COMM

As you are planning your informative speech on the prevalence of internet memes in pop culture, you wonder if your audience would know what internet memes are; you are concerned with which of the following aspects of information comprehension and retention?

Choosing specific and familiar language

President George W. Bush, in eulogizing President Reagan, stated when Ronald Reagan was a child he "knew the world as a place of open plains, quiet streets, gas-lit rooms, and carriages drawn by horses." Which language device was President Bush using when he said "carriages drawn by horses"?

He was using inversion.

"Deforestation by lumber interests and toxic-waste dumping are major environmental problems in the United States today." What is wrong with this central idea?

It contains more than one idea.

Selma has found that her central idea does not easily break down into logical divisions. She has also come to the conclusion that asking why the central idea is true does not support her speech purpose. In this case, what method should Selma use to develop her main points?

She should support her central idea with a series of steps.

What is wrong with the following statement in a speech? "If you believe we should have stiffer penalties for juvenile offenders, then write your congressman."

The language is sexist as the term "congressman" implies only men serve in the legislature.

Which of the following is an acceptable specific purpose statement?

To describe to my audience the top three causes of global warming.

Is it important to learn the religious beliefs and/or affiliations of audience members before making a presentation?

Yes, for many people religious beliefs are intense and personal, so your speech must reflect sensitivity.

In Daryl's speech on football, he tells the audience in the introduction that he is going to discuss the history of the sport, some of the rules, and the benefits of playing football on cardiovascular fitness. What type of signpost is Daryl demonstrating?

a preview

"Now that we have seen the causes of unrest in South Africa, we shall turn to their effects" is an example of

a section transition

A speaker talks to a high school class bout Nixon and Watergate without explaining who and what they are. This speaker has made the mistake of failing to consider the listeners'

ages.

Grace knew her speech backwards and forwards, she rehearsed it over and over again, timing it to make sure she didn't run over the time limit. When she actually delivered the speech, she found herself much less nervous and much more confident than she expected to be. Which guideline for developing confidence did she apply here?

be prepared.

While the speaker was making her main points, she noticed facial expressions on listeners' faces that indicated confusion, so she continued what she was saying, but then she backed up and reviewed her previous points for clarification for the audience. Which method of communication best applies to this example?

communication as transaction

In a speech about surfing, the speaker uses a technical term that you don't understand. What are you experiencing?

decoding difficulty

Rey presented an informative speech on earthquakes. He describe the structural causes of earthquakes, how they develop, which areas of the earth are prone to quakes, how quakes are measured, the damage they can do and what to do when one hits. The speech became dry, the audience's attention declined, and Rey's speech exceeded the time limit by five minutes. From this description, what was Rey's mistake?

failure to narrow the topic

Tara was really nervous before her final speech, but she just kept concentrating on how important she believed her message to be. She felt very convicted in her message, and that conviction finally helped her dispel her nervousness before the presentation. Which tip about developing confidence in public speaking does this example reflect?

focus on your message rather than your fear.

In his speech about the Titanic, Keifer said the following: "She was the new world, the new technology, the best of the best. But a technology that failed, leaving many souls in a cold, watery grave." What form of effective language usage has Kiefer employed?

metaphor

If a speaker says, "Tonight, I'm going to discuss with you two reasons why everyone should recycle, including cost-saving benefits and the problems waste creates in the environment," you recognize this as a(n)

preview of main ideas.

In his speech about date rape on college campuses, Ryan cites statistics from state and county law enforcement documents; then he includes statistics from incidents on his own campus. Which principle of selecting the best supporting material is Ryan using?

proximity

At the top of Barnett's speech outline appeared the sentence: "To explain how ignoring recycling efforts hurt our environment." This sentence was followed by: "Failing to recycle cans, newspapers, bottles, and other common household goods threatens the environment for us and our future children." You recognize Barnett's first statement to be a __________________, while the second is _____________________.

specific purpose statement; central idea

"To inform my classmates how to identify three counseling facilities on campus and describe the best way to get help at each one." This statement is an example of a

specific purpose.

Why should you rehearse your speech aloud before preparing your speaking notes?

to determine where you need notes to prompt yourself

What organizational pattern would be most effective for arranging the main points of a speech with the specific purpose: "To inform my audience of the four basic shots in laying a volleyball serve?"

topical