SPC2608 Intro To Pub Speaking Midterm Exam

Beck confides to a friend that he is getting nervous about an upcoming speech he has to give for school. What advice should the friend give him?

"Tell yourself that everything you're feeling is just excitement about giving the speech." Reframing anxiety as excitement can help improve a public speaking performance.

Aristotle argued that understanding which audience characteristic is tremendously beneficial to the speaker?

Aristotle maintained that knowing the general age of the audience can help a speaker predict how the audience will react and respond to a message.

Above all else, when researching a topic, people should always tailor their speeches to the:

Audience. The first thing a speaker has to do is figure out what to say for a particular audience.

Communication is BEST described as the coordination of behaviors through:

Communication is the coordination of behavior through symbols. In order for communication to be possible, both listeners and speakers must navigate their own identities.

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between style and disposition?

Disposition refers to a person's mental and physical orientation toward the world and others. In the context of public speaking, audiences perceive speakers' disposition through their style.

A Wake Forest study suggests that a person can improve their positive feelings about being a speaker by acting:

Extroverted. A Wake Forest University study suggests that just acting extroverted—displaying an abundance of energy and engaging in frequent conversations, for example—can improve the positive feelings of a speaker.

Most spatially organized speeches are arranged in order of the most recent event to the oldest event.

False

Speakers should always research commonly known statements of fact to verify their truth.

False

When brainstorming, the best practice is to write down the best ideas.

False

When giving informative speeches, it is best to focus solely on conveying facts.

False

It's helpful to write out a speech word for word in a speaking outline, so that all words and phrases can be understood by others.

False For the speaking outline, the only things that should be written out word for word are quotations from others, statistics, and related important facts or details. Everything else can be collapsed into words or phrases that are helpful to the speaker.

In a conversational setting, the listener is much more likely to remember the word-based content of a message than relational information.

False In a conversational setting, the listener is much more likely to remember relational information (what the speaker's character traits are, who the individual is to them, whether the speaker has something of value to share, and so on) than the word-based content of a message.

When orally citing sources, speakers should provide full bibliographic data, including author, publication, and year of publication.

False When orally citing sources, speakers should give listeners enough information to impart a sense of their source's credibility. This can often be done without providing full bibliographic data.

Demographic data can help speakers develop an analysis of the speech space.

False When used appropriately, demographic data can provide a speaker with a general understanding of an audience. This can be used to establish goodwill with the audience, but it does not help the speaker analyze the speech space.

When people speak extemporaneously, they speak from a manuscript or teleprompter.

False Sometimes speakers might choose to write out a speech word for word, but in general, most speeches are delivered extemporaneously, or seemingly with little preparation.

Which statement will Gabriella likely need to cite because it was necessary to look up the fact?

In 2015, about 9 percent of Americans had diabetes

A speaker has included the thesis statement in her speaking outline. Which statement accurately describes whether a thesis statement should be included in a speaking outline?

In addition to speaking and behavioral cues, the speaking outline should include text the speaker wants to share word for word, including the thesis statement. The thesis statement should be included both in the preparation outline and in the speaking outline because it helps the speaker organize the speech and is something that will be delivered directly to the audience.

Who argued that understanding a society's class system helps people understand that society better?

Karl Marx The political philosopher Karl Marx argued that the best way to understand how a society works is to focus on its class system.

Tatiyana, who is in the midlife crisis stage, is selecting a speaking event to attend. Based on her life crisis stage, which event would she MOST likely select?

Preparing Your Savings for Retirement Those in the midlife crisis are most concerned with finding control and order, better health, and strategies to remain independent in retirement.

Which statement requires that a source be cited?

President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830

Which statement reflects the concept of public speaking as a techne?

Public speaking is a craft that requires technical skills and application. The ancient Greeks described public speaking as a techne, or a craft. It was considered such because a craft emphasizes

During preliminary research on a topic, Keith runs across one source that states that about 115,000 Americans are on the waiting list for organ transplantation. This information is included on a website titled 150 Obscure Facts. What is Keith's BEST next step?

Research this statistic on other trusted sites, such as a government health site.

When a person speaks publicly, that person is asking the audience to do what?

Respond When speaking publicly, a speaker calls to the audience and asks for a response.

Which is an example of a metaphor?

Saying Bob is a couch potato is a metaphor. It compares two things that initially seem dissimilar but are shown to be similar in some way.

Nicole is presenting a speech on black holes. Part of her speech support is a set of complex statistics. A colleague suggests adding visual aids related to these statistics. What is the MOST likely reason for this suggestion?

The aids can help the audience better visualize the meaning of the data.

What is the first question to ask when deciding on a speech topic?

The individual speech situation is the most important factor to consider when choosing a topic and crafting the mood of a speech. Therefore, this question should be asked and answered first.

Which is true of Gorgias and some other sophists?

The sophists said they could teach principles and magical techniques that could help speakers manipulate audiences.

Which specific purpose statement would be MOST appropriate for a speech whose primary objective is to inform?

The stated purpose is to inform, which is another way to say the speaker will be teaching the audience something.

Roberto is working on a presentation about epilepsy for his science class. He finds a statistic he would like to include that supports his claim that the number of people with epilepsy increases every year in the United States. Which question should Roberto ask himself before deciding to include the statistic?

The two questions that should be asked to help determine the proper interpretation and use of statistics in a speech are "What does the statistic measure?" and "What or who is the source of the statistic?"

Which statement about repeating important phrases in a speech is true?

This approach is believed to help audiences remember a speech's key points.

Which statement about tone is true?

Tone is achieved through both vocal and nonverbal elements

A speaker should dress in a way that allows the audience to focus on the message, not the speaker's appearance.

True

Although selecting a speech topic is a creative process with many possibilities, there are some rough guidelines that can make the process more manageable.

True

An advantage of short-term memory is that it is readily accessible in the moment.

True

Casey's oral citation of a book on the history of the Trail of Tears for his speech on that subject should include the author's credentials.

True

For audiences larger than a small group, speakers can improve their eye contact by using the scanning technique.

True

One means of verifying whether a source is reliable is to ask a librarian for help.

True

The three dominant citation styles used in North America are MLA, APA, and Chicago.

True

Effective speaking is as much about feelings as it is about logic.

True Good public speakers in these postmodern times focus on feelings at least as much as they focus on logic.

Internet audiences, or unknown audiences, are groups of individuals who are brought together by a given message and who may or may not share common characteristics.

True Internet audiences, known as amorphous or unknown audiences, are groups of individuals who are brought together by a given message and who may or may not share common characteristics. For large television audiences, a speaker can research an audience's general characteristics and craft a speech accordingly.

Research is a crucial component to visualization and building confidence in speaking.

True Thinking about, researching, and planning a speech before it is given are crucial components to visualization and building confidence in speaking.

Speech anxiety is rarely eliminated entirely, no matter how much experience a person has.

True Even the most experienced public speakers experience speech anxiety from time to time. There are many coping mechanisms for dealing with speech anxiety and ways to reduce it, but it is rarely, if ever, fully eliminated.

Humans tend to listen and speak at the same time.

True When a person speaks, that person is "listening" to another's nonverbal cues (such as facial expressions) and verbal cues (such as laughter).

Which online resource would likely be the MOST reliable?

a newspaper article

In her speech, Bethany begins by sharing a story, stating her thesis, and giving an overview of her main points in her introduction. She then elaborates on each main point in the body of her speech. Her conclusion is a single closing statement. What is missing from her speech?

a recap of her main points in the conclusion

What is the definition of noise?

anything that interferes with a message Noise is anything that interferes with a message. It can be external, such as those things sensed physically, or it can be internal, such as thoughts or feelings.

Before giving her speech at a conference, Whitney sends the attendees a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire includes questions about age, gender, and profession. What is this an example of?

audience analysis Audience analysis is the process of studying an audience before, during, and after a speech. Questionnaires are sometimes used in formal audience analyses.

Valerie gives a toast to her brother at his wedding. The location of the speech suggests that this would be classified as what type of speech?

celebratory

A thesis statement is sometimes referred to as a:

central idea.

Online search results are driven by powerful:

economic incentives.

When listening to a public speaker, many people imagine themselves in the speaker's shoes. What does this describe?

empathy Empathy describes what happens when people imagine themselves in another person's position. Empathy helps make public speaking a group effort and assists speakers in looking to the audience for support.

Dr. Buchanan, a physician, provides her opinion about a medical procedure during a speech at a conference. What type of testimony is this?

expert testimony

What type of belief can be empirically verified?

fact

When giving a presentation at work, Logan notices that one of his colleagues, Brayden, has raised his eyebrow and is looking around at others in the room. Logan pauses and asks Brayden if he has any questions about what's been discussed so far. Brayden's facial expression and behavior in this scenario are examples of:

feedback. Feedback refers to how a listener indicates to a speaker that they have understood or misunderstood the speaker's message. This can be something as simple as a smile or a shake of the head.

Compared with speeches given for a classroom assignment, public speaking and professional speaking courses are typically associated with:

fewer speech constraints. Unlike speaking in a classroom, where there may be numerous rules and guidelines, in the professional world, speakers will often be given more freedom to explore and speak on the topics of their choice.

When should a speaker outline or describe the problem in a speech using the problem-solution pattern?

first The problem-solution pattern is typically centered around three main points. The first main point describes the problem, the second describes the effects or consequences of the problem, and the third outlines the problem's solution.

Which of these helps frame how the audience views the speaker?

first impression

The descriptors "man," "woman," "agender," and "gender fluid" refer to a person's:

gender. ​ Gender refers to the sociocultural identification of "man," "woman," or a nonbinary identity.

Caleb is a motivational speaker. He begins his speech by stating, "I know times are tough right now, and people are nervous, unsure about the future. But I believe that together, we will make it through this and come out stronger on the other side. What ethical concept is Caleb trying to cultivate?"

goodwill Aristotle argued that an ethical speaker must cultivate practical wisdom, expertise, and goodwill toward the audience. Goodwill toward the audience can be cultivated when the speaker expresses concern for the audience's well-being.

Stereotypes are used to make quick judgments about others when a person has:

limited information. Although often harmful, stereotypes are used to make quick judgments about others when information is limited.

A person who is most concerned with the reality of aging and death is likely in which life crisis stage?

midlife During the midlife crisis, people become concerned with their own mortality as well as advancing age. They may also be concerned with "empty-nesting" and marital and financial stability.

What occurs when the message that the speaker intends differs from the message the audience hears?

misunderstanding Misunderstanding refers to the inability of one or more communicators to comprehend meanings, feelings, or identities and to coordinate their behaviors.

How would Aristotle have informally defined the term lexis?

one's general manner of speaking

Chloe has seven main points in her speech. What technique is MOST likely to help the audience remember all her points?

organizing the content into chunks Jean-luc Doumont argued that most people can remember up to nine things if those things are organized into smaller chunks, with the magic number of chunks being three.

A person is simulating listening without actually listening at all. What type of listening is this person engaged in?

pretend listening Pretend listening describes how people may act like they are listening when they actually are not. This could include nodding one's head or gesturing in a way that makes the speaker think they are listening.

Typically, the problem-solution pattern is centered around a:

problem, its consequences, and its solution. Typically, a problem-solution pattern (1) names or describes the nature or character of a problem, (2) outlines or describes the effects or consequences of the problem, and (3) advances a way to solve the problem.

When someone gives a bad speech, it is often the result of:

procrastination.

Jessica begins her speech on World War II by reciting a line from Winston Churchill's famous "Their Finest Hour" speech. Which attention getter has she used?

quotation

Bruce is giving a speech. For most of the speech, the audience is unsure what Bruce's main point is. Then, close to the end, Bruce takes all the seemingly random points and ties everything together. What organizational speech pattern is Bruce using?

rambling

Unexpectedly, Adam's professor asks him to present his thoughts on a book. While Adam is speaking, he feels himself jumping from topic to topic without fully connecting his ideas for the audience. This is indicative of which organizational pattern?

rambling With a rambling organizational pattern, the main points in a speech appear to be offered at random.

Which step is the first step of active listening?

receiving and attending The first step of the active listening process is receiving and attending to the message. This happens when a person physically hears a sound and converts the message into meaning.

To begin his speech on good studying habits, Todd asks the audience, "Do you want to be an academic success story?" This is an example of what attentiongetting technique?

rhetorical question

If speaking in a large room where it is not possible to make eye contact with everyone in the audience, speakers may look back and forth across the audience. This process is called:

scanning

Jaxon, who is a proud supporter of the Democratic Party, watches the MSNBC television network because the viewpoints presented by this network closely align with his own. What is this an example of?

selective exposure Selective exposure is a psychological theory suggesting that people prefer information that supports their views and avoid information that does not.

Kameko has selected the candidate she wants to vote for and watches him participate in a political debate on TV. After the debate, she remembers the things her candidate said that she agrees with and doesn't recall anything he said that she doesn't agree with. Which listening style did Kameko MOST likely engage in while watching the debate?

selective listening Selective listening describes the ways in which people perceive the spoken messages of others. The study of selective listening attempts to understand how a person chooses which messages or sounds to attend to and which to ignore.

Aparna is speaking to a dance class of middle schoolers. Even though all the students are beginners, they think of themselves as accomplished dancers. This assessment describes the students':

self-concepts. Self-concept refers to how individuals perceive themselves. It will affect how the speaker's message is received.

A friend says, "To help the audience remember my main points, I've related each point to a different department in the grocery store. I plan to walk them through the store during my speech." Which organizational speech pattern is this person describing?

spatial

Chae Woo is giving a speech that maps the path of migration of people living in the Neolithic era. Which organizational pattern is appropriate for this speech?

spatial

Which organizational speech pattern can help the speaker remember the order of the main points by using a "memory palace"?

spatial

Which of these is defined as quantitative measures of the amount, size, or number of something?

statistics

Kevin assumes that his new friend, Haruto, likes wasabi, a Japanese condiment, because he is Japanese. This is an example of Kevin applying:

stereotypes. When Kevin assumes that all Japanese people like wasabi, he is stereotyping and thus applying demographic information inappropriately.

Patrick is speaking to a mixed audience whose members have strongly opposed views. He wants to unite the group early on in his speech. What type of speech support is MOST likely to accomplish this?

stories or narratives

Most of Devonte's actions are driven by his desire to keep his family financially secure. What is this an example of?

terminal values Terminal values are life goals or ends toward which a person lives. They are what people consider to be the ends of a good life.

A speaker has delivered a well-organized speech with clear points and support material. What can the speaker expect the audience to remember about the speech long term?

the tone of the speech and some of its main points

Which step will BEST help a speaker prepare to adapt to any audience?

thinking about previous life experiences as a listener Thinking about previous life experiences as a listener is the best way to prepare to adapt to any audience. It helps the speaker imagine themselves in the audience's place.

What is the purpose of the basic outlining format?

to determine a hierarchy among speech points

Nathan has been asked to give a presentation to his biology class explaining the steps in the scientific method. What is the general purpose of Nathan's speech?

to inform

According to psychologist Milton Rokeach, an audience's understanding of the world is made up of three basic elements: beliefs, attitudes, and:

values. A value is a deeply held core belief. Values are developed over a long period of time and are nearly impossible to change

Responding to "the call" of another is usually done:

without thinking. Responding to "the call" of another is usually done automatically once a listener hears the call.