Deck 5: Selecting a Topic and a Purpose  

Question 1

Outside the classroom, the topic oa speech is usually determined by the occasion, the audience, and the speaker's qualifications.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most often, a speaker's general purpose will fall into one otwo categories-to inform or to demonstrate.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

You should usually avoid choosing speech topics that you feel strongly about.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Most often, your general purpose as a speaker is to inform or to persuade.

Question 5

You should usually avoid drawing on your personal knowledge or experience when choosing a speech topic.

Question 6

Brainstorming is a way oclearing your mind so you can relax while choosing a speech topic.

Question 7

The difference between informing and persuading is like the difference between teaching and advocating.

Question 8

No matter how you go about choosing a speech topic, it is important to start the process early.

Question 9

Once you choose the central idea oyour speech, the next step is to formulate your general purpose.

Question 10

After choosing a topic, the next step in speech preparation is determining your central idea.

Question 11

The specific purpose statement indicates precisely what the speaker hopes to accomplish in a speech.

Question 12

The first step in speechmaking is choosing a topic for your speech.

Question 13

It is usually a poor idea to choose a speech topic that requires research.

Question 14

After choosing a topic, the next step in speech preparation is determining your general purpose.

Question 15

The specific purpose reveals more about the content oa speech than does the central idea.

Question 16

After choosing a topic, the next step in speech preparation is determining your specific purpose.

Question 17

Brainstorming is a method ogenerating ideas for a speech through free association owords and ideas.

Question 18

When your general purpose is to persuade, you act as a teacher or lecturer.

Question 19

The difference between informing and persuading is like the difference between explaining and entertaining.

Question 20

When your general purpose is to inform, you act as an advocate or an opponent.

Question 21

"To inform my audience about cybercrime" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for an informative speech.

Question 22

"To inform my audience about depression" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 23

The following is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech: "The five most common types ovolcanoes are the cinder cone volcano, the shield volcano, the strato-volcano, the giant caldera, and the fissure volcano."

Question 24

"The case against multivitamins" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 25

"To inform my audience about the causes and effects obullying" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 26

The following is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech: "The three major elements othe architectural style oFrank Lloyd Wright are low-pitched roofs, functional designs, and lines that blend into the landscape."

Question 27

"The problem oelectronics addiction" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech.

Question 28

The specific purpose statement should focus on one aspect oa topic and be expressed in a single infinitive phrase.

Question 29

It is important to keep your audience in mind as you formulate the specific purpose for your speech.

Question 30

"Conducting regular car maintenance" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 31

"The effects olight pollution in major cities" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement.

Question 32

"To inform my audience othe major steps in responding to a medical emergency" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for an informative speech.

Question 33

Whether the general purpose oyour speech is to inform or to persuade, the specific purpose statement should contain a reference to your audience.

Question 34

"To inform my audience about golf" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 35

"To explain how to keep your Internet data secure" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement.

Question 36

"To inform my audience othe major accomplishments othe space shuttle program" is a well-worded specific purpose statement for an informative speech.

Question 37

"To persuade my audience that our school should provide more on-campus parking for students" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech.

Question 38

"To inform my audience about the current status otennis as an international sport" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 39

"To persuade my audience that the federal government should require seat belts on all school buses" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech.

Question 40

The specific purpose oa speech usually "sums up" the main points to be developed in the body othe speech.

Question 41

"To inform my audience how to build a birdhouse and about the migratory patterns obirds" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 42

The central idea is usually determined after the bulk othe research for a speech is completed.

Question 43

The central idea oa speech should be expressed as a full sentence.

Question 44

"What can we learn about ourselves from our dreams?" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 45

A specific purpose statement should usually be phrased as a question.

Question 46

"To persuade my audience that the investigation and prosecution osexual assaults in the military should be conducted by civilian authorities" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement.

Question 47

The central idea oa speech often emerges after you have done your research and have decided on the main points othe speech.

Question 48

"To inform my audience about the origins omartial arts and how to perform yoga" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for an informative speech.

Question 49

It is acceptable for a specific purpose statement to include two unrelated ideas.

Question 50

"To explain the causes and treatment ocompulsive hoarding" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement.

Question 51

"The three major expenses for people traveling abroad are transportation, food, and lodging" is an example oan effective specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 52

"To explain three basic hand-sewing techniques" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement.

Question 53

The following is an example oa well-worded central idea for a speech: "A diet that encourages eating only foods high in fat and protein has major advantages as well as serious risks."

Question 54

"The three most distinctive traits oChow Chows are their black tongues, their thick coats, and their manes" is an example oa well-worded central idea for a speech.

Question 55

"To persuade my audience that the federal government should institute a national sales tax to help pay for social programs" is an example oan effective central idea for a speech.

Question 56

"The three major expenses for people traveling abroad are transportation, food, and lodging" is an example oa well-worded central idea for a speech.

Question 57

"What should you consider when choosing a study abroad program?" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 58

"The four steps in making cheese are curdling, draining, pressing, and ripening" is an example oa well-worded central idea for a speech.

Question 59

The central idea should encapsulate or sum up the main points to be developed in the body othe speech.

Question 60

The central idea reveals more about the content oa speech than does the specific purpose.

Question 61

According to your textbook, the specific purpose statement for a speech should be
a. determined after the central idea.
b. written using figurative language.
c. the same as the title of the speech.
d. limited to one distinct idea.
e. expressed as a question.

Question 62

When the general purpose oyour speech is to __________ , you act primarily as a teacher or lecturer.
a. inform
b. convince
c. entertain
d. persuade
e. convert

Question 63

When the general purpose oyour speech is to __________ , you act primarily as an advocate.
a. persuade
b. entertain
c. demonstrate
d. commemorate
e. inform

Question 64

After choosing a topic, what is the next step ospeech preparation?
a. phrasing the central idea
b. analyzing the occasion
c. selecting the specific purpose
d. writing the introduction
e. determining the general purpose

Question 65

"To inform my audience about the four major elements in rope climbing" is an example oa
a. speech topic.
b. general purpose.
c. central idea.
d. thesis statement.
e. specific purpose.

Question 66

According to your textbook, the specific purpose for a speech should
a. include a reference to the audience.
b. be written as a full infinitive phrase.
c. be expressed as a question.
d. all of the above.
e. a and b only.

Question 67

The process ogenerating ideas for speech topics by free association owords and ideas is known as
a. linking.
b. aggregating.
c. deliberating.
d. brainstorming.
e. advocating.

Question 68

According to your textbook, what is the most important early step in the process odeveloping a successful speech?
a. creating a preliminary bibliography
b. researching for speech materials
c. formulating the specific purpose
d. brainstorming for a central idea
e. selecting the residual message

Question 69

The following is an effective central idea for a speech to persuade: "You should vote for a $10 increase in student fees to pay for a new fitness center because the current one is too small and its equipment is out odate."
Multiple-Choice Questions Students are to indicate the best answer for each question by circling the correct letter.)

Question 70

"To inform my audience about the symptoms, causes, and treatment oHodgkin's Disease" is an example oa
a. specific purpose.
b. thesis statement.
c. general purpose.
d. central idea.
e. main point.

Question 71

"To inform my audience about the three basic steps in preventive medicine" is an example oa
a. main point.
b. specific purpose.
c. thesis statement.
d. central idea.
e. general purpose.

Question 72

"To inform my audience about the contributions oNavajo code talkers to the U.S. military during World War II" is an example oa
a. thesis statement.
b. central idea.
c. topic statement.
d. statement of intention.
e. specific purpose.

Question 73

"The major responsibilities oan athletic trainer are preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries" is an example oa well-worded central idea for a speech.

Question 74

The __________ expresses precisely what you hope to accomplish with your speech.
a. central idea
b. specific purpose
c. preview statement
d. thesis statement
e. goal statement

Question 75

Which othe following is inappropriate in a speech to inform?
a. advocating
b. explaining
c. reporting
d. demonstrating
e. telling

Question 76

"To inform my audience about the history othe Super Bowl" is an example oa
a. speech topic.
b. general purpose.
c. central idea.
d. thesis statement.
e. specific purpose.

Question 77

Which othe following does your textbook recommend as a method obrainstorming for a speech topic?
a. clustering
b. taking a personal inventory
c. conducting an Internet search
d. all of the above
e. a and c only

Question 78

"The major responsibilities oan athletic trainer are preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries" is an example oa well-worded specific purpose statement for a speech.

Question 79

Advocating a position is most appropriate when the general purpose oyour speech is to
a. persuade.
b. inspire.
c. deliberate.
d. entertain.
e. inform.

Question 80

According to your textbook, brainstorming is especially helpful when you are having trouble
a. choosing a speech topic.
b. determining the general purpose.
c. determining the specific purpose.
d. phrasing the central idea.
e. analyzing the audience.