Com 101 Part 4

Challenging listeners' self-interests is an effective strategy for influencing your audience to view the topic favorably. True False

False

Heterogeneity refers to cultural similarity among audience members. True False

False

Identifying listeners' reference groups is fairly simple because most listeners belong to just one reference group. True False

False

It is safe to assume that audience members will interpret your message in the manner the speaker intends. True False

False

It's safe to assume that audience members share the cultural values of the speaker. True False

False

When an audience analysis shows that your audience already agrees with you, it is best to change your topic because no purpose is truly suitable. True False

False

When speaking to an audience of listeners who are strongly opposed to one's position, it is best to pursue the purpose of inducing a specific action. True False

False

A good topic is interesting to the audience, but when an audience has a high level of interest in a topic, their existing bias may prevent them from listening carefully. True False

True

A strategic plan is aimed at responding to the rhetorical situation and it identifies the purpose of the speech, the constraints on the speech, and the opportunities provided by the situation. True False

True

Agenda setting speeches get listeners to think about speeches they had previously ignored. True False

True

For many students, choosing a topic is the most difficult part of the speech-making process. True False

True

Selective attention is the tendency of listeners to focus on aspects of a message they agree with and to dismiss or ignore aspects of a message they disagree with. True False

True

Topics with elaborate arguments or highly technical information should be avoided as topics for speeches. True False

True

Voluntary audiences generally are more motivated and receptive to the speaker's message. True False

True

When speakers aim to induce a specific action, they often do not care about the beliefs and attitudes of individual listeners, as long as the audience ends up doing what the speaker wants. True False

True

In his speech about effective study skills, Mark said, "Preparing for a test without reading is like going fishing without bait." What type of reasoning is he using? a. Figurative analogy b. Sign c. Hypothetical example d. Factual example e. Literal analogy

a. Figurative analogy

You are assigned to research a recent Supreme Court decision and need to find the actual text of the decision. Why type of source would be most reliable for this purpose? a. Government documents b. Newpapers c. Popular periodicals d. Reference works e. Special-interest periodicals

a. Government documents

During strategic planning, you will engage in the following activities: a. Identifying the purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means. b. Identifying the topic, means, specific purpose, and organizational pattern. c. Identifying the rhetorical situation, the occasion, and the speaker. d. Identifying supporting materials, arguments, and claims. e. Identifying the thesis, purpose, constraints, and opportunities.

a. Identifying the purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means.

You are interested in purchasing a baseball bat, so you visit the local sporting goods store. You see Keen Griffy Jr. at a book selling a particular brand of baseball bats, vouching that he uses this bat and that it dramatically increased his batting average. This is an example of what type of supporting material? a. Testimony b. Direct observation c. Sponsorship d. Example e. Statistics

a. Testimony

Walt wanted to give his five-minute informative speech about the causes and consequences of the federal budget deficit. However, this topic is NOT ___________. a. appropriate in scope for the allotted time b. important to the speaker or the audience c. clear enough to adequately explain d. suitable for oral delivery e. comprehensible

a. appropriate in scope for the allotted time

When you argue that two things are related because one thing influenced or brought about the other, you are reasoning by _____________. a. cause b. narrative c. analogy d. example e. sign

a. cause

Asking the audience to imagine themselves in a particular situation is an example of _____________. a. hypothetical example b. anecdote c. extended example d. brief example e. imaginary example

a. hypothetical example

Reasoning by sign proceeds by _______. a. showing that when one thing stands for another, we can infer the existence of what it stands for b. using specific instances to infer a general conclusion c. arguing that two things that are basically alike in most respects will also be alike with respect to the issue at hand d. inferring that facts or opinions from a reliable source are accurate and trustworthy e. using a powerful story to lead the audience to the conclusion you want to support

a. showing that when one thing stands for another, we can infer the existence of what it stands for

Rhetorical proof consists of __________. a. a claim, credibility, and common ground b. claim, supporting material, and reasoning c. common values, beliefs, and judgments d. reasons, rhetoric, and shared values e. reasonableness, standards, and critical listening

b. claim, supporting material, and reasoning

Jesse argued in his speech that drug use really isn't a problem among teens because no one he knows has even tried drugs. In this argument, Jesse's friends are used as examples, but this reasoning by example fails because ______. a. the examples are false b. the examples are not representative c. the examples lack narrative elements d. the examples are analogous e. the examples are hypothetical

b. the examples are not representative

Caleb knew that he fellow union members opposed a plan to cut overtime at the plant, but he wanted them to view it more positively. He planned to discuss the likelihood that the plant would close altogether if payroll costs were not reduced. His purpose was to ______________. a. to fight for a lost cause b. to provide new information or perspective c. to strengthen commitment d. to weaken commitment

b. to provide new information or perspective

Which of the following phrases best reflects the principle of reasoning by sign? a. "If you've seen one, you've seen them all." b. "Consider the source." c. "Where there's smoke, there's fire." d. "One thing leads to another." e. "Like father, like son."

c. "Where there's smoke, there's fire."

When speaking about the African AIDS crisis, Maura emphasized her definition of the problem by saying, "We all know that AIDS is a deadly and devastating disease, but it can be treated." What type of supporting material was she using? a. Personal experience b. Direct observation c. Common knowledge d. Testimony e. Examples

c. Common knowledge

Which of the following represent the two types of testimony? a. Personal and factual b. Hypothetical and brief c. Factual and opinion d. Anecdotal and opinion e. Inference and interpretation

c. Factual and opinion

Which of the following is the fallacy committed when the claim and the support material are unrelated to each other? a. Equivocation b. Post hoc reasoning c. Non sequitur d. Circular argument e. Ignoring the question

c. Non sequitur

A topoi is __________. Answers: a. the replacement of one set of beliefs by another b. a form of reasoning fallacy c. common or typical categories for organizing subject matter d. the point of view from which the audience approaches a topic e. a mental free-association exercise in which one identifies the first thought that comes into their mind

c. common or typical categories for organizing subject matter

The specific purpose statement clearly identifies the __________. a. speaker's agenda b. principle claim of the speech c. desired outcome of the speech d. central idea of the speech e. goal of the audience

c. desired outcome of the speech

When a speaker supports a claim by telling a dramatic story from which the listeners will draw a lesson or conclusion that validates the speaker's point, this reasoning by __________. a. analogy b. sign c. narrative d. cause e. testimony

c. narrative

Malcolm supported his arguments about injustice in criminal sentencing with _____________ that compared the conviction rates of blacks with the conviction rates of whites for similar crimes. a. examples b. analogies c. statistics d. testimony e. documents

c. statistics

When you rely on the information or opinions of others to support your claims, you are using reasoning by ________. a. cause b. analogy c. testimony d. narrative e. example

c. testimony

Nancy heard on the news that 65 percent of Republicans opposed the administration's health care plan. When she met with the Young Republicans on campus, she assumed that no one there supported the policy. What fallacy was she committing? a. Ignoring the question b. Equivocation c. Ignoring the facts d. Mistaking probability for certainty e. Non sequitur

d. Mistaking probability for certainty

Michelle, an advocate for women's rights, used her persuasive speech to urge her classmates to participate in the campus "Take Back the Night" event. Her purpose was to _____________. a. strengthen a commitment b. set an agenda c. create a new perspective d. induce a specific action e. strengthen a feeling

d. induce a specific action

Alex was discouraged when he came up to bat against Mariano. He reasoned that, (1) he had struck out three straight times against Mariano, (2) that past results tend to predict future results, so (3) he would probably strike out again. In this example, statement (2) is the ___________. a. pathos b. truth c. supporting material d. reasoning e. claim

d. reasoning

All of the following are goals of research in preparation for a speech EXCEPT _____________. a. to make your ideas clear and understandable for your audience b. to develop or strengthen your own expertise in the topic c. to find evidence that supports your ideas d. to organize your information e. to make your ideas relevant to the audience

d. to organize your information

Controversial topics need to be addressed _________. Answers: a. with caution by the speaker b. with sincerity by the speaker c. without concern for the rhetorical situation d. with respect for the audience and the rhetorical situation e. with strong conviction by the speaker

d. with respect for the audience and the rhetorical situation

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for the effective use of analogies? a. Use analogies sparingly to avoid overwhelming the sudience. b. Analyze the two things you're comparing for similarities and differences. c. Avoid farfetched analogies so as not to stretch common sense. d. Avoid trite analogies because the listeners have heard them before. e. Avoid analogies where the similarities outweigh the differences.

e. Avoid analogies where the similarities outweigh the differences.

Which type of example asks listeners to imagine a situation that, although it is not real, provides a realistic depiction of a problem or issue? a. Case study b. Brief example c. Expert testimony d. Anecdote e. Hypothetical example

e. Hypothetical example

Emil gave a speech about growing up in Israel. As support, he discussed his home life, his schooling, and his life in the military. What type of supporting material is this? a. Statistics b. Documentary c. Direct observation d. Expert testimony e. Personal Experience

e. Personal Experience

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for respecting cultural diversity during topic selection? a. Select a topic that reduces stereotypes and promotes commonality b. Evaluate your audience's prior commitment to your topic c. Select a topic that is important to both you and your audience d. Identify the constraints and opportunities posed by this diversity e. Select a topic that promotes cultural stereotypes and name-calling

e. Select a topic that promotes cultural stereotypes and name-calling

Which of the following is a characteristic of mathematical or scientific proof? a. The support involves values and judgments. b. The strength of the support is determined by the speaker and the audience together. c. It can only be used by scientific experts. d. It cannot be proven, it can only be supported. e. The claims can often be proved with certainty.

e. The claims can often be proved with certainty.

A thesis statement is _______________. a. a paragraph that explains what the speech is about b. a highly complicated and technical statement that is difficult for the audience to understand c. a word that signifies the importance of the speech d. a statement that establishes your personal credibility e. a succinct single sentence that states the central purpose of the speech

e. a succinct single sentence that states the central purpose of the speech

Reasoning by analogy proceeds by ___________. a. inferring that facts or opinions from a reliable source are accurate or trustworthy b. using specific instances to infer a general conclusion c. using a powerful story to lead the audience to the conclusion you want to support d. showing how one thing influences or brings about another e. arguing that two things that are basically alike in most respects will also be alike with respect to the issue at hand

e. arguing that two things that are basically alike in most respects will also be alike with respect to the issue at hand

When a speaker supports an idea by offering facts gathered by someone else, this type of supporting material is _________. a. direct observation b. survey c. case study d. opinion testimony e. factual testimony

e. factual testimony

During the __________stage of strategic planning you will decide what reasoning, organizational pattern,and supporting material to use. a. promoting your ethos b. identifying your purpose c. identifying constraints d. identifying opportunities e. selecting the means

e. selecting the means

Sarah reasoned that (1) she had earned A's in three previous English classes, (2) past success predicts future success, and (3) she will likely get an A in her next English class. In this example of a rhetorical proof, statement (1) is the ___________. a. claim b. reasoning c. attention getter d. proof e. supporting material

e. supporting material