Speech First Semester Review questions Flashcards
Ch. 1:
-Why is it important to study public speaking (7 reasons)?
1) Public Speaking Influences Success in College.
2) Public Speaking Teaches Critical Thinking Skills
critical thinking—the application of the principles of reasoning to your ideas and the ideas of others.
When researching a speech, you must decide what kinds of supporting material, or evidence, best enable you to express your views and develop your arguments.
You use critical thinking skills to build, advance, and assess arguments.
you must make choices about language and expression.
Critical thinking is necessary to the development of an effective speech, and it’s important in your role as listener. A listener perceives through sensory levels and interprets, evaluates, and responds to what he or she hears.
3) Public Speaking Skills Influence Career and Community Success
4) Public Speaking Skills Are Key to Leadership
The only way you can ever be a leader is to learn to speak effectively”
5) Public Speaking Skills Complement Technology
public speaking skills important is that they complement technology.
6) Public Speaking Is Part of Our Democratic Tradition
The drive for change often begins with the spoken word. Indeed, from our founding as a nation, and especially since the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed free speech in 1791, public speaking has served an important purpose in our democratic processes and procedures.
-Describe the eight elements of the communication process as explained on pages 12 through 20 of the text, and be able to explain the process and give examples of each.
- Sender/Receiver
Each speaker brings something unique to the occasion.
an interesting perception of an issue because of static and dynamic variables.
Static variables are those things that remain stable from speaking situation to speaking situation.
include biological aspects such as race, sex, and age. Experience and knowledge are also considered static, because one does not change experience, knowledge, health, and personality based on the speaking situation.
Dynamic variables variables that are subject to change.
include decisions you make about a particular speech, word choice, the structure you choose to support your points, and aspects of appearance that are easily changed (clothing, hair, accessories).
In your role as a speaker, remember two things:
1 YOUR IMAGE MAKES A STATEMENT.
The image your audience has of you will be shaped with each comment you make.
you must deal with your audience’s preconceived notions.
your listeners need only a few moments to pass judgment on your confidence, knowledge, integrity, and skill.
2 THE SPEAKER AND THE AUDIENCE BOTH HAVE NEEDS.
The speech is about you and your audience.
speakers need to be understood, to have influence, to bring about action, to be liked, or to be respected.
After the presentation, the successful speaker will meet the needs of his/her audience,
An effective speaker monitors this audience reaction, or feedback, and adjusts appropriately. - Receiver/Sender
In public speaking, the receiver is the collection of individuals gathered to hear the speaker.
An effective speaker focuses on having some meaningful impact on our receivers.
Listeners (receivers) bring their own frames of reference, which are influenced by the same variables found in the speaker: race, gender, age, health, personality, knowledge, experience, and so on. These variables influence how the audience responds to a speaker’s message.
Because the potential for misunderstanding always exists, it is critical to plan every speech with your audience in mind. .
Listening to the speaker and interpreting the speaker’s message is the receiver’s primary role in the communication process.
However, receivers also send messages nonverbally while the speaker presents his/her message. They clap, laugh, yawn, talk to each other, text, frown, and smile.
All of these behaviors communicate some message to the speaker.
The receiver is not a passive participant in the communication process. - Message
The message is what is communicated by the speaker and perceived by the audience.
Public speaking is a meaning-centered process.
the essence of the message lies not only in what the speaker intends, but also in the meaning ascribed to the message by the listeners.
A fundamental task of the speaker’s message is to maximize understanding. - Channel
The channel is the medium through which the message is sent.
the richest channel for communication is still face-to-face.
you have the advantage of experiencing the speaker firsthand.
better position to judge the intangible qualities, including the speaker’s honesty, ethical stance, commitment to the topic, trustworthiness, and sincerity. - Feedback
refers to the messages the audience sends back to the speaker.
Immediate feedback may include applause, yawns, laughter, verbal comments, and even boos.
Immediate feedback is difficult for speakers to interpret accurately at first, but with practice, interpreting feedback becomes easier.
Delayed feedback may come in the form of letters, emails, phone calls, formal evaluation, or votes. - Noise
anything that interferes with the communication process. Noise can be physical, physiological, psychological, or semantic in nature.
Physical noise includes anything in the environment that distracts the speaker or listeners.
Generally, some physical noise always exists and both speaker and listeners are aware of physical noise.
To minimize the effects of physical noise, we suggest working to filter it out by staying focused on the message.
Physiological noise occurs when our senses fail us in some way.
If we have hearing loss or poor vision,we might become frustrated when we cannot hear or see adequately.
a speaker may grapple with physi
When our senses fail us, typically they are accompanied by another kind of noise as well, that being psychological.
Our mind sends us silent, distracting messages of frustration.
Psychological noise exists in the individual’s mind.
The speaker could be having a bad day and is not happy to be there or it may be near lunch time and the listeners are thinking about how hungry they are
Semantic noise refers to a disconnect between the speaker’s words and the listener’s interpretation.
may result from the use of inappropriate or offensive words, misunderstanding or misinterpretation, or disagreement on the meaning of words. - Occasion
The situation for public speaking is often referred to as the occasion and is composed of the time, place, event, and traditions that define the moment.
Physical surroundings help define the speaking occasion. - Cultural Context
Every speaking occasion operates within a broader cultural context that affects the entire experience.
Culture is defined in terms of norms, the rules people follow in their relationships with one another; values, the feelings people share about what is right or wrong, good or bad, desirable or undesirable; customs accepted by the community of institutional practices and expressions; institutions; and language.
Culture often determines the common ground between speaker and audience.
An effective speaking style in the United States may not be viewed as such by members of a different culture.
What are the five steps of preparing to speak? Why is each of these steps important, and how do they contribute to the overall success of a speech. Be able to give examples of how these steps might be accomplished successfully and/or unsuccessfully.
1) Select and narrow an audience-centered topic.
2) Develop content through research and sound support.
3) Draft the introduction, body, and conclusion.
4) Develop the language of the speech with care.
5) Practice!
How might the speaking assignment influence a speaker’s decisions in creating a speech?
Know the Speaking Assignment
Before considering topics, know the constraints of the speaking assignment:
Time requirements for the speech
Time-frame for preparation
Type of source materials acceptable (print? Internet? interviews? personal experience?)
Timeliness of research (last five years? last 10 years?)
Number of sources required (three sources? five? eight?)
Note cards (Can I use note cards? How many?)
Media (Will a computer be available? PowerPoint? Multimedia possibility? Smart Board?)
What does it mean to be an audience-centered speaker, and how can a speaker learn to understand the audience?
Understand the Audience
public speaking is an audience-centered activity.
Your reason for presenting a speech is to communicate your message to others in the clearest, most convincing way.
An effective speaker analyzes and adapts to the audience.
This involves finding out as much as possible about your audience in advance:
What does the audience know about me?
What does the audience know about my topic?
What are the audience’s views on my topic and purpose?
How do audience members define themselves as an audience?
How do the setting and occasion influence my audience?
What other factors might affect how the audience responds?
it’s harder to reach a captive audience (those who are required to attend) than a voluntary audience (those who choose to attend).
How can a speaker balance the desire to speak about something familiar with the need to speak on a topic the listeners want to hear more about?
-What makes a topic relevant?
Choose an Appropriate Topic
If you can choose the topic the best place to begin your search for a topic is yourself.
When the topic springs from your own interests, personal experience, or work experience, you bring to it the motivation and information necessary for a good speech.
While choosing a topic you are familiar with is the best place to begin, carefully consider what your listeners might want to hear.
Once you’ve developed a list that your audience may have interest in, you can select a few that might be worth exploring in more depth.
Finally, in addition to selecting topics that you have interest in or your listeners want to hear, you can work to find a topic through research.
Do not assume, however, that any topic is relevant.
Some topics have been used so often that there is not much left to say in the short amount of time you will have.
What are the three general purposes for speeches? Be able to give an example of each.
1) TO inform
2) To persuade
3) To entertain
How do the general purpose and specific purpose differ? Be able to write a specific purpose.
GENERAL Purpose is to inform, persuade or entertain
SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
Once the general purpose is set for your speech, determine the specific purpose.
This is the precise response you want from your audience.
Specific purpose statements should be expressed as an infinitive phrase that includes the general purpose as well as the main thrust of your speech.
The specific purpose also identifies who the intended audience is.
Because the specific purpose identifies the audience who will hear your speech, it guides you in speech preparation.
A specific purpose statement should be written with one goal in mind.
a specific purpose statement must be clear to all readers..
What is a thesis statement’s role in a speech? Be able to create a thesis statement.
THESIS STATEMENT.
your core idea, focuses on what you want to say.
The thesis statement is the central message you want listeners to take with them.
It distills your speech to one sentence, summarizing your main idea.
The following examples show how one moves from a topic to a thesis statement.
What is plagiarism, and why is it unethical? What are some examples of plagiarism? What are a few types of supporting materials?
Plagiarism involves using another’s work, words, or ideas without adequate acknowledgment.
Use accurate and current information, rely on sound reasoning, and present a speech that is your own, based on your independent research and views.
Remember to cite sources and to quote and paraphrase correctly when you present information or ideas that are not your own.
What kind of language is preferred in speeches? Why? How formal are speeches, as opposed to writing?
4 guidelines will help you choose your words with care.
1) Use Plain English
2) Let simple, direct language convey your message. Y.
3) Remember That Writing and Speaking Are Different Activities.
Relate Your Language to Your Audience’s Level of Knowledge.
4) Use Language for Specific Effect
Keep your audience in mind as you choose effective language for communicating your ideas.
What does it mean to be a culturally sensitive speaker, and why is this important to accomplishing a speaker’s goal?
Be Culturally Sensitive
Inappropriate cultural references do harm to others and should be eliminated from your speech.
Avoid stereotyping, and avoid making comments about the audience or audience members that may be offensive.
What is the role of rehearsal in an effective speech?
Be so comfortable with what you are going to say that you don’t have to think about it.
Ch. 3:
-What does it mean to be audience-centered, and why is this important?
Making your intended audience central in your message formation will result in a stronger, more tailored speech that resonates with your listeners
Early in your speech, telling your audience what’s in it for them and letting them know they were front and center in your mind as you worked on your message is a great way to help establish your credibility, common ground, and build their interest in your topic..
What are the two main types of audience analysis?
3
What are the 10 key demographics speakers should consider?
How can each be used in creating a speech?
1 AGE. Try to determine the age of your audience and if there is a large or a small variation in age.
“How does my age potentially impact my audience’s perceptions of me?”
reflect on how you might make these assumptions work in your favor instead of against you.
When taking into consideration your age and the age(s) of your audience, we suggest the following:
Avoid assumptions about the average age of your audience.
Focus on your speech, not your age.
Avoid dating yourself with references or language.
2 GENDER. Consider the composition of your next audience.
male , female, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered.
Maintaining this awareness by using sensitive and inclusive language and examples goes a long way toward fostering common ground, inclusiveness, and a more positive response to your message.
Avoid unfairly categorizing or stereotyping members of the audience.
For the most part, speakers should avoid relying on the masculine pronoun and find ways to include men and women in their audiences.
3 RACE AND ETHNICITY.
Within diversity are cultural beliefs and traditions that may be different from your own
avoid invoking stereotypes related to race, ethnicity, or nationality, even if these groups are not present in your audience.
Understand that ethnocentrism, which is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to other cultures, comes into play when we express a bias for the way we do things.
4 EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE.
Knowing the educational level of your audience will aid in the construction of your message.
Determine what type of background information or explanation is needed
Consider language : speak to your audience, not over their heads or at such a basic level that you sound condescending.
Do not assume that expertise in one area necessarily means expertise in others.
Be careful about assuming what your audience knows—and does not know—about technical topics. people who are confused or who know much more about a subject may simply stop listening.
5 GROUP AFFILIATION.
Listeners may identify themselves as members of formal and informal interest groups.
An informal interest group generally doesn’t require signing up or paying for membership, or making any type of formal commitment.
Examples
YouTube watchers,
Starbucks customers
residents of an inner-city neighborhood.
A formal interest group usually requires an official commitment, such as signing a membership form or paying dues.
Examples
Future Farmers of America
Chamber of Commerce
LISTSERV on alternative treatments for Alzheimer’s
Our main suggestion with regard to group affiliation is to avoid assuming that all members of a group have similar attitudes.
Knowing group affiliation may help us construct our main points and identify appropriate supporting material. We need to take caution, however, and avoid stereotyping the group.
6 OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS.
Occupational information can often tell you a great deal about listeners’ attitudes.
Knowledge of what your listeners do for a living may also tell you the type of vocabulary appropriate for the occasion.
Do not use job-related jargon indiscriminately; rather, use it to your advantage.
may lead you to decide not only what type of information to include, but what specific statistics, examples, or illustrations would be most effective for the particular group.
avoid too little analysis or too much analysis of the importance of occupational affiliation to your audience members.
7 SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
be mindful of your audience’s financial status while framing your message.
8 RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND.
consider that religious beliefs may also define moral attitudes.
Explaining your frame of reference and personal biases is ethical and builds rapport, even with those who don’t share your convictions. Audiences expect and respect honesty.
Where possible, remove stumbling blocks for your audience by being forthright and truthful about your own religious convictions while also communicating tolerance and open-mindedness to other perspectives.
9 POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
If you are fundraising for the homeless, you will probably give a different speech to a group with liberal beliefs than to a group of conservatives.
10 GEOGRAPHIC IDENTIFIERS.
north/south or east/west. T
urban versus rural.
audience that lives in the same community, or you may have an audience that represents a number of communities.
A third geographic identifier relates to terrain, such as living near mountains, lakes, oceans,
understanding geographical identifiers as well as focusing your message as much as possible on geographical areas of concern will enhance your message’s impact and your credibility with your audience.
You may need to adapt your message to accommodate not only differences in language, speech rate, and references, but also specific interests and issues.
What are stereotypes, and why are they unethical?
a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
What is ethnocentric, and how can a speaker avoid ethnocentrism in speeches?
Understand that ethnocentrism, which is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to other cultures, comes into play when we express a bias for the way we do things.
What are beliefs, values, and attitudes, and how does each affect how an audience member receives a speech?
BEHAVIORS.
lifestyle choices say something about you.
Attitudes are predispositions to act in a particular way that influences our response to objects, events, and situations.
Beliefs represent a mental and emotional acceptance of information. They are judgments about the truth or the probability that a statement is correct. Beliefs are formed from experience and learning; they are based on what we perceive to be accurate.
Values are deep-seated abstract judgments about what is important to us.
-What is the difference between terminal and instrumental values?
Terminal values are those we would like to achieve within our lifetime.
These include national security, family security, equality, and freedom.
Instrumental values help us achieve the terminal values, such as intellect, ambition, self-control, responsibility, and independence.
Values separate the worthwhile from the worthless and determine what we consider moral, desirable, important, beautiful, and worth living or dying for..
-Why is an audience’s interest level important?
Discovering the interest level in your topic and your audience’s expectations helps you adapt to your audience. Interest level often determines audience response.
We tend to pay attention to things that are timely and that we know will affect us.
-What are the various ways a speaker can access audience information?
3 ways to access your audience’s demographic and psychographic characteristics as well as their interest level and expectations.
Using a Questionnaire
can determine the specific demographic characteristics of your listeners as well as their perceptions of you and your topic.
can also tell you how much knowledge your listeners have about your topic and the focus they would prefer in your speech.
online survey creation and response tabulation companies like SurveyMonkey.com now make it easier to poll a group of people via the Internet.
design specific questions that are likely to get you the information you need. 3 basic types of questions.
Fixed-alternative questions
limit responses to specific choices,yielding valuable information about such demographic factors as age, education, and income. Fixed-alternative questions can offer many responses, or they can offer only two alternatives, such as yes/no questions.
Advantage easy to answer, tabulate, and analyze. These questions yield standardized responses.
Fixed alternative questions avoid confusion.
The disadvantage of using fixed-alternative questions is that it may force people to respond to a question when they are uncertain or have no opinion, especially if you fail to include “no opinion” as a possible response.
Scale questions are a type of fixed-alternative question that asks people to respond to questions set up along a continuum.
disadvantage of the scale question is that it is difficult to get in-depth information about a topic.
open-ended question, audience members can respond however they wish.
Because the responses to open-ended questions are so different, they can be difficult to analyze.
advantage to these questions is that they allow you to probe for details and you give respondents the opportunity to tell you what is on their minds.
2) Guidelines for Survey Questions
Avoid leading questions. Try not to lead people to the response you desire through the wording of your question.
Avoid ambiguity. When you use words that can be interpreted in different ways, you reduce the value of a question.
Ask everyone the same questions.
Be aware of time constraints. Although questionnaires can help you determine interest, attitudes, and knowledge level, they also take time.
3) Observe and Interview
You may find that the best way to gather information about a prospective audience is to assume the role of an observer.
The information you gather from observing and interviewing is likely to be richer if you adopt a less formal style than you used in a traditional audience analysis questionnaire to gather information about your speech topic.
-What types of questions are most helpful to public speakers, and what are some examples of each?
Fixed-alternative questions
limit responses to specific choices,yielding valuable information about such demographic factors as age, education, and income. Fixed-alternative questions can offer many responses, or they can offer only two alternatives, such as yes/no questions.
Advantage easy to answer, tabulate, and analyze. These questions yield standardized responses.
Fixed alternative questions avoid confusion.
The disadvantage of using fixed-alternative questions is that it may force people to respond to a question when they are uncertain or have no opinion, especially if you fail to include “no opinion” as a possible response.
Scale questions are a type of fixed-alternative question that asks people to respond to questions set up along a continuum.
disadvantage of the scale question is that it is difficult to get in-depth information about a topic.
open-ended question, audience members can respond however they wish.
Because the responses to open-ended questions are so different, they can be difficult to analyze.
advantage to these questions is that they allow you to probe for details and you give respondents the opportunity to tell you what is on their minds.
-What are some guidelines for writing survey questions?
Avoid leading questions. Try not to lead people to the response you desire through the wording of your question.
Avoid ambiguity. When you use words that can be interpreted in different ways, you reduce the value of a question.
Ask everyone the same questions.
Be aware of time constraints. Although questionnaires can help you determine interest, attitudes, and knowledge level, they also take time.
-What is the role of observing and interviewing in learning about an audience?
You may find that the best way to gather information about a prospective audience is to assume the role of an observer.
The information you gather from observing and interviewing is likely to be richer if you adopt a less formal style than you used in a traditional audience analysis questionnaire to gather information about your speech topic.
What are the ways speakers can create a speaker-audience connection? Be prepared to give examples of each.
1) Get to the Point Quickly
2) First impressions count. What you say in the first few minutes is critical.
3) Tell your listeners how you can help them first, not last.
4) Have Confidence: They Want to Hear Your Speech
When you feel your listeners know more than you do about your topic, realize they have invited you for a reason.
5) Simply acknowledging your audience’s education or intelligence and mentioning your contribution may be a unique approach, and also may help create a bond of mutual respect.
6) Be of the People, Not Above the People
We do not want to listen to speakers who consider themselves more accomplished, smarter, or more sophisticated than we are.
If speakers convey even a hint of superiority, listeners may tune them out.
7_ Use Humor.
Humor can help you connect with your audience and help them think of you as approachable rather than remote.
Opening your speech with something that makes people smile or laugh can put both you and your listeners at ease.
Effective humor should be related in some way to the subject of your speech, your audience, or the occasion.
be careful: Useless or ineffective humor can damage your credibility and hurt your connection with your audience.
8) Get Personal
Connections can be made by linking yourself directly to the group you are addressing and by referring to your audience with the pronoun “you” rather than the third-person “they.”
Content is another way to make it personal. Stories, anecdotes, and examples from your own experience are generally appreciated.
Abide by this rule: If you are not comfortable with it being put in the headlines of the local paper, leave it out of your speech.
9) Encourage Participation
When you invite the listeners to participate in your speech, they become
Involve the entire audience and they will hang on your every word. While adding participation takes time away from your speaking, it is well worth the investment.
Examine Other Situational Characteristics
When planning your speech, other situational characteristics need to be considered, including time of day, size of audience, and size of room.
Room size is important because it influences how loudly you must speak and determines whether you need a microphone.
keep in mind, proper microphone technique takes practice, preferably in the auditorium in which you will speak.
10) Learn as You Go
Discovering what your audience thought of your speech can help you give a better speech next time.
Realizing the importance of feedback, some professional speakers hand out post-speech questionnaires designed to find out where they succeeded and where they failed to meet audience needs.
Finding out what your audience thought may be simple. I
4 questions you might ask:
Did the speech answer your questions about the topic? If not, what questions remain?
How can you apply the information you learned in the presentation to your own situation?
What part of the presentation was most helpful? Least helpful?
How could the presentation have better met your needs.
-Why is listening important to public speaking?
These skills are essential for two different but complementary reasons.
First, by understanding the needs of your listening audience, you are able to develop and deliver speeches that have the greatest chance of communicating your intended meaning.
The earliest Jesuit missionaries made it a point to enter new locations and not speak for six months. Instead, they listened. They recognized the importance of understanding the other person’s perspective before attempting to educate.
Second, by understanding the factors affecting listening, you are able to monitor your own listening habits, and more effectively evaluate and criticize the speeches of others, including your classmates. A direct relationship exists between the quality of your listening and the quality of your speaking.
Good speakers use what they hear to analyze and respond to the needs of their audience, and to present information in a way that promotes communication..
What is the difference between hearing and listening?
Hearing is the physical ability to receive sounds.
Listening is an active process that includes hearing.
listening is “the attending, receiving, interpreting, and responding to messages presented aurally”.
What are the reasons audiences stop listening, and how does Table 4.1 illustrate these? Can you provide examples of your own?
1) WHEN OUR ATTENTION DRIFTS.
Listeners drift in and out of a speech,
few of us are able to pay attention to a single stimulus for more than 20 seconds without focusing, at least momentarily, on something else.
2) WHEN WE ARE DISTRACTED.
Our environment determines how well we can listen.
3) WHEN WE HAVE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS.
Before the speaker in the example above opened his mouth, the listener had already decided what the speaker stood for based on the speaker’s appearance.
4) WHEN WE DISAGREE.
a perspective that reduced the listener’s willingness and ability to consider the speaker’s message.
5) WHEN WE ARE PREJUDICED OR INFLEXIBLE.
6) WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH ABSTRACTIONS AND FORM OUR OWN OPINIONS. The speaker never defined the term. This meaning may or may not have coincided with the speaker’s intent.
