Q&A Hero

Q: T F Knowing how the physical setting might affect your listeners receptivity to your ideas is an important factor in demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F As a general rule, the larger your audience, the more formal your speech presentation should be.

Q: T F The size of the audience is one of the factors to be considered in situational audience analysis.

Q: T F The group membership of an audience can provide excellent clues about their interests and attitudes.

Q: T F As the United States becomes more diverse, speakers no longer need to be sensitive to issues of race, ethnicity, and cultural background in public speaking.

Q: T F Employers are looking for college graduates who can communicate effectively with people of different cultural backgrounds.

Q: T F According to your textbook, sexual orientation is one factor to be considered in demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F According to your textbook, sexual orientation is one factor to be considered in situational audience analysis.

Q: T F A public speaker can safely assume that all members of a religious denomination share the same beliefs and values.

Q: T F Because religion is private and personal for most people, it is seldom an important element in demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F Because men and women in the United States share a much broader range of experiences than they once did, gender is no longer a significant factor in demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F Although the differences between women and men have diminished in recent years, the gender of listeners is still a major factor in audience analysis.

Q: T F Stereotyping is an effective way to use demographic audience analysis in a speech.

Q: T F Audience size, the physical setting for the speech, and the audiences disposition toward the topic are all elements of demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F Gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, and group membership are all factors to consider when conducting a demographic audience analysis.

Q: T F One of the major demographic traits of audiences is interest in the speakers topic.

Q: T F Any characteristic of a given audience is potentially important to a speaker analyzing that audience.

Q: T F Communication scholars use the term identification to refer to the process by which speakers seek to create a bond with audiences by emphasizing common values, goals, and experiences.

Q: T F Listeners typically approach a speech with one question uppermost in their minds: Why is this important to the speaker?

Q: T F Ethnocentrism means that audiences typically approach speeches by asking, Why is this important to me?

Q: T F Egocentrism is the belief that ones culture is superior to all others.

Q: T F As your textbook explains, a speakers frame of reference is usually the same as that of his or her listeners.

Q: T F Even when listeners pay close attention, they dont process a speakers message exactly as the speaker intended.

Q: T F Although most of the process of audience adaptation occurs as part of preparing a speech, a speaker may still need to adapt her or his remarks to the audience during the presentation of the speech.

Q: T F The process of audience adaptation is over by the time a speaker starts delivering the speech.

Q: T F Audience analysis is only important after a speaker has prepared an outline for the speech.

Q: T F Audience analysis is only important after a speaker has completed research for a speech.

Q: T F Audience analysis first comes into play after a speaker has chosen a specific purpose.

Q: T F Audience analysis first comes into play after a speaker has chosen a speech topic.

Q: T F Public speaking is essentially like acting because once you learn a speech, you can give it over and over without adapting to the different audiences you address.

Q: T F The process of audience analysis and adaptation affects every aspect of speech preparation from choosing a topic to delivering the speech.

Q: T F Unlike beginning speakers, experienced speakers have little need for audience analysis.

Q: T F An audiences response to a message is invariably colored by its perception of the speaker.

Q: T F You are most likely to be successful in your classroom speeches if you think of your classmates as a real audience.

Q: T F The classroom is an artificial speaking situation in which you can overlook the attitudes and interests of your audience.

Q: T F Adapting to audiences is one of the easiest tasks facing beginning speakers.

Q: T F Being audience-centered means a speaker must sacrifice what she or he really believes to get a favorable response from the audience.

Q: T F The need to adapt to the audience means that speechmakers must usually compromise their own beliefs or values.

Q: T F The aim of successful speechmaking is to gain a desired response from listeners by any means necessary.

Q: T F Being audience-centered means that your primary purpose as a speaker is to gain a desired response from the audience.

Q: T F According to your textbook, public speakers need to be audience-centered.

Q: Supply the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea for a speech with the following main points: General Purpose: Specific Purpose: Central Idea: II. The second step in making red wine is preparing the grapes. III. The third step in making red wine is fermenting the grapes. IV. The fourth step in making red wine is pressing the grapes. V. The fifth step in making red wine is aging the wine.

Q: What is wrong with the following specific purpose statement for an informative speech? Rewrite the statement to conform with the criteria given in your textbook for effective specific purpose statements. Ineffective Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about astrology. Error: More Effective Specific Purpose: Error: too vague or general; doesnt indicate what specific aspects of astrology will be dealt with in the speech. More Effective Specific Purpose: [examples:] To persuade my audience that astrology cannot be accepted as scientifically valid. OR, To inform my audience of the origins of astrology in ancient Egypt.

Q: Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written central idea for a persuasive speech: Lawyers who promote frivolous personal injury suits are just a bunch of greedy bums!

Q: Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written central idea for an informative speech: Will an asteroid destroy the earth?

Q: The _______________ indicates precisely what the speaker intends to say in the speech.

Q: The _______________ usually encapsulates the main points of your speech in a single sentence.

Q: List three questions you should ask about the suitability of your specific purpose for your audience. a. b. c.

Q: To persuade my audience that the U.S. space program provides important benefits to society is an example of a _______________ .

Q: The _______________ reveals precisely what the speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech.

Q: When your general purpose is to _______________ , you act as a partisan or an advocate.

Q: When your general purpose is to _______________ , you act as a teacher or lecturer.

Q: Benefits of cycling is a poorly phrased central idea for an informative speech because it a. is expressed as a fragment instead of a full sentence. b. fails to refer to the audience. c. is too general. d. all of the above. e. a and c only.

Q: What are the four steps in making pottery? is a poorly phrased central idea for an informative speech because a. it is written as a question rather than a statement. b. it doesnt refer to the speakers credibility. c. it uses figurative language. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: What should be done about the problem of hacking? is a poorly phrased central idea for a persuasive speech because it is a. is too technical. b. is expressed in figurative language. c. phrased as a question instead of as a statement. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: Awesome NASCAR racers is a poorly phrased central idea for an informative speech because it is a. expressed in figurative language. b. written as a fragment instead of as a full sentence. c. too technical. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: The major parts of a motion-picture camera is a poorly phrased central idea for an informative speech because it a. contains figurative language. b. is expressed as a fragment rather than a full sentence. c. fails to refer to the audience. d. all of the above. e. a and c only.

Q: The value of a classic car is determined by its condition, its rarity, and its desirability to collectors is an example of a a. speech goal. b. transition statement. c. specific purpose. d. mission statement. e. central idea.

Q: Denying a college education to children of illegal immigrants is like cutting off your nose to spite your face is a poorly phrased central idea for a persuasive speech because it is a. too technical. b. expressed in figurative language. c. written as a statement instead of as a question. d. all of the above. e. b and c only.

Q: You can increase your gas mileage by reducing the weight in your car, doing regular maintenance, and reducing your driving speed is an example of a a. topic statement. b. general thesis. c. specific purpose. d. transition. e. central idea.

Q: The three main methods of harvesting trees in professional logging are selective cutting, clear cutting, and row thinning is an example of a a. specific purpose. b. transition. c. general purpose. d. signpost. e. central idea.

Q: The three kinds of bait used to attract fish are live bait, prepared bait, and artificial bait is an example of a a. transition. b. central idea. c. specific purpose. d. topic statement. e. general thesis.

Q: According to your textbook, Getting an internship is a challenging experience with great rewards is an example of a(n) a. speech proposal. b. specific purpose. c. informative thesis. d. topic statement. e. central idea.

Q: The three major factors to consider when purchasing a bicycle are the kind of riding you plan to do, the amount of riding you plan to do, and the amount of money you are willing to spend is an example of a a. specific purpose. b. central idea. c. transition. d. general purpose. e. topic statement.

Q: The laser is a highly versatile instrument with important uses in medicine, industry, and art is an example of a a. specific purpose. b. central idea. c. transition. d. general thesis. e. topic statement.

Q: According to your textbook, the central idea of a speech should a. encapsulate the major ideas of your speech. b. be phrased as a statement rather than a question. c. be determined as soon as you decide on your topic. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: As explained in your textbook, the central idea of your speech a. is usually formulated after you have done some research. b. is more precise than your specific purpose statement. c. sums up or encapsulate the major ideas of your speech. d. all of the above. e. b and c only.

Q: The central idea of a speech should be a. written as a complete sentence. b. expressed as a statement, not a question. c. devoid of figurative language. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: As explained in your textbook, the central idea of a speech should be a. phrased as a question. b. free of figurative language. c. determined before the specific purpose. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: The central idea of a speech should be a. expressed as a question. b. written as a complete sentence. c. determined before the specific purpose. d. all of the above. e. b and c only.

Q: The __________ is a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech. a. specific purpose b. central idea c. introduction d. general purpose e. outline

Q: As a specific purpose statement, To inform my audience about climate change is too a. broad. b. scientific. c. speculative. d. personal. e. detailed.

Q: The specific purpose of Stephanies informative speech is To inform my audience about ballet. Are there any flaws in Stephanies specific purpose? a. No. Stephanie has a strong specific purpose statement. b. Yes. Stephanies specific purpose is too impersonal. c. Yes. Stephanies specific purpose is written as a statement rather than a question. d. Yes. Stephanies specific purpose mentions her audience. e. Yes. Stephanies specific purpose is too broad.

Q: Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: To inform my audience about Buddhism. a. Its too technical. b. Its too broad. c. Its too personal. d. Its too figurative. e. Its too specific.

Q: Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: To inform my audience about the stock market. a. Its too figurative. b. Its too detailed. c. Its too general. d. Its too technical. e. Its too trivial.

Q: Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: To inform my audience about the solar system. a. Its too general. b. Its too shallow. c. Its too informative. d. Its too remote. e. Its too impersonal.

Q: As a specific purpose statement, To inform my audience about computer technology is too a. figurative. b. broad. c. trivial. d. technical. e. detailed.

Q: To inform my audience about the basic steps in car maintenance and how to protect their investment with auto insurance is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a classroom speech because it a. is too specific. b. contains figurative language. c. is written as a statement instead of a question. d. contains more than one distinct idea. e. is too technical.

Q: To persuade my audience to give blood and to support the Wilderness Society is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a classroom speech because it a. is not relevant to this audience. b. contains two unrelated ideas. c. is written as a statement instead of a question. d. is too technical for this audience. e. uses figurative language.

Q: Abandoning nuclear power because of accidents would be like throwing the baby out with the bath water is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech because it a. is written as a statement rather than as a question. b. is missing a reference to the audience. c. contains figurative language. d. all of the above. e. b and c only.