Deck 14: Public Speaking: the Informative Speech

Question 1

As a new professor,Ingrid,was preparing her first lecture for her sophomore American history class.She wanted to begin with humor,as she believed it would set a good tone between her and her students.All of the following would be good ideas EXCEPT _____.

A)using a funny quote by President Taft
B)showing a political cartoon from the New York Times
C)starting with,"you're going to really think this is funny…"
D)using an analogy between her first day in a college history class

Answer 1

C

Question 2

All of the following are recommended for a question-and-answer period EXCEPT _____.

A)restating the question at the beginning of your answer
B)being patient
C)giving long answers if you fear you will not have many questions
D)using statistics,examples,and quotations where appropriate

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A team briefing facilitator might be responsible for all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A)introduce the participants and speakers
B)provide transitions between speakers
C)provide a response or rebuttal to each speaker
D)provide the final summary

Answer 3

C

Question 4

"To understand the Supreme Court's decision on the University of Michigan's race-based admissions policy,it is first important to detail what led up to the decision." This statement is a signpost for a speech about a(n)_____.

A)concept
B)process
C)time
D)event

Question 5

All of the following were among the objectives of public speaking identified by St.Augustine 1600 years ago EXCEPT _____.

A)to teach
B)to please
C)to sell an idea or product
D)to move

Question 6

Robert has been placed in another group project in his business class.They have to present recent facts and research why the economy is going down.What type of speech should they prepare?

A)speech about process
B)informative briefing
C)team briefing
D)one-on-one briefing

Question 7

All of the following are true about technical reports EXCEPT _____.

A)technical reports are always given to people within the industry
B)word choice must be appropriate for the audience
C)some basic assumptions about the audience's depth of knowledge can be assumed
D)if your audience will not be hostile to your recommendation,you should state it up front

Question 8

Which of these would NOT be considered informative?

A)Joe gives a presentation on the three new accounting packages the company is considering.He is looking for feedback,and he does not have a favorite yet.
B)Angelina reviews the procedures for the purchase order,as many of her sales representatives had questions about the process in the last month.
C)Professor Duan-An provides a review for the communication theory midterm.
D)Dat-Phan gives the school's valedictorian address that encourages the graduating seniors to make a mark in the world.

Question 9

For most students the most familiar type of informative speech is the _____,which present material to facilitate learning.

A)lecture
B)team briefing
C)one-on-one briefing
D)persuasive speech

Question 10

Informative speeches might be about all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A)objects
B)processes
C)events
D)influencing attitudes

Question 11

A speech to identify the person who will be speaking to the audience and give any other information that may spark listeners' interest is a(n)_____.

A)one-on-one briefing
B)speech of introduction
C)question-and-answer
D)lecture

Question 12

You and your team of four classmates take a communication research methods class in which you are required to conduct an empirical experiment and write about the results.Your professor is so impressed with your work she recommends that you submit it for presentation in the student section of the National Communication Association.Your paper is accepted,and you and your group must now present what type of informative speech?

A)concept
B)informative briefing
C)professional paper
D)object

Question 13

Nancy has been working at the same restaurant for three years.Tonight at work the manager gave the employees a speech on plans for the new menu,informing them that they will have to learn it by next week.What type of speech did the manager give?

A)speech about process
B)informative briefing
C)team briefing
D)one-on-one briefing

Question 14

When in a question-and-answer session,it is customary for the speaker to _____.

A)speak only to the person who asked the question
B)take as long as needed to answer any question asked
C)answer irrelevant questions
D)be willing to say he/she does not know the answer

Question 15

According to the text,which is the most difficult part of the question-and-answer period?

A)getting the first question asked
B)the unrehearsed answers
C)being knowledgeable about the subject
D)building rapport with the audience

Question 16

Jake has been chosen to introduce the president of his college at the biggest fundraiser of the year.What phrase should Jake avoid using?

A)"The president of Rockhurst is Father Curran"
B)"Welcome to the 2008 fundraiser"
C)"It is an honor and a privilege"
D)"He has inspired us too…"

Question 17

Bill decides to explain to the audience of high school history students how the North won the Civil War by identifying the three major battles that produced the turning point,in the order that they happened.Bill's speech is a speech about a(n)_____ that is arranged in _____ order.

A)concept;time
B)event;spatial
C)concept;spatial
D)event;time

Question 18

All of the following are true about a speech of introduction EXCEPT _____.

A)be sure you know how to pronounce the speaker's name
B)require the speaker to detail his/her background;the introducer should not do so
C)do not over praise the speaker
D)set the proper tone for the speech

Question 19

The difference between speeches about objects and speeches about processes is that the latter _____.

A)explains how something works,is made,or is done
B)describes a particular thing in detail
C)and former are the same type of informative speech
D)informs the audience

Question 20

Speeches that examine theories,beliefs,and philosophies are classified as speeches about _____ in communication studies.

A)processes
B)concepts
C)events
D)objects

Question 21

When responding to a question in the question-and-answer period,you primarily should talk to the person who asked the question as opposed to the whole audience.

Question 22

To improve one's own public speaking ability it is a good idea to recall and analyze other people's speeches that you found to be engaging.

Question 23

If you are in doubt about the quality or the appropriateness of a joke,you should leave it out.

Question 24

Pat has chosen to discuss the cancer risk posed by common household products in an informative speech.Pat believes that humor would be inappropriate for this topic.What other attention getting technique might Pat effectively employ?

A)beginning by asking the audience a question about the topic
B)jumping up and down before starting the speech
C)refusing to look at the audience for the first two minutes of the speech
D)Pat should go ahead and use humor even if it is likely to be inappropriate

Question 25

At the local speech contest Semaj captivated her audience with her informative speech on the influence of West African folk music on blues,rock-n-roll,and R&B.Since her speech went well,it is acceptable that it exceeded the 20 minute limit by an additional 10 minutes.

Question 26

During a question-and-answer session,a speaker should not admit he/she does not know the answer to an audience member's question,as he/she may lose credibility.

Question 27

The most engaging presenters of professional papers are those who speak extemporaneously.

Question 28

A technical report by definition involves minute details and processes.Which of the following is most important for someone creating a technical report?

A)employing humor
B)audience analysis
C)taking a persuasive stance
D)dozens of computer software slides with relevant text

Question 29

The authors contend that there are differences between informative and persuasive speeches,whether all speeches are persuasive or not.Identify two ways in which the types of speeches would differ and two ways in which they would be similar.

Question 30

An informative speech can also try to persuade the audience.

Question 31

The most familiar forms of the poster session for most freshman students is _____.

A)academic events such as the American Communication Association annual meeting
B)a science fair or a product sales show
C)a technical meeting on software development
D)locally held federal government briefings on policy changes

Question 32

Informative speaking is defined as discourse that imparts new information,secures understanding,or reinforces accumulated information.

Question 33

A primary difference between a team briefing and a one-on-one briefing is that _____.

A)a team briefing is given to one person and a one-on-one may be given to one or more
B)a team briefing is presented by a person to a team of panelists,while a one-on-one briefing is one person to another
C)a team briefing is a group presenting to a group,while a one-on-one is a speaker presenting to one or a group
D)a team briefing is only used for highly technical information while a one-on-one can be used for less technical information

Question 34

It is permissible to set the ground rules of a question-and-answer session by detailing what types of questions you will not consider answering.

Question 35

One of your worst fears has come true.You have just finished delivering your informative speech,and the audience has no questions.Explain two different approaches that you might take in an effort to elicit questions.

Question 36

Below are examples of questions that may be asked during a question-and-answer session.Write a response (or a beginning of a response)to each and reword the question in your response.
(a)"I really like how you used the photos in your slides during the presentation.What is the most important tip you could give to a new public speaker about using visual aids?"
(b)"In your speech,you said that public listeners are 51 percent responsible for the communication process.I do not understand why you said that.Could you explain?"
(c)"You recommended the new federal budget cuts spending for domestic programs and increases spending for the military.And,you said that this plan was backed by the President.But,that's not what I read in the paper this morning."

Question 37

Provide four tips on giving an effective speech of introduction drawing on the advice listed in the textbook.

Question 38

Before using humor in a speech,it is a good idea to inform audience that you will make a joke.

Question 39

If you prepare your speech well,it is still necessary to _____.

A)consider the questions that might be asked in the question-and-answer period
B)not practice
C)arrange your bibliography in both APA and MLA style
D)practice the question-and-answer session with a real audience

Question 40

A technical report is usually presented to audience with general information on a subject matter to which they will be exposed more at a later time.

Question 41

Discuss the relative merits and demerits of team briefing compared with one-on-one briefing.What situations and topics might call for the use of one or the other?

Question 42

Defend or Reject: All communication contains elements of persuasion.There is no such thing as strictly informative communication.

Question 43

Identify two possible informative speech topics and then explain which one would be most appropriate for those in your class and why.

Question 44

As a speaker,you may think your audience has a need for particular information,but you know the audience does not feel the need.Explain and justify how you would construct your speech in an effort to gain and keep your audience's attention.