Deck 8: Selecting a Topic and Connecting to the Audience

Question 1

While searching for a speech topic, Charlie writes down the broad subject area of "health issues" and lists several topics that he finds interesting under this heading. Charlie continues until he's narrowed this subject to one specific topic, "eating a plant-based diet for heart health." What technique for finding a topic is Charlie using?

A) conducting an Internet search
B) engaging with social media
C) self-inventory
D) brainstorming

Answer 1

C

Question 2

For a classroom speaking situation, what consideration does the text advise is most essential to successfully selecting a speech topic?

A) beginning your search as soon as you receive the assignment
B) selecting a topic area currently in the news
C) finding a topic your audience knows nothing about
D) choosing the first idea you find viable

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Nate is brainstorming for his next speech assignment and comes up with ten good ideas for his informative speech. He selects the topic of "drones," then after some consideration, refines this to "ethical considerations regarding drone use in urban settings." What part of the speech development process has Nate completed?

A) determine the general purpose
B) create a specific purpose statement
C) select and narrow the topic
D) complete a self-inventory

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The most important factor that contributes to an effective speech presentation is __________.

A) organizing the content of the speech
B) choosing an engaging delivery style
C) selecting an appropriate topic
D) conducting thorough research

Question 5

Tim, a collegiate baseball player, decides to do a persuasive speech on why playing sports builds character for kids. This example illustrates the importance of selecting a topic __________.

A) that is familiar and interesting to you
B) you've been successful with in past speeches
C) that is completely unique
D) that does not require much research

Question 6

When is narrowing the topic an important speech consideration?

A) for classroom speeches
B) for persuasive speeches
C) for workplace speeches
D) for every speaking situation

Question 7

After the speaker determines an appropriate topic area, what is the very next step in the speech development process?

A) create a specific purpose statement
B) outline the main points
C) narrow the topic
D) develop a research plan

Question 8

You have grown up playing video games. In fact, you often joke with your friends that Nintendo did more to raise you than your parents. Because of this "expertise," you decide to give a speech on the history of Nintendo for a persuasive speech assignment. What criteria for appropriateness does this topic fail to meet?

A) Is the topic of sufficient interest to you?
B) Will the audience see a connection between you and the topic?
C) Will the topic meet the objectives of the assignment?
D) Can you make the topic understandable to everyone in the audience?

Question 9

Joseph is developing a list of potential speech topics. Which technique would be most helpful in creating his list?

A) review TED talks
B) ask his parents
C) select a topic he has used in the past
D) think about his friends' interests

Question 10

Leighton is speaking about a very controversial topic. However, she presents the data and lets the audience draw their own conclusions. What type of speech is Leighton presenting?

A) inspirational speech
B) informative speech
C) entertainment speech
D) persuasive speech

Question 11

A speech that enhances an audience's knowledge and understanding by explaining what something means, how something works, or how something is done is a speech to __________.

A) entertain
B) commemorate
C) persuade
D) inform

Question 12

When using current media to generate a speech topic, beginning speakers are cautioned to __________.

A) avoid relying on just one source for the entire speech
B) eliminate reviewing social media
C) use only media sources from the past few months
D) remove any source citations from the speech

Question 13

When a speaker is advocating for acceptance of his viewpoint on a particular topic, the goal of the speech is to __________.

A) persuade
B) inform
C) inspire
D) entertain

Question 14

A topic list generated by a self-inventory contains a list of subjects that __________.

A) you've spoken about in the past
B) you know about and find interesting
C) an audience finds interesting
D) an audience is already familiar with

Question 15

The overall goal of a speech is referred to as its __________.

A) general purpose
B) thesis
C) specific purpose
D) theme

Question 16

What statement best describes settings where public communication occurs?

A) They occur during professional public speaking events.
B) They occur during classroom speech presentations.
C) They occur during presentations where technology is used.
D) They occur during presentations in a variety of classroom, business and professional situations.

Question 17

Keshia must find an appropriate topic for an informative speech assignment. She decides to make a list of subjects she finds interesting to see if this sparks an idea. This is an example of which technique for finding a topic?

A) brainstorming
B) self-inventory
C) reviewing current media
D) engaging with social media

Question 18

For speaking events that occur outside of the classroom, the general purpose is usually determined by __________.

A) your ability to persuade
B) the occasion
C) what you know about your topic
D) the number of sources available

Question 19

What technique used for selecting an appropriate topic asks the speaker to generate as many ideas as possible within a very brief amount of time, such as 3 to 5 minutes?

A) conducting an Internet search
B) engaging with social media
C) self-inventory
D) brainstorming

Question 20

When conducting research or looking for a topic on the Internet, speakers must take care to __________.

A) eliminate all source material from for-profit organizations
B) ensure the subject has not been covered in a previous speech
C) select the most current information found
D) evaluate the credentials of the source

Question 21

Lester learns that his audience is predominantly young and female, and he decides to adapt his speech accordingly in order to better connect with them. Lester likely reached this conclusion by using __________.

A) demographic analysis
B) biographical analysis
C) psychological analysis
D) attitudinal analysis

Question 22

An effective specific purpose identifies __________.

A) the introduction, the body, and the conclusion
B) the general purpose of the speech, the audience, and the exact topic to be covered
C) the audience, the internal preview, and the main points
D) the general purpose of the speech, the audience, and the call to action.

Question 23

Which statement is correct regarding use of questionnaires for audience analysis?

A) The questionnaire cannot include questions related to beliefs, values or attitudes.
B) The questionnaire should be completed by a group representing a sample of the entire population.
C) The questionnaire must be completed by every audience member in order to be valid.
D) The questionnaire should be lengthy and allow for extended responses.

Question 24

Common methods of audience research include which of the following?

A) experiments
B) questionnaires
C) content analysis of previous speeches
D) social media stalking

Question 25

What part of a speech is the most specific regarding its content?

A) topic
B) thesis
C) general purpose
D) specific purpose

Question 26

As part of his speech preparation, Peter wants to know whether his listeners have completed high school, college, or graduate school. He could learn this information most easily through __________.

A) the topic selection process
B) demographic analysis
C) observation
D) psychological analysis

Question 27

When asked to describe his speech for the club meeting, Karl said it was light, original and appropriate to the occasion. Karl is probably speaking to __________.

A) persuade
B) inform
C) inspire
D) entertain

Question 28

A speaker who draws on accumulated experience with a particular audience and with similar groups in order to develop his or her speech is using __________ to analyze the audience.

A) survey interviews
B) common knowledge
C) observation
D) intuition

Question 29

It is easier for a speaker to adapt to listeners' needs and interests if __________.

A) the audience has little or no background knowledge of the topic
B) the audience is extremely large
C) audience members are demographically similar
D) audience members are culturally diverse

Question 30

Yasmin wants to speak about the religious traditions she's encountered in her native Lebanon. What is the best example of an appropriate specific purpose statement for this informative speech?

A) Modern-day Lebanon is a mosaic of religious diversity.
B) To inform my audience about the religious diversity found in modern Lebanon.
C) There are 18 recognized religious groups in Lebanon today.
D) To persuade my audience that Lebanon differs from other Middle Eastern nations in its approach to religion.

Question 31

Deena wants her audience to register to vote in time for the next election. Deena is speaking to __________.

A) persuade
B) inform
C) inspire
D) entertain

Question 32

What can speakers expect who utilize digital media platforms?

A) decreased need for thorough research and preparation
B) greater disengagement from the audience
C) greater creativity and interactivity opportunities
D) more focus on the speaker's needs, less focus on the audiences' needs

Question 33

You learn that most people in your student audience are active in the Greek system on campus. In other words, you have learned about the audience's __________.

A) group membership
B) cultural background
C) knowledge level
D) attitudes

Question 34

Which statement is correct regarding culture and speaking considerations?

A) Audience culture is seldom an important variable for speakers to consider.
B) Audience member views of age, class, and status tend to be gender-specific, not culture-specific.
C) Culture is an important element of psychological audience analysis.
D) Speech content should not offend the values, customs, or beliefs of audience members.

Question 35

Duncan is a well-known speaker on the topic of "Protecting Your Online Privacy." When he gives a free lecture at the local library, the room is filled to capacity, even though some attendees just happened to be at the library that night. Duncan's audience can be characterized as __________.

A) voluntary
B) involuntary
C) captive
D) unmotivated

Question 36

What element most differentiates an informative speech from a persuasive one?

A) a controversial topic
B) conveying new information
C) the action the speaker wants the audience to take
D) ability to increase audience understanding

Question 37

"To persuade my audience to purchase a Honda Accord," is an example of a __________.

A) general purpose
B) topic
C) specific purpose
D) thesis

Question 38

Before she developed her speech about gun violence and gun control legislation, Ellen distributed a questionnaire to audience members about their views on this divisive topic. Ellen is preparing for her speech by __________.

A) analyzing the size of the audience
B) analyzing the demographic makeup of the audience
C) analyzing the speaking situation
D) analyzing the attitudes and values of the audience

Question 39

What should a speaker do if research indicates that the audience has little or no opinion about the chosen topic?

A) provoke their interest
B) choose another topic
C) acknowledge their disinterest
D) incorporate a humorous story

Question 40

In differentiating between captive and voluntary participants, it is important to remember that captive participants __________.

A) are motivated to listen
B) may resist participation
C) are characteristically heterogeneous
D) have an interest or need related to the topic

Question 41

Distinguish between captive and voluntary audience members. Provide an example of each, and explain why it is important for a speaker to recognize whether his or her audience is captive or voluntary.

Question 42

Discuss the criteria for composing a specific purpose statement. Using the thesis statement, "Insomnia can be caused by stress, diet, and pre-bedtime habits," provide an appropriate specific purpose statement. Your answer should demonstrate an understanding of the various guidelines discussed in the text.

Question 43

Why is group membership an important demographic characteristic associated with audience analysis? What groups do your classmates belong to? How can you tailor your speech to fit the groups your classmates are a part of?

Question 44

You've been assigned a five-minute persuasive speech on the topic of your choosing, although it must represent a controversial subject. You will be delivering this speech to your communication class and have the opportunity to gather information about your audience before developing your speech. First, provide a specific purpose statement for your intended topic. Then using the guidelines discussed in the text, design a brief (5 to 10 question) questionnaire to help you gain information about your audience.

Question 45

The general purpose of a speech is usually to perform one of three overlapping functions: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. Briefly define each type, and using the general topic of "Careers," provide an example of an appropriate speech title for each.

Question 46

Summarize four general strategies for selecting an appropriate topic.

Question 47

Discuss strategies you could use to gather information about your audience. For your upcoming speech, which strategy do you think will be most useful?

Question 48

Why is cultural or ethnic background an important demographic characteristic associated with audience analysis? What could happen if a speaker does not consider the cultural or ethnic background of an audience?

Question 49

You've been assigned a three-minute informative speech on a topic of your choosing. Explain at least three different methods you might use to begin the topic selection process.

Question 50

What is psychological analysis? What types of information can be provided to the speaker using this type of analysis?