Final Exam Study Guide Key Terms Flashcards
Manuscript Speech
An speech that is written out word for word and read to the audience.
Nonverbal Communication
Communication based on a person’s use of voice and body, rather than on the use of words.
Impromptu speech
A speech delivered with little or no immediate preparation.
Extemporaneous Speech
A carefully prepared and rehearsed speech that is presented from a brief set of notes.
Conversational Quality
Presenting a speech so it sounds spontaneous no matter how many times it has been rehearsed.
Volume
The loudness or softness of the speaker’s voice.
Pitch
The highness or lowness of the speaker’s voice.
Inflections
Changes in the pitch or tone of a speaker’s voice.
Monotone
A constant pitch or tone of voice
Rate
The speed at which a person speaks.
Pause
A momentary break in the vocal delivery of a speech.
Vocalized Pause
A pause that occurs when a speaker fills the silence between words with vocalizations such as “uh,” “er,” and “um.”
Vocal variety
Changes in the speaker’s rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and expressiveness.
Pronunciation
The accepted standard of sound and rhythm for words in a given language.
Articulation
The physical production of particular speech sounds.
Dialect.
A variety of a language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary.
Kinesics
The study of body motions as a systematic mode of communication.
Gestures
Motions of a speaker’s hands or arms during a speech.
Eye contact.
Direct visual contact with the eyes of another person.
Persuasion
The process of creating, reinforcing, or changing people’s beliefs or actions.
Mental dialogue with the audience.
The mental give-and-take between speaker and listener during a persuasive speech.
Target audience.
The portion of the whole audience that the speaker most wants to persuade.
Question of fact
A question about the truth or falsity of an assertion.
Question of value
A question about the worth, rightness, morality, and so forth of an idea or action.
Question of policy
A question about whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken.
Speech to gain passive agreement
A persuasive speech in which the speaker’s goal is to convince the audience that a given policy is desirable without encouraging the audience to take action in support of the policy.
Speech to gain immediate action
A persuasive speech in which the speaker’s goal is to convince the audience to take an action in support of a given policy.
Need
The first basic issue in analyzing a question of policy; is there a serious problem or need that requires a change from current policy?
Burden of proof
The obligation facing a persuasive speaker to prove it that a change from current policy is necessary.
Plan
The second basic issue in analyzing a question of policy; if there is a problem with current policy, does the speaker have a plan to solve the problem?
Practicality
The third basic issue in analyzing a question of policy; will the speaker’s plan solve the problem? Will it create new and more serious problems?
Problem-solution order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point deals with the existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem.
Problem-cause-solution order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point identifies a problem; the second main point analyzes the causes of the problem, and the third main point presents a solution to the problem
Comparative advantages order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which each main point explains why a speaker’s solution to a problem is preferable to other proposed solutions.
Monroe’s motivated sequence
A method of organizing persuasive speeches that seek immediate action. The five steps of the motivated sequence are attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.
Ethos
The name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as credibility.
Credibility
The audience’s perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic. The two main factors influencing a speaker’s credibility are competence and character
Initial credibility
The credibility of a speaker before he or she starts to speak.
Derived credibility
The credibility of a speaker produced by everything she or he says and does during the speech.
Terminal credibility
The credibility of a speaker at the end of the speech.
Creating common ground
A technique In which a speaker connects himself or herself with the values, attitudes, it experiences of the audience.
Evidence
Supporting materials used to prove or disprove something.
Logos
The name used by Aristotle for the logical appeal of a speaker. The two major elements of logos are evidence and reasoning
Reasoning
The process of drawing a conclusion on the basis of evidence.
Reasoning from specific instances
Reasoning that moves from particular facts to a general conclusion
Reasoning from principle
Reasoning that moves from a general principle to a specific conclusion
Causal reasoning
Reasoning that seeks to establish the relationship between causes and effects.
Analogical reasoning
Reasoning in which a speaker competes two similar cases and infers that what is true for the first case is also true for the second
Fallacy
An error in reasoning
Hasty generalization
A fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence
False cause
A fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second
Invalid analogy
An analogy in which the two cases being compared are not essentially alike.
Bandwagon
A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.
Red herring
A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion.
Ad hominem
A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.
Either-or
A fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist.
Slippery slope
A fallacy which assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented.
Appeal to tradition
A fallacy which assumes that something old is automatically better than something new.
Appeal to novelty
A fallacy which assumes that something new is automatically better than something old.
Pathos
The name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as emotional appeal.
Chronological order
Main points follow a time pattern.
Spatial order
Main points follow a directional pattern.
Causal order
Main points show a cause-effect relationship
Problem-solution order
First main point deals with the existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem
Topical order
Main points divide the topic into logical and consistent subtopics
Introductions
- get attention and interest of audience
- reveal the topic of your speech
- establish your credibility
- preview the body of your speech
Conclusion
- to let the audience know you are ending the speech
- to reinforce the audience’s am understanding of the central idea.
Preparation outline
A detailed outline developed during the process of speech preparation that includes the title, specific purpose, central idea, main points, subpoints, connectives, conclusion, and bibliography.
Speaking outline
A brief outline used to jog a speaker’s memory during the presentation of a speech.
Simile
Comparison with like or as
Cliché
Overused expression
Metaphor
Comparison without use of like or as
Rhythm
Pattern of sound created by choice and arrangement of words.
Parallelism
Similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences.
Repetition
Reiteration of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences.
Alliterations
Repetition of the initial consonant sound.
Antithesis
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure.
Answering audience questions
- have positive attitude
- listen carefully
- direct answers to entire audience
- be honest and straightforward.
- stay on track
Preparing visual aids
- prepare well in advance
- keep simple
- make sure they are large enough
- use limited text.
- use fonts effectively
- use color effectively
- use images strategically
Guidelines for informative speaking
- don’t over estimate what the audience knows
- relate subject directly to the audience
- don’t be too technical
- avoid abstractions
- personalize your ideas
- be creative
