Question 1

Which of the following is an instance of persuasive speaking?

Accepted Answer

a lawyer arguing for the acquittal of her clientFeedback: This is an instance of persuasive speaking because the speaker is seeking agreement from the audience on a contested issue.

Question 2

Because persuasion aims to change the beliefs or actions of listeners, speaking to persuade is one of the few cases in which a speaker does not need to consider her or his ethical obligations.

Accepted Answer

FalseFeedback: Speakers need to honor their ethical obligations regardless of the kind of speech they are giving. A persuasive speech should be both convincing and ethically sound.

Question 3

The ____________ audience is the portion of the whole audience that the speaker most wants to persuade.

Accepted Answer

targetFeedback: The target audience is the portion of the whole audience that the speaker most wants to persuade.

Question 4

Concentrating on the target audience means that a persuasive speaker can ignore the rest of the audience.

Accepted Answer

FalseFeedback: Even though a persuasive speaker should concentrate on the target audience, she or he needs to keep in mind the ideas and feelings of the entire audience.

Question 5

To persuade my audience that eating yogurt prolongs human life is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of ____________.

Accepted Answer

factFeedback: Because it deals with the truth or falsity of an assertion, this is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of fact.

Question 6

A persuasive speech on a question of fact is essentially the same as an informative speech.

Accepted Answer

FalseFeedback: The aim of an informative speech is to present the facts in an impartial manner. A persuasive speech on a question of fact presents one view of the facts as convincingly as possible. Review Analyzing Questions of Fact.

Question 7

To persuade my audience that discrimination on the basis of marital status is unfair is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of ___________.

Accepted Answer

valueFeedback: This is an example of a question of value, which deals with the fairness, morality, or ethics of an idea or action.

Question 8

Persuasive speeches on questions of value are usually organized in

Accepted Answer

topical orderFeedback: Persuasive speeches on questions of value are usually organized in topical order.

Question 9

Whenever you give a persuasive speech on a question of value, you need to

Accepted Answer

justify your value judgment against a set of standards or criteria.Feedback: When you give a persuasive speech on a question of value, you need to justify your value judgment against a set of standards or criteria. Review Analyzing Questions of Value.

Question 10

A question of ____________ deals with whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken.

Accepted Answer

policyFeedback: A question of policy deals with whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken.

Question 11

To persuade my audience that Congress should revise the laws governing medical malpractice is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of policy.

Accepted Answer

TrueFeedback: Because it recommends taking a particular course of action, this specific purpose statement deals with a question of policy.

Question 12

In a persuasive speech to gain ____________, the speaker's goal is to convince the audience that a given policy is desirable without encouraging the audience to take action in support of that policy.

Accepted Answer

passive agreementFeedback: A speech to gain passive agreement seeks to convince the audience that a given policy is desirable without encouraging the audience to take action in support of that policy.

Question 13

To persuade my audience to become regular blood donors is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech seeking passive agreement.

Accepted Answer

FalseFeedback: This is a specific purpose statement for a speech seeking immediate action rather than passive agreement. Review Types of Speeches on Questions of Policy.

Question 14

What method of organization is used in a persuasive speech with the following main points? I. Fraudulent charity fundraisinghas become a widespread problem.II. The problem can be solved by a combination of government initiative and individual awareness.

Accepted Answer

problem-solution orderFeedback: These main points are organized in problem-solution order, in which the first main point deals with the existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem.

Question 15

____________ is a five-step method of speech organization that follows the process of human thinking and leads the listener step by step to a desired action.

Accepted Answer

Monroe's motivated sequenceFeedback: Monroe's motivated sequence follows the process of human thinking and leads the listener step by step to the desired action.

Question 16

Which of the following is the third step in Monroe's motivated sequence?

Accepted Answer

satisfactionFeedback: Satisfaction is the third step in Monroe's motivated sequence. The five steps, in order, are attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.

Question 17

In the visualization step of Monroe's motivated sequence, the speaker

Accepted Answer

visualizes the benefits of the speaker's solution to the problem.Feedback: The visualization step of Monroe's motivated sequence shows the benefits of the speaker's solution to the problem identified in the need step.

Question 18

Monroe's motivated sequence is most useful for speeches that seek immediate action.

Accepted Answer

TrueFeedback: Monroe's motivated sequence is most useful for persuasive speeches that seek immediate action.

Question 19

When using Monroe's motivated sequence to organize a persuasive speech on a question of policy, the action step should be placed in the

Accepted Answer

conclusionFeedback: The action step in Monroe's motivated sequence should appear in the conclusion of the speech.

Question 20

What method of organization is used in a persuasive speech with the following main points?I. The problem of eating disorders affects more than four million Americans.II. The causes of eating disorders include peer pressure, fad diets, and the media's glamorization of thinness.III. An effective solution to eating disorders must address all three of these causes.

Accepted Answer

problem-cause-solutionFeedback: These main points are organized in problem-cause-solution order, in which the first main point documents the existence of a problem, the second shows the causes of that problem, and the third presents a solution to the problem.

Question 21

Regardless of whether your aim is to encourage passive agreement or immediate action, you must deal with three basic issues whenever you discuss a question of policy. What are they?

Accepted Answer

need, plan, and practicalityFeedback: Need, plan, and practicality are the three issues you must deal with in any persuasive speech on a question of policy.

Question 22

Which of the following statements is most clearly directed at the need issue in a persuasive speech on a question of policy?

Accepted Answer

Tanning beds can cause serious medical problems, including eye burns, blood vessel injuries, and skin cancer.Feedback: This statement is most clearly directed at the need issue because it identifies a serious problem that needs solving.

Question 23

Which of the following statements is most clearly directed at the practicality issue in a persuasive speech on a question of policy?

Accepted Answer

Because this solution has worked in other states where it has been adopted, we can be confident that it will work here.Feedback: This statement is most clearly directed at the practicality issue because it shows that the speaker's plan will in fact solve the problems caused by tanning beds.

Speech: Chapter 16 - Speaking To Persuade Study Questions

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