Chapter 13 Delivery
Ray was self-conscious about his Philadelphia accent when giving speeches at his college in Texas. He was afraid some people in the audience would make fun of his dialect. Which two recommendations would help Ray?
- If the dialect is heavy, consider neutralizing it for audiences not familiar with it. - Remember that no dialect is inferior to another.
Which are two techniques for improving the rate of your speaking?
- Include notes on pacing in your speaking outline. - Record and listen to yourself practicing.
Which two statements are true about the rate at which a person delivers a speech?
- It depends on mood the speaker is trying to create. - It varies with the occasion.
For what three reasons can pauses contribute to effective speech delivery?
- They can give time for an idea to sink in. - They can make a statement more dramatic. - They can signal the end of a thought.
In a question-and-answer session, answers to simple questions should be about Blank______, and answers to more complicated questions should be:
30 seconds; 2 to 3 minutes
What is a good general rule to follow when determining how to dress for a speech?
Dress a half-step up from the audience.
How does conversational quality enhance an extemporaneous speech?
It makes the speech sound spontaneous, which is appealing to the audience.
A political leader gives a speech about generating energy. She adds a "u" to the word nuclear so it sounds like "nucular." Which of the following is true?
She has mispronounced the word "nuclear."
During Yessica's question-and-answer session, she listened carefully to a question that she was sure she covered in her presentation. How should she approach her answer?
She should assume that her original explanation was not completely clear and use the time as an opportunity to expand on the point.
Sonya delivered a speech to her managers about some new technologies that she thought could make her team more efficient. After she finished her speech, she was out of breath and realized that she hadn't even paused while speaking. Nevertheless, she felt that she did a good job following her speech outline. Although they were paying close attention during the speech, the managers seemed confused about how the ideas she presented fit into the company's business model, and asked Sonya several questions. Which factor most likely impacted Sonya's speech?
She spoke too quickly.
Which statement about audience question-and-answer sessions is true?
They can make or break a presentation.
If a speaker expects to be asked questions by the audience after delivering the speech, what should the speaker do to prepare?
Write and practice answers to expected questions.
In which scenario would you be least likely to use a microphone and therefore need to pay extra attention to the volume of your voice?
a classroom speech
How can a speaker determine how to dress and groom for a speech?
adapting to both the audience and the occasion
Which situation is most likely to involve impromptu delivery?
answering questions at a job interview
While listening to Garth give his speech, some audience members were unsure whether he said "share" or "chair." What area of delivery does Garth need to work on?
articulation
In which scenario are our vocabularies the most limited, making us more likely to mispronounce or misuse a word?
during spontaneous speech
Which movement should be avoided when giving a speech?
gathering notes before finishing the speech
The best way to maintain effective eye contact during a speech is to:
look briefly at one person, then another, then another
Which of the following is not one of the four basic methods of speech delivery?
playing a recording
If a speaker sees listeners leaning forward with strained looks on their faces and their hands cupping their ears, the speaker's first reaction should be to increase which aspect of their voice?
volume
When called upon suddenly to give an impromptu speech, which two strategies should you employ?
- Use signposts. - Act calm.
What are two aspects of conversational speaking that audiences tend to prefer in formal speeches?
- directness - vocal and facial expressiveness
Brianne is giving a speech on how explosions are created in movies. She states everything in a similar manner, with little inflection. Eventually, despite the topic of the speech, she notices that many in her audience are looking bored, and one is actually taking a nap. What would be the most effective way to make the delivery of her speech more engaging?
alter her pitch
When delivering a speech from memory, speakers must remember to:
concentrate on communicating with the audience
The type of vocal variation that gives a speaker vitality and helps indicate meaning and emotion is referred to as:
inflection
What are three ways that good delivery can help convey a message?
- It doesn't distract an audience. - It doesn't call attention to itself. - It is clear and interesting.
Which are two advantages of extemporaneous speaking?
- It encourages the speaker to adopt a conversational tone. - It is more precise than impromptu speaking.
Jane read most of her speech from note cards and, as a result, members of her audience were likely to believe which three things about her?
- She did not prepare sufficiently. - She did not know what she was talking about. - She was not sincere.
What are three recommended guidelines for managing a question-and-answer session?
- Stay calm, even if the questioner is argumentative. - Repeat the question so that everyone can understand what is being asked. - Listen carefully to the question.
Which statements about articulation are true?
- You can articulate a word clearly and still mispronounce it. - Poor articulation is more common than mispronunciation among college students. - Poor articulation can be corrected with effort.
Concerning gestures, speakers need to do what two things?
- avoid wringing their hands together - refrain from playing with rings
Which two actions are likely to undermine the effectiveness of a speech delivered from memory?
- breaking eye contact to recall what you memorized - speaking in a dull, monotone voice as you recite your speech
Having good command over extemporaneous speeches is signified by which three factors?
- ease of establishing eye contact - control over ideas - a conversational quality
What are the four basic methods of speech delivery?
- from memory - impromptu - extemporaneous - read from a manuscript
It is important for speakers to remember that gestures should do which two things?
- not distract from the message - be suited to the audience
In order to optimize practice time, speakers should do which three things?
- rehearse aloud, including examples and quotations - make sure notes are easy to read -record a rehearsal in order to carry out a self-critique
Which two examples are articulation problems?
- saying goin' instead of going - saying didja instead of did you
Which of the following should a speaker do before beginning a presentation? Select all that apply.
- stand quietly while waiting for the audience's attention - take time to get set - appear calm
What two characteristics should gestures have in a speech?
- suited to the occasion - natural in appearance
What are two primary purposes of practicing and improving your style of speech delivery?
- to enhance the impact of your ideas - to allow the audience to clearly understand your ideas
What are three potential pitfalls of reading a speech from a manuscript?
- wooden or artificial delivery - not making eye contact - poor pacing
True or false: The world's most famous orators have all been blessed with golden voices that were naturally pleasing to their listeners.
False Reason: Incorrect. A golden voice is certainly an asset for a speaker, but some of the most famous speakers in history have had undistinguished voices.
True or false: Reading verbatim from a manuscript is an acceptable method for delivering a speech.
True
A manuscript delivery of a speech would be most appropriate in which situation?
a governor's address to the legislature
How should you approach public speaking if you want your voice to be lively and expressive?
as an opportunity to share with your listeners ideas that are important to you
How seriously should a speaker take the question-and-answer session?
as seriously as the speech
A speaker who tells the audience that they are "delighted" to be there will undermine their statement by doing which of the following?
avoiding eye contact
A listener was confused when the speaker, a student from Rhode Island, referred to eating a "cabinet." The listener did not know that "cabinet" is a common term for "milkshake" in Rhode Island. What aspect of delivery confused the listener?
dialect
Aaron is running for a city council position in his home town and is giving a speech to voters on why they should trust him more than his opponent. Which action would be the most likely to undermine his speech?
not making eye contact with listeners
Derek just finished giving a speech to his class, and asked for his classmates' feedback. The class thought Derek was well prepared and found the subject matter informative and easy to follow, but they noted that at certain points they felt as if Derek was shouting at them. Which aspect of the speech should Derek work on?
speaker's voice
Mark Twain once said, "The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause." To what was Twain likely referring?
the ability of a well-timed pause to provide dramatic impact
When speakers want to be more expressive with their voice, they focus most on:
vocal variety
