Oral Communication

Question 1

Impromptu Speech

Answer 1

Spur of the moment with no preparation. Less structured and less supported by facts and evidence to allow for spontaneity. Ideas still supported with statements that demonstrate pertinence, variety, and detail.

Question 2

Extemporaneous Speech

Answer 2

Short, informal speech on a topic that is made without extensive time or preparation. Delivered without test or notes and is improvised rather than composed.

Question 3

Persuasive Speech

Answer 3

Tightly focused form designed to persuade the audience to believe something, agree with some viewpoint, or take some action. Can be organized in different ways:

Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution
Comparison and Contrast
Assertion and Reasons
Motivated Sequence

Question 4

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Answer 4

Attention (getting the audience’s attention)

Need (describing the problem and showing the need for a solution)

Satisfaction (presenting a solution that satisfies the need)

Visualization (visualizing the result of the solution)

Action (requesting the audience to approve or take action)

Question 5

Expository Speech

Answer 5

Intended to be informative and does not express the speaker’s personal opinion. Presents information that is attempted as factual.

Question 6

Interpretive Speech

Answer 6

Intended to bring to life a text or piece of literature through the creative use of voice, gestures, and facial expression.

Question 7

Debate

Answer 7

Structured program or contest of formal arguments that take opposing points of view. Contains opinions that are supported by facts and examples.

Question 8

Proposition

Answer 8

Beginning of a debate. “Be it resolved: ____” (the issue at hand)

Question 9

Proposition Side

Answer 9

Advocates adopting the resolution or argues in favor of proposition

Question 10

Opposition Side

Answer 10

Tries to refute resolution/proposition

Question 11

Team Policy Debate

Answer 11

Popular in high schools. Each team has two eaters for a total of 4 participants. Eight speeches in all. First four are eight minutes (constructive speeches- teams use them to lay out the main points of argument). Last four speeches are four minutes each (rebuttals- extend, apply, and challenge the arguments that have already been made). May also be a 3 minute cross examination period following the round of constructive speeches. Focuses on ability to gather evidence and organize a response rather than persuading.

Proposition = Affirmative/Aff
Opposition = Negative/Neg

Question 12

Lincoln-Doublas Debate

Answer 12

Based on debate between Illinois senatorial candidates. One-on-one debate consisting of five speeches and two cross-examination periods. Affirmative speaker has one more opportunity to speak than the negative speaker (but both have the same amount of speaking time). Places more emphasis on persuasive speaking, usually in a discussion of competing ethical values or actions.

Question 13

Performance Skills that make a more effective speaker

Answer 13

Diction, enunciation, volume, rate/pace, pitch, body language and gestures, eye contact, response to audience

Question 14

Diction

Answer 14

The accent, inflection, intonation, and speech-sound quality employed by a speaker.

Accent and intonation that is easily heard and understood by the audience. (Ex. news anchors, sports announcers, etc.)

Varied intonation. Some sentences rise in intonation (question).

Ability to hit or emphasize important words and phrases to communicate ideas.

Avoids vocal pauses such as “um” or “er” or repeated words that become verbal tics such as “like” or “you know”

Question 15

Enunciation

Answer 15

Ability to speak clearly and articulate each speech sound without stumbling or saying the wrong words.

Question 16

Volume

Answer 16

Loudness or softness of speech sounds. Should speak loudly enough to be heard while varying volume levels to emphasize certain points and passages and occasionally jolt the listeners back to attention. Also related to resonance of a voice, speakers should try to maintain a full and rich a sound as their voices can achieve.

Question 17

Rate/Pace

Answer 17

The speed at which a speaker delivers words. Students must be reminded to slow down when speaking so as not to sound nervous or flustered. Often related to the comfort level of the speaker and the listener.

Question 18

Pitch

Answer 18

High/low notes. Greater range of speech sounds. Variety avoids monotone. Proper breathing can help. A nervous speaker may take shallow breaths that lead to softer voice. Take deep breath from the diaphragm, calming effect.

Question 19

Body Language and Gestures

Answer 19

Used to emphasize main points or even to add humor. Should be used sparingly, however, and should not be stilted or artificial. Otherwise, the speaker should stand straight and still without unnecessary or distracting fidgets.

Question 20

Eye Contact

Answer 20

Maintain a connection with the members of the audience to gauge audience reaction during a speech. Speaker should make eye contact with a variety of listeners, moving gaze around slowly. Look up occasionally if text is written.

Question 21

Response to the Audience

Answer 21

Speaker being aware of nonverbal signals that indicate something the audience might want or need. Can signal the need to raise volume, restate idea, answer questions. Students should not be defensive to criticism.

Question 22

Active Listening Skills

Answer 22

Teacher should remind students to listen frequently. Allows classroom discussion. Take notes on speaking.

Question 23

Various responses speaker should be prepared for

Answer 23

A hostile member of the audience, remain calm and reasonable. Remain polite. Brush it off with humor/remind them that questions will be after.

Dealing with an expert. Change course and allow audience to determine where presentation goes. Might introduce facts/details that you hadn’t planned because they are “insider oriented”

Audience is skeptical. Acknowledge audiences concerns specifically. Demonstrate that you understand why the issue is difficult and find areas of common ground to begin.