COMM exam study guide

When your textbook describes public speaking as a form of empowerment, it means that public speaking is

a way to make a difference in something we care about.

"A voter without a ballot is like a soldier without a bullet" is an example of

both simile and parallelism

As your textbook explains, __________ meaning gives words their emotional power.

connotative

Because speechmaking is a form of power, we must always be sure to speak

ethically

Public speaking requires the same method of delivery as ordinary conversation.

false

The channel is the room in which speech communication takes place.

false

Using the power of visualization to control stage fright means that you should approach your speech as a performance in which the audience is looking for perfection.

false

The three kinds of plagiarism discussed in your textbook are

global plagiarism, patchwork plagiarism, and incremental plagiarism

When the general purpose of your speech is to _________, you act primarily as a teacher or lecturer.

inform

A ringing cell phone or an audience member browsing the Web on her laptop during a speech are examples of which element in the speech communication process?

interference

A listener's ethical obligation to avoid prejudging a speaker means that a listener should

strive to understand the speaker before criticizing his or her ideas

Asad was giving an interesting speech about the earliest astronomical observatories—a subject he was very excited about—when he misidentified the founder of the Istanbul observatory. When he realized his mistake, he corrected it, but then he felt flustered and wasn't as confident for the rest of his speech. What advice from your textbook should Asad keep in mind?

Audiences focus more on a speaker's ideas than on details of his or her delivery. Most of a speaker's nervousness isn't visible to the audience. There is no such thing as a perfect speech.

When Sophia attended the first discussion section for her math class and heard her instructor begin speaking with an unfamiliar accent, she immediately decided, "I won't learn anything from this teacher." Sophia failed to uphold which guideline for ethical listening?

Avoid prejudging the speaker

"Surgeons and their wives deserve the financial protection offered by these caps on monetary awards in malpractice suits." This statement violates which of the guidelines for inclusive language discussed in your textbook?

Avoid stereotyping jobs and social roles by gender

Having spent two years working in a television newsroom, Madison decided to give her informative speech on that topic. Because she knew a lot about it and was comfortable speaking to an audience, she didn't spend much time preparing. As a result, her speech was poorly organized, ran overtime, and did not have a clear message. Which guideline for ethical public speaking discussed in your textbook did Madison fail to live up to?

Be fully prepared for each speech

Which of the following is presented in your textbook as a guideline for ethical speechmaking?

Be fully prepared for each speech.

Which of the following words is the most concrete and specific?

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

According to your textbook, the specific purpose for a speech should

Both include a reference to the audience and be written as a full infinitive phrase

"Learning how to deal with stress" is a poorly phrased specific purpose for a classroom speech because it

Both is written as a fragment instead of as a full infinitive phrase and does not include a reference to the audience.

Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: "To inform my audience about the solar system."

It's too general.

Jerome found several excellent sources for his informative speech. He pulled key information from them, blended those ideas into his own perspective, and cited his sources when he presented the speech. Which of the following statements best describes this situation?

Jerome is ethical because he cited his sources and used them to develop his own slant on the topic.

For his informative speech, Douglas told his classmates how to get free food at a drive-through restaurant. Rather than focusing on legitimate deals, such as student discounts or coupons, Douglas talked about ways to trick employees into believing you had already paid for food when you had not. His instructor gave the speech a poor grade because it violated the ethical criteria for public speaking presented in your textbook. The guideline Douglas violated was:

Make sure your goals are ethically sound

Ryan located three excellent sources for his persuasive speech. He copied long sections from each source word for word, strung them together with a few transitions, and mentioned the sources of his information in passing. Which of the following statements best describes Ryan's situation?

Ryan is guilty of patchwork plagiarism

Tanya went to the beach instead of staying in town and working on her speech. When she realized how soon the speech was due, she asked a friend who had already taken public speaking to loan her an old outline, which she used verbatim for her class speech. Which of the following statements best describes Tanya's actions?

Tanya is guilty of global plagiarism.

Which of the following is discussed in your textbook as a basic criterion for the effective use of language in public speaking?

Use language clearly. b. Use language accurately. c. Use language vividly.

As Christopher delivered his speech, he noticed that some members of his audience looked confused as he explained one of his main points. As a result, he slowed down and explained the point again. In this case, Christopher was

adapting to audience feedback

"The flickering light of the fire revealed the fearful faces of the campers" is an example of

alliteration.

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" is an example of

antithesis.

The most effective order of main points in a speech depends above all on your topic, purpose, and

audience

The __________ is the longest and most important part of the speech.

body

The __________ is a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech.

central idea

According to your textbook, brainstorming is especially helpful when you are having trouble

choosing a speech topic.

Here are the main points for an informative speech about the history of chocolate: I. Chocolate was originally used in Mexico as a drink by the Aztecs. II. Chocolate was introduced to Europe after the Spanish conquered the Aztecs. III. Chocolate was first made into candy during the 1800s. IV. Chocolate's popularity and uses continue to expand today. These main points are arranged in __________ order.

chronilogical

Jackson had been a rodeo fan since childhood. In his informative speech, he gave a presentation with the following main points. Jackson's points were arranged in __________ order. I. Rodeos began in the Old West as contests of skill among cowboys during cattle roundups. II. By 1920, rodeos had become a popular spectator sport for the general public. III. Today, rodeos combine traditional western events with a circuslike atmosphere and the marketing techniques of big business.

chronilogical

Which of the following strategies is least likely to help you deal with nervousness in your speeches?

concentrating on your stage fright

Phrases such as "dry as a bone," "clear as a bell," "dark as night," and "smart as a whip" should be avoided in speeches because they are

clichés

After choosing a topic, what is the next step of speech preparation?

determining the general purpose

According to your textbook, if the following statement occurred in the body of a speech, it would be an example of what kind of connective? In discussing the extent of the problem, we will look at the number of parents who don't vaccinate their children, the reasons they give for their decision, and the number of children who have become sick or died as a result.

internal preview

"My grandmother is the glue that holds our family together" is an example of

metaphor

Many of the skills used in public speaking are the same as those used in everyday conversation. These skills include

organizing your thoughts logically. tailoring your message to your audience. adapting to listener feedback

"Our mission is to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve humanity" is an example of

parallelism

A soccer player herself, Jenine is very concerned about the growing number of serious injuries at all levels of the sport. When the time came for her persuasive speech, she presented a speech with the following main points: I. In the past ten years serious soccer injuries have risen dramatically among players of all ages and skill levels. II. The best way to control this problem is through changes in rules and training. Jenine's main points were arranged in __________ order.

problem solution

Here are the main points for a speech about the components of a medieval coat of armor. I. The head was protected by a helmet. II. The torso was protected by shoulder pieces, palates, a breastplate, a skirt of tasses, and a tuille. III. The arms and hands were protected by brassards, elbow pieces, and gauntlets.IV. The legs and feet were protected by cuisses, knee pieces, jambeaux, and sollerets. These main points are arranged in __________ order.

spatial

"To inform my audience about the contributions of Navajo code talkers to the U.S. military during World War II" is an example of a

specific purpose.

"To inform my audience about the history of the Super Bowl" is an example of a

specific purpose.

"To inform my audience about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of Hodgkin's disease" is an example of a

specific purpose.

Which of the following organizational patterns is used more than any other method of speech organization because of its applicability to almost any subject?

topical

Which organizational method is used in a speech with the following main points? I. As a social worker, Jane Addams founded the settlement house movement in Chicago. II. As a reformer, Jane Addams campaigned for child-labor laws, unemployment compensation, and better public sanitation. III. As a suffragist, Jane Addams fought to give women the vote. IV. As a writer, Jane Addams is best known for her autobiographical Twenty Years at Hull House.

topical

"Now that we have seen the causes of unrest in central Africa, we shall turn to their effects ..." is an example of a(n)

transition

Your goal in public speaking is to have your intended message be the message that is actually communicated.

true