Midterm Activity

Question 1

What part of the brain is home to the most ancient of the gray matter we have inherited through our evolutionary history?

Answer 1

The reptilian brain.

Question 2

What are symptoms of anxiety you may experience during public speaking – similar to what our ancestors would have felt travelling in packs through the African desert?

Answer 2

Sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and shallow breathing, and loss of words/mental blanking.

Question 3

True or False: An experienced speaker is less likely to portray ethos.

Answer 3

Answer: False

Question 4

What is the ability for the speaker to trigger joy, sadness, resentment, fear, or any emotion?

Answer 4

Pathos.

Question 5

What is Pathos?

Answer 5

The ability to stir emotions.

Question 6

How many evidence should you have to support your argument?

Answer 6

Answer: 3

Question 7

According to Cunningham, the smile adopted by women in North America is meant to comfort and reassure, not reflect genuine emotion; in other words, the smile is used to mask real feelings (T/F)

Answer 7

true

Question 8

List an example of why is it important to be aware of cultural differences?

Answer 8

For example, eye contact is conveyed different in each culture and therefore, you have to act according to the situation.

Question 9

Define cortisole?

Answer 9

A steroid hormone produced naturally in response to stressful conditions.

Question 10

Speakers regularly present audiences with plenty of distractions. Name three distractions.

Answer 10

1. Fidgeting with hands
2. Lip-smacking
3. Heavy indrawn breaths

Question 11

What is the percentage that body language accounts for in communication?

a) 50
b) 55
c) 56
d) 54

Answer 11

55

Question 12

Describe a powerful performer?

Answer 12

A powerful performer has good body language such as gestures and platform. However, their body language is purposeful and not repetitive. In addition, they have a good rate, volume and pitch. Lastly, their verbal content is informative and persuasive.

Question 13

What area of the brain bridges the two hemispheres?

a) Broca’s Area
b) Amygdala
c) Corpus Callosum
d) Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Answer 13

c) Corpus Callosum

Question 14

True or False. The left hemisphere handles abstracts well.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

Describe the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning.

Answer 15

Deduction – start with rule – derive conclusion

Inductive – start with many points – find conclusion/theory

Question 16

According to Goffman, what is interaction all about?

Answer 16

It is all about Performance

Question 17

Give an example of impression management?

Answer 17

An example of impression management theory in play is in sports such as soccer. At an important game, a player would want to showcase themselves in the best light possible, because there are college recruiters watching. Without a doubt, this person would have the flashiest pair of cleats and try and perform their best to show off their skills. Their main goal may not be to win the game but instead to impress the college recruiters in a way that increases their chances of being chosen for a college team

Question 18

How is persona effective in public speaking?

Answer 18

It allows you to wear a mask in front of public different from the way you are in private.

Question 19

Breaching Experiment is the study of people’s reaction to friends ( T / F )

Answer 19

F

Question 20

What is the difference between tradition and culture?

Answer 20

Tradition is the passing of beliefs from one generation to the next. Culture consists of the features that describe a society at any given time. Tradition often remains the same over time. Culture changes continuously, even within the same society.