Chapter 5 Public Speaking

Which of the following is a well-worded central idea?

A negotiation can be broken down into three basic steps: the preparation, the discussion, and the closing.

What is a speech's specific purpose statement?

A single infinitive phrase that states precisely what you hope to accomplish in your speech

Derek has been assigned to give a two-minute speech about history or government. His audience will be his classmates, who have the same assignment. Derek decides his specific purpose will be to name the U.S. presidents, describing the greatest achievement and reciting a brief quotation from each one. Which question did Derek forget to ask himself about his specific purpose?

Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted?

Padma is brainstorming potential speech topics. To do this, she divides a piece of paper into nine columns and labels each column with a different category, including people, places, things, and events. She then writes down the first few ideas that come to mind when she considers each category. Which brainstorming technique is Padma using?

Clustering

True or false: To capture your audience's attention, you should phrase your central idea as a question

False

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary would be used to brainstorm with which method?

Internet Search

Cassie's specific purpose for her speech is to inform her audience about the benefits of homeownership. She gives her speech to her sister's high school history class, and while a couple of her listeners seem interested, most have bored looks on their faces. Which key question did Cassie forget to ask herself about her specific purpose statement?

Is my purpose relevant to my audience

Which of the following are true of the central idea of a speech?

It is expressed as a declarative sentence

Ian submitted his persuasive specific purpose as "the reasons for global warming." Why should he rewrite it?

It is to broad/It does not include a general purpose

Which of the following statements are true about an effective specific purpose statement?

It states what the speaker wants the audience to know/It includes the general purpose (for example, "to inform")/It focuses on one specific aspect of the broader topic.

Which of the following is an example of an effective central idea?

Obesity threatens the health of individuals, can lead to an early death, and has serious financial consequences

Which of the following is the most effective specific purpose statement?

To inform my audience of the three key benefits of gluten-free diets.

When is it appropriate to speak on a topic you know very little about?

When you are interested in the topic

Which of the following examples is an effective central idea?

Writing a good cover letter is possible if you know what to include, what to leave out, and how to close strong.

What you expect to say in a speech is called the _______ __________

central idea