| General Purpose | After you have answered the questions “Why am I talking?” and “Who’s listening?”, what’s the first thing you must decide upon when you begin to write a speech? |
| PIE> Persuasive, informative, and entertainment. | What are the general purposes for speaking? |
| To educate, to teach the audience something new. | What is the goal of an informative speech? |
| Informative | What general purpose presents objective facts? |
| Entertainment | What general purpose is also called “after-dinner speaking?” |
| To amuse the audience | What is the goal of an entertainment speech? |
| to convince the audience to change their opinions and make their opinions more like the speaker’s opinion | What is the goal of a persuasive speech? |
| Persuasive | What general purpose tells the audience either the pro or the con of an issue? |
| Persuasive | What general purpose uses subjective facts? |
| It allows you to spend more time writhing a high quality speech. | Why is it important to choose your topic quickly? |
| . 1.) magazines
2.) newspapers
3.) Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature | What are the three places I suggested you look if you’re having trouble choosing a topic? |
| It allows you to do less work and produce a better speech. Narrowing the topic limits your research and permits you to tell more detailed stories with emotional impact. | Why should you narrow a speech topic? |
| Narrowing picks a more specific aspect of a general topic area so “Speech 101 at Morton College” would be an example of a narrowed topic. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’ve decided to present a speech about the general topic area of “Courses at Morton College.” How would you narrow this topic? |
| “How to choose a college” or “How to study for your SAT Test” would be examples. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | . Assume you’re preparing an informative speech on the broad topic area of “education”. How could you narrow this topic to suit an audience of high school juniors? |
| “You should enroll at Morton College” or “Don’t drop out of school” would be examples. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing a persuasive speech on the broad topic area of “education”. How could you narrow this topic to suit an audience of high school juniors? |
| “Job training that doesn’t require a high school diploma” and “How to register for the GED Exam” would be examples. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing an informative speech on the broad topic area of “education”. How could you narrow this topic to suit an audience of high school drop outs? |
| “You should take the GED Exam.” and “Go back to school.” would be examples. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing a persuasive speech on the broad topic area of “education”. How could you narrow this topic to suit an audience of high school drop outs? |
| “How to improve your study skills” and “Graduation requirements” would be examples. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing an informative speech on the broad topic area of “education”. How could you narrow this topic to suit an audience of college students? |
| Specific purpose | What expresses the “desired audience response” of a speech? |
| The specific purpose is never read to the audience. | After what portion of the speech do you read your specific purpose to the audience? |
| 1. one major idea
2. be to the point.
3. be worded in terms of the audience. | What are the three things all good specific purposes should have or be? |
| The word “convince” is incorrect. Correct specific purposes begin “ ‘to persuade’, ‘to inform’ or ‘to entertain’ the audience…” | What is incorrect about the following specific purpose, “to convince the audience to attend Morton College”? |
| The word “people” is incorrect. Correct specific purposes begin “ ‘to persuade’, ‘to inform’ or ‘to entertain’ the audience…” | 2. What is incorrect about the following specific purpose, “to persuade people to attend Morton College”? |
| “Good” is a subjective word. The specific purpose should begin “to persuade the audience…” | What is incorrect about the following specific purpose, “to inform the audience Morton College is a good community college”? |
| Specific purposes should only have one idea. This specific purpose has two: “conveniently located” and “inexpensive”. It needs to be more general. “Conveniently located” and “inexpensive” will probably end up as main points in the outline. | What is incorrect about the following specific purpose, “to persuade the audience Morton College is conveniently located and inexpensive”? |
| The body | Which part of the speech do you write first; the introduction, the body or the conclusion? |
| thesis statement | What presents the most general idea of a speech? |
| the first sentence of the body | Where is the thesis statement usually found in a speech? |
| problem/ solution order | In what main point organizational pattern is the thesis statement never the first sentence in the body? |
| to persuade the audience to try power walking (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re presenting a speech to a group of senior citizens encouraging them to engage in power walking. State an appropriate specific purpose for this speech. |
| You should try power walking. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | State an appropriate thesis statement for the previously-mentioned speech. |
| to inform the audience how to change a flat tire (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you are presenting a speech to this class explaining how to change a flat tire. State an appropriate specific purpose for this speech. |
| I’ll be showing you how to change a flat tire. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | State an appropriate thesis statement for the previously-mentioned speech. |
| A main point. | After the thesis statement, what is the next slightly more specific type of outline point? |
| Roman numerals (I., II., III., IV., V., VI., etc. | How are main points designated in an outline? |
| main points | What type of outline point carries the organizational pattern of a speech? |
| to the thesis statement. | Main points must be relevant. Relevant to what? |
| no two main points should overlap by covering the same material | What is meant by the phrase “main points must be distinctly different”? |
| procedural order. | What organizational pattern uses a time-based step-by-step format? |
| chronological order | “January,” “February,” “March” and “April” would be examples of main points for what organizational pattern? |
| I. Monday
II. Tuesday
III. Wednesday
or
I. 2001
II. 2002
III. 2003
(More than one correct answer is possible.) | State three chronological main points without using months. |
| procedural order | What organizational pattern is frequently used in recipes? |
| comparative order | What is the only organizational pattern that may be used correctly with less than three main points? |
| spatial order | “North”, “South”, “East” and “West” would be examples of main points for what organizational pattern? |
| chronological order | What organizational pattern arranges main points by time, first event to last event, usually referring to events that occurred in the past? |
| Thesis Statement: I’m going to tell you about the first three Presidents of the United States.
I. Washington
II. Adams
III. Jefferson
(More than one correct answer is possible for the thesis statement phrasing.) | Assume you are preparing a speech with the specific purpose, “to inform the audience about the first three Presidents of the United States.” State a thesis statement and three chronological main points. |
| spatial order | What organizational pattern arranges main points according to geographic locations? |
| I. North America
II. Europe
III. Asia | Assume you are giving a speech with the thesis statement “Deforestation has effected every continent in the Northern Hemisphere.” State three spatial main points. |
| causal order | What organizational pattern contains either a final effect or an initial cause in the thesis statement? |
| Thesis Statement: The class performed poorly on the test for many reasons.
I. They didn’t read the textbook.
II. They didn’t take good notes.
III. They were out late partying the night before the test. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you are preparing a speech with the specific purpose, “to inform the audience why the class performed poorly on the test.” Write an appropriate thesis statement and three causal main points. |
| topical order | What organizational pattern uses component parts of the thesis statement to create main points? |
| I. Planets
II. Comets
III. Asteroids
(More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing a speech with the thesis statement, “There are many different objects in our solar system.” State three topical main points. |
| 1.) present a problem
2.) present a solution
3.) defend the solution | What are the three steps of problem/solution order? |
| Step #2. The thesis statement begins presenting the solution. | What problem/solution step begins with the thesis statement? |
| “benefits” and “advantages” | What two words frequently signal the beginning of a problem/solution defense step? |
| a predicted final effect | Assume you’re preparing a speech using causal order. If your thesis statement expresses an initial cause what must each main point express? |
| I. It would be easier to make a left turn from Central Avenue.
II. Less students would be late for class.
III. Less traffic congestion at the other entrances
(More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you’re preparing a speech with the thesis statement, “This college should put up a stoplight at the Central Avenue parking lot exit.” State three causal main points. |
| I. Students would be more comfortable.
II. Students would want to come to class.
III. Students would perform better. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you are preparing a speech with the thesis statement, “Our speech class should meet in a different room.” State three causal main points. |
| comparative order | What organizational pattern compares and contrasts? |
| Morton College would be the same subpoint following each main point. | Assume a speech is using the first type of comparative order. Main point I is “Morton College”. Where would you write “Morton College” if you changed to the second type of comparative order? |
| I. Morton College
A. Baseball
B. Basketball
C. Track
II. Joliet Junior College
A. Baseball
B. Basketball
C. Track | Assume you’re presenting a speech with the thesis statement, "Both Morton College and Joliet Junior College have extensive sports programs.” Create sample outlines using each type of comparative order. Do not go beyond the subpoint level. |
| the body | What is the only portion of a speech written in outline form? |
| numbers (1.,2.,3.,4.......) | How are support points designated in an outline? |
| subpoints (A.) (B.).... | What type of outline point is designated by capital letters? |
| lower case letters | How are further support points designated in an outline? |
| one | What is the maximum number of ideas a single outline point may contain? |
| one | How many subpoints, support points and further support points may you never have in an outline? |
| three to five main points | Typically, how many main points will most speeches have? |
| 1.) You’re saying something you can’t prove.
2.) You’re repeating yourself. | What two mistakes might you be making if you only have one subpoint, support point or further support point in a speech? |
| 1.) Think of another subpoint, support or further support point so there would be two of them.
2.) Combine the one subpoint, support or further support point with whatever point came before it. | Assume you’ve written a speech with only one subpoint, support point or further support point. After you’ve realized your error, what two techniques can you use to correct your mistake? |
| a series of commas or the words “and” or “or” in the middle of an outline point | What are two indications you may have more than one idea in an outline point? |
| capitalize it | What should you do to the first letter of the first word in every outline point? |
| impromptu | What delivery style is used when little or no preparation time is available? |
| Manuscript | In what delivery style do you write the speech word for word in paragraph form? |
| If you don’t practice manuscript delivery you may fall into “reading” the speech off the paper. You’ll have very little eye contact or inflection. | Why is it important to practice manuscript delivery? |
| manuscript | What delivery style should be used when maintaining exact wording, such orally interpreting poetry or prose, is important? |
| extemporaneous | What delivery style are we using in our major speeches? |
| 1.) gather material
2.) write the speech body in outline form
3.) practice the speech out loud at home
4.) deliver the speech conversationally | What are the four steps of extemporaneous delivery? |
| memorized | What more time-consuming delivery style produces improved audience-speaker contact? |
| the audience’s perception of the speaker’s image | What is ethos? |
| 1.) trustworthy as an individual
2.) knowledgeable about the topic
3.) concerned about the audience | name the elements composing a good ethos. |
| the nonverbal message | Which message will be believed if conflicting verbal and nonverbal messages are given? |
| 1.) walk for a reason
2.) walk to a destination | How should your decide what clothes to wear when you are presenting a speech? |
| in front of your sternum (upper rib cage) over the top of the lectern | Where should your hands be placed for convenient gesturing? |
| the high and low tones in your voice. | What is pitch? |
| rate | What term describes to how slowly or quickly you speak? |
| volume | What term describes to how loudly or softly you speak? |
| pausing | What delivery technique emphasizes important ideas and allows the audience time to consider them? |
| “uh”, “you know” (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Give an example of a verbalized pause. |
| say it correctly and keep going | What should you do if you make a mistake when you’re speaking? |
| say them longer | One of the ways to emphasize key words is saying them louder. What is the other way? |
| practice in front of a live audience | What is the most important thing you can do to improve your delivery? |
| 1.) Put your hands in front of your sternum.
2.) Tell someone about your speech and see what gestures you do naturally. | Assume you’re having trouble gesturing. What techniques can you use to improve your hand gestures? |
| Destructive criticism is vague because it only tells someone what s/he did wrong. Constructive criticism offers suggestions for improvement. | What’s the difference between constructive and destructive criticism? |
| two | What is the minimum number of evidence types needed to fully support a main point? |
| 1.) expanded factual examples
2.) testimony
3.) figurative analogies | What three evidence presentation methods were described as having stronger emotional appeal? |
| evidence | What do you call facts or expert opinions proving a generalization? |
| three | How many different illustration types are there? |
| . by making comparisons | How do analogies present evidence? |
| illustrations | What evidence type uses story form? |
| factual examples | Which of the seven evidence presentation methods gives a series of true specific instances stripped of all detail? |
| You’d create a list of outstanding Morton College faculty members | Assume you are presenting a speech with the thesis statement, “Morton College is an outstanding community college.” Main point III says, “Morton has an outstanding faculty.” How would you support that main point using factual examples? |
| They allow you to present a lot of information in a short amount of time. | What is the factual example’s strength as an evidence type? |
| They have very little emotional appeal. | What is the factual example’s weakness as an evidence type? |
| Any of the three evidence types with more emotional appeal; expanded factual examples, testimony or figurative analogies. | Assume you supported a main point with a series of factual examples. Which of the seven evidence types should you add to compensate for the factual example’s weakness? |
| factual examples | Which of the seven evidence types is most commonly used in student speeches? |
| an in depth true story. | What is an expanded factual example? |
| They are emotionally appealing for the audience. | What’s the advantage of using expanded factual examples in a speech? |
| hypothetical illustration | What do you call a fictitious story? |
| You begin by using a key word such as “suppose” or “imagine”. | How do you let an audience know your illustration is hypothetical? |
| 1.) predict the future
2.) create a perfect case | What are the two instances when you would use a hypothetical illustration? |
| hypothetical illustrations They are used to predict the future if the solution is adopted. | Which of the seven evidence types is frequently used during problem/solution defense steps? |
| “If you get a college degree you’ll make more money.” (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Write an example of a hypothetical illustration that could be used in a problem/solution defense step for a speech with the thesis statement, “You should get a college degree?” |
| expert opinion | What is testimony |
| statistics | What evidence type uses numbers? |
| a source who has nothing to gain if the statistics come out certain way | What is meant by an unbiased statistic source? |
| Just over 2 and 1/2 million | How would you simplify the statistic 2,502,258 people? |
| testimony | Which of the seven evidence presentation methods is especially useful for interpreting statistics? |
| figurative analogies | Which of the seven evidence presentation methods compares things from different classes? |
| Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” or “Life is like driving down an expressway. You’ll have countless entrances and exits to choose from until you finally reach your ultimate destination.” (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Write figurative analogy to clarify and explain “life” |
| figurative and literal analogies | Which of the seven evidence presentation methods are especially useful for uninformed audiences? |
| literal analogies | Which of the seven evidence presentation methods compares things from the same class? |
| “The Cubs pitching staff has a lower earned run average than the Sox pitching staff.” (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you are preparing a speech with the thesis statement, “The Chicago Cubs are a better baseball team than the Chicago White Sox.” State a literal analogy that could be used as evidence. |
| statistics and testimony | For which two evidence presentation methods should you orally tell your source to the audience? |
| testimony | Which of the seven evidence types allows you to “borrow” an expert’s ethos? |
| shortening a quotation by leaving out unnecessary material. It’s o.k. to paraphrase a quote as long as the speaker’s original meaning isn’t changed. | What is paraphrasing? |
| pausing | How do you orally indicate the beginning and ending of a quotation or piece of testimony in a speech? |
| one | What is the maximum number of outline points you may give to a single piece of testimony? |
| Hypothetical illustrations are considered the weakest because they are not true. | Which of the three illustration types is considered to be the weakest form of illustrative evidence? |
| Literal analogies are considered stronger since they are comparing items of the same class. Items in the same class will have less dissimilarities. | Which type of analogy is considered the stronger evidence type? |
| 1.) get the audience’s attention
2.) establish the speaker’s ethos
3.) prepare the audience for the speech body | What are the three objectives of a speech introduction? |
| get the audience’s attention | What is the first thing you must accomplish in your introduction? |
| friendly audience | What type of audience agrees with a persuasive speaker? |
| an audience that disagrees with the speaker | What is a hostile audience? |
| persuade | What’s your general purpose if you have a hostile audience? |
| neutral | What type of audience has no opinion during a persuasive speech? |
| direct statement of the topic | What introduction device is only designed to be used with a friendly audience who is already interested in the topic? |
| All a direct statement of the topic introduction does is to get attention it to say what the topic is. If the audience isn’t already interested in the topic they’ll stop listening. | Why should a direct statement of the topic introduction only be used with a friendly, interested audience? |
| Today, I’d like to tell you how to grow better tomatoes in your garden | Give an example of a direct statement of the topic introduction. |
| startling statement | What attention-getting introduction device says something shocking or surprising? |
| It’s important the startling statement shocks in a way that doesn’t hurt the speaker’s ethos and does prepare the audience for the speech body. Inappropriate startling statements may damage the speaker’s ethos and confuse the audience. | What is the danger of using a startling statement introduction? |
| a rhetorical question | What do you call a question to which you don’t expect an answer? |
| A rhetorical questions asks, a startling statement says. | What is the difference between a startling statement and a rhetorical question introduction? |
| quotation | What attention-getting introduction device uses the words of another person? |
| illustration | What attention-getting introduction device tells a story? |
| Use descriptive words to create a mood and practice telling your illustration to be sure that mood comes across to the audience. | What should you do to make sure an illustration introduction is emotionally appealing for your audience |
| reference to the occasion | What attention-getting introduction device is designed to be used at special events? |
| wedding, retirement party, birthday party, etc. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Describe a situation for which a reference to the occasion would be appropriate? |
| establish the speakers expertise. | What device designed to prepare the audience for the speech body heightens the speaker’s ethos? |
| 1.) background information
2.) establish the topic’s importance | What two introduction devices are designed to prepare an uninformed audience for the speech body |
| establish the topic’s importance | What introduction device designed to prepare the audience for the speech body should be used with an audience the speaker feels may not listen because they consider the topic to be old material they already know? |
| First, you get the audience’s attention to a broad topic area. Then, you tell the audience the more specific topic aspect you’ll be discussing in your speech. | How do you focus the audience on the topic? |
| establish a common ground. | What is the only introduction device designed to prepare the audience for the speech body that sometimes begins a speech instead of an attention-getting device? |
| establish a common ground. | What introduction device should always be used with a hostile audience? |
| It’s very important to be able to express yourself with other people. Perhaps the hostile audience member could be persuaded to actively participate in a group or committee. (More than one correct answer is possible.) | What common ground of agreement could be found between an audience who doesn’t want to take a college speech course and a speaker who thinks taking a college speech course is a good idea? |
| the conclusion | What portion of a speech reminds, motivates and gives the audience a sense of completeness? |
| summary | What conclusion device goes back over the highlights of the speech often restating the main points? |
| A challenge conclusion dares the audience to take action about the speech topic as a result of the speech. | What is a challenge conclusion? |
| “You should enroll in a public speaking class because it will help you overcome speech anxiety, teach you to better organize your thoughts and improve your communication skills.” (More than one correct answer is possible.) | Assume you are presenting a speech with the thesis statement, “Everyone should enroll in a public speaking class.” Give an example of a summary conclusion. |
| “Enroll now!” (More than one correct answer is possible | Assume you are presenting a speech with the thesis statement, “Everyone should enroll in a public speaking class.” Give an example of a challenge conclusion. |
| 1.) quotation
2.) rhetorical question
3.) illustration | What three attention-getting introduction devices also serve as conclusion devices? |
| check image | Written below, in manuscript form, is the body of a speech. Using only the material written below, in the order it is presented, turn the paragraph into an outline. Your outline will contain a Thesis Statement and assorted outline points. Also, determine the Specific Purpose and the Organizational Pattern being used.
(A version of this question appears on both tests.)
Stress affects everyone. Alarming statistics show a rise in the tension level experienced by most people. Prolonged stress is also the cause of many illnesses including ulcers and painful migraine headaches. Everyone must learn to cope better with daily stress. There are ways do to reduce the stress in our lives. Each of us needs to learn to relax more. We must accept our personal shortcomings. Meditation relieves stress. Lastly, progressive relaxation has reduced stress for many people. In beginning the progressive relaxation method you would relax your muscles. Then, make yourself comfortable by either sitting or reclining. Next, take a deep breath, hold it for seven seconds and exhale slowly. If you learn to cope with daily stress there will be many benefits. You’ll feel more relaxed. You’ll be happier and you’ll have a better outlook on life. |
