? What might they have in common? What might you have in common with them? These are important things to consider as you begin to get a sense of just who will be sitting in front of you when you deliver your speech. Consider the gender of your audience: male, female, or a mix? Are they older, younger? Would you consider them your peers? Have you met any of them before? Think about all the possible demographics of your audience including gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, culture, and occupation. But remember: just because you might be speaking to one group of people, that doesn't mean you should stereotype that group. In fact, if you do end up stereotyping your audience, you're more likely to lose them than engage them.

rhetorical question

engage your audience to think. If your entire speech is a series of statements, your audience may passively listen and absorb little. On the other hand, you can make them active participants in your speech by inviting them to think about your arguments. This is most effective if they are asked to think about an issue from a fresh perspective.

persuasive

others to understand your viewpoint and agree with you, whether you are selling a product or relaying information. The speaker should use ethos, pathos and logos to convince the audience.

ethos

provides an understanding for the importance that a speaker's credibility or character has in establishing persuasion. the audience needs to trust the speaker and what the speaker is saying.

presentation aids

they can serve to improve your audience's understanding of the information you are presenting to them, enhance audience memory and understanding of the message, add variety and interest to your speech, and enhance your credibility as a speaker.

extemporaneous speech

to achieve a more natural tone, flow and style with the audience. First, think about your topics and anticipate the audience's reception to your speech. You can develop speech notes based on this preparation and use them to aid you during the presentation. It is more likely the audience will pay more attention to you if you are talking to them instead of reading to them.

eye contact

gives the audience a sense of involvement in your presentation and helps to convey your objectives on a personal level.

pronunciation

the audience will not understand you if your pronunciation is bad. If they don't understand you, they will quickly become bored and annoyed.

academic database

they add credibility to your speech and research. they make what you are saying to your audience true. If people believe what you are saying they will listen

manuscript speech

Avoid the manuscript speech if at all possible; it is very difficult to deliver effectively. Because you read it, eye contact with the audience is difficult, your gestures and other nonverbal tend to be limited, and you will be tempted to read in a monotone. You might have trouble adapting immediately to an unusual audience response, and you can easily stumble over words. But certain situations demand the manuscript—a very important presentation where you could be misquoted, a highly technical speech,

evidence

Evidence serves as support for the reasons offered and helps compel audiences to accept what you are saying. The speaker should always back up what he or she is saying with real examples from credible sources.

credibility

First, the audience must believe that you are a competent speaker - that you are capable of creating valid arguments and sound reasoning. You can establish credibility with your audience by mentioning your expertise in the particular field in which you are speaking. Credibility can also refer to the reputation of the speaker. If you have a positive reputation, or are an expert in the topic area of your speech, then that can help establish credibility in your speech.

interference

Noise exists in all aspects of communication, thus, no message is received exactly as the sender intends (despite his or her best efforts) because of the ever-presence of noise in communication. Noise can be both external and internal. External noise often relates to your physical environment, such as a noisy room, as well as your physiological state. Internal noise includes psychological and semantic noise, and is how you prevent yourself from effectively delivering your message. To combat external noise, speak louder or see if you can be amplified in some way. Alternatively, see if the source of the noise can be stopped or lowered. To triumph over internal noise, take a few deep breaths before speaking. Breathe out all of the negative self-doubt and anxieties you may have about speaking. Inhale confidence. You can do this!

testimony

The body of your speech should help you elaborate and develop your main objectives clearly by using main points, subpoints, and support for your sub points. To ensure that your speech clearly communicates with your audience, try to limit both your main points and subpoints to three or four points each;this applies to your supporting points, as well. Expert testimony is considered supporting point; it is used to support the main and subpoints of your speech. The audience is more likely to believe your argument.

preparation outline

an outline helps you group ideas into main points and see their logical connections. It is important to create an outline before you deliver your speech, as it will act as your guide to effectively sequence your information and ensure you touch on all your main points. Outlining allows you to ensure your speech flows smoothly. Use an outline as a tool for delivery of extemporaneous speaking.

nonverbal communication

describes the process of shared cues between people, which goes hand-in-hand with public speaking. This can include eye contact, frequency of glances, blink rate, gestures, facial expressions, postures, and more.Nonverbal signals can increase trust, clarity, and add interest to your presentation when yielded properly. Learning how to become more sensitive to body language and nonverbal cues will make you the best presenter you can be.

transition

enable the flow of a speech. A speech without transitions often seems choppy, and can even seem unorganized. Using them allows your audience to follow your presentation. The words you use can lead them along, signal that you are moving from one point to another, or signal that you are stressing a point.

burden of proof

if the speaker is trying to change someone else's belief they have to show their current belief is incorrect and state why with facts and how the speaker's belief is true and has a better outcome based on facts. The speaker cannot change a person's beliefs without proof.

audience analysis

involves identifying the audience and adapting a speech to their interests, level of understanding, attitudes, and beliefs. Taking an audience-centered approach is important because a speaker's effectiveness will be improved if the presentation is created and delivered in an appropriate manner.

connotative meaning

is sometimes misunderstood by an audience. it is important to know your audience before using words that can mean different things so you are not misunderstood or avoid using them at all.

pathos

is the emotional influence of the speaker on the audience. Its goal is to create a favorable emotional affection of the audience towards the objective of the speech.

positive motivation appeal

make the audience want to take action toward a desired goal to satisfy unmet needs or desires.a basic need to minimize physical pain and maximize pleasure and it may also include specific physical, cognitive, and emotional needs or desires, too.

impromptu speech

you are generally in control of the content you are presenting, so you can include topics that you want to talk about. Additionally, you can use personal examples from experience to support what you are saying. Since you are an authority on the topic, you want to speak with conviction like you really mean it. Your delivery will naturally be more conversational and spontaneous. Since you are not prepared with pages of notes, you are more likely to speak directly to the audience just like if you were speaking to another person in a conversation.

feedback

you can clarify or make changes to the way you communicate. it is important to rehearse a speech so you can improve it based on the reaction of your audience.