Deck 5: Selecting a Topic and Purpose

Question 1

Choosing the right topic means choosing a topic that is appropriate for which of the following?

A) you
B) the occasion
C) your audience
D) all of these

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The goal of ______ is to generate as many ideas as possible without fear of critique.

A) brainstorming
B) topic selection
C) thesis formulation
D) general purpose formation

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Brainstorming is a process of free ______ in which your goal is to generate as many ideas as possible without fear of critique.

A) manipulation
B) association
C) interpretation
D) collation

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When you mix and match ideas you've generated to form interesting combinations, you are ______ ideas.

A) marrying
B) piggybacking
C) gathering
D) joining

Question 5

In a brainstorming exercise of listing on the left side of a sheet of paper everything you are able to see, hear, taste, smell, or touch from your present location and on the right side of your paper topics that might naturally evolve from each observation or experience, you are focusing on ______.

A) the then and there
B) the here and now
C) human nature
D) the senses

Question 6

One brainstorming technique is that of dividing a sheet of paper into seven columns and writing down words associated with each of the following: ______, processes, phenomena, possessions, products, and programs.

A) postures
B) presences
C) plots
D) people

Question 7

The ______ approach is particularly useful in helping prevent "idea paralysis."

A) ABC
B) 123
C) letter
D) chart

Question 8

Which of the following are media you can scan to brainstorm speech topics?

A) newspapers
B) sitcoms
C) broadcast news
D) you can use all of these

Question 9

A ______ is a visual means of showing the relationship between brainstormed ideas.

A) mind map
B) brain map
C) mind chart
D) brain chart

Question 10

Virtually all speeches fulfill which of the following general rhetorical purposes?

A) to inform
B) to persuade
C) to entertain
D) all of these

Question 11

An informative speaker acts like a ______ for his or her audience.

A) parent
B) law enforcement officer
C) lawyer
D) teacher

Question 12

Speakers deliver informative speeches for which of the following reasons?

A) to explain a process, procedure, organization, or function
B) when they describe a person, place, or thing
C) when they define a word or concept
D) all of these

Question 13

Which of the following would be a good topic for a persuasive speech?

A) why soda should be eliminated from schools
B) the health effects of soda
C) history of soda manufacturers
D) the effects of caffeine on the human body

Question 14

An informative speaker pursues which of the following goals?

A) hoping to alter how the audience members feel
B) hoping to alter how the audience members act
C) often speaking on controversial topics
D) explaining a concept to the audience members

Question 15

Which of the following would be a good topic for a persuasive speech?

A) the effects of the flu
B) how to prepare for a job interview
C) why public schools should provide free lunches to all students
D) how a smartphone works

Question 16

A humorous toast about your best friend would be considered a speech to ______.

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

Question 17

Which of the following would be a poor instance for speech to entertain?

A) a monologue at a club
B) a toast at a wedding
C) a speech during a casual lunch
D) a memorial speech on Veterans Day

Question 18

Which of the following would be the specific purpose of an informative speech?

A) to motivate individuals to run
B) to explain the signs of a heart attack
C) to encourage audience members to donate to earthquake relief
D) to convince people to vote for a specific candidate

Question 19

Which of the following is true of the specific purpose?

A) It should be stated as a question.
B) It should be broad and vague
C) It should be for your personal use.
D) It should focus on two or three related ideas.

Question 20

The specific purpose should be written ______.

A) in abstract language
B) about three to four subtopics
C) from your perspective
D) from the audience's perspective

Question 21

A good specific purpose is ______ but does not ______.

A) trivial; disappoint
B) ambitious; overreach
C) trivial; overreach
D) ambitious; disappoint

Question 22

The specific purpose is stated as ______.

A) an infinitive phrase
B) a full sentence
C) several full sentences
D) one word

Question 23

In addition to formulating a specific purpose written from your own perspective, it is also helpful to assess the speech from the audience's perceptive, including the composition of a desired ______ objective.

A) social
B) behavioral
C) cultural
D) political

Question 24

"Donating blood can help save three lives, can encourage others to help their community, and can sense of personal accomplishment" is an example of ______.

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

Question 25

Which of the following is another name for the thesis statement of an informative speech?

A) proposition
B) primary argument
C) central idea
D) call to action

Question 26

Which of the following is the least likely to be the behavioral objective of a persuasive speech?

A) attend a blood drive and donate blood
B) explain how media sharing sites work
C) register as organ donors
D) sign a petition for a political candidate

Question 27

Which of the following is true regarding evaluating the language of your thesis statement?

A) It should be phrased diplomatically.
B) It should inflame.
C) It should be complex.
D) You should use figurative language.

Question 28

An effective thesis statement fulfills which of the following criteria?

A) It avoids the specific purpose.
B) It keeps the organization of the speech a surprise.
C) It focuses the attention of audience members on what they should know, do, or feel after experiencing the speech.
D) It is formulated in multiple sentences.

Question 29

Which of the following media would be a good place to find subject matter?

A) newspapers
B) advertisements
C) sitcoms
D) all of these

Question 30

When listeners are asked what your speech was about, they should be able to respond by offering what?

A) thesis
B) congratulations
C) behavioral objective
D) statistics

Question 31

When you list everything you are able to see, hear, taste, smell, or touch from your present location as a technique to brainstorm, you are focusing on the ______.

Question 32

When brainstorming for speech topics you should approach your speech both systematically and ______.

Question 33

Mixing and matching ideas you've generated to form interesting combinations is known as a ______.

Question 34

It is important to choose a topic that is appropriate for ______, ______, and ______.

Question 35

Newspapers and TV shows are media you can scan to ______ speech topics.

Question 36

A ______ is a visual means of showing the relationship between brainstormed ideas.

Question 37

The ______ approach uses the alphabet to help find a potential topic.

Question 38

______ is a process of free association in which your goal is to generate as many ideas as possible without fear of critique.

Question 39

The ______ of a speech is the overall effect you hope to have on your audience.

Question 40

The concept of focusing the content of your speech on what the audience will find interesting is an example of a(n) ______ objective.

Question 41

The ______ of a speech is your personal statement of the speech's main objective.

Question 42

"After listening to my speech, audience members will…" is an example of a ______.

Question 43

A ______ makes a clear point about the topic in addition to dividing the speech into components.

Question 44

Whether the speech is informative or persuasive, the ______ is your speech "in a nutshell."

Question 45

"How to make a pot of coffee" is an example of a(n) ______ speech.

Question 46

The thesis statement should be ______ sentence(s).

Question 47

The speech to persuade is designed primarily to ______ the thoughts and/or the behaviors of receivers.

Question 48

When listeners are asked what your speech was about, they should be able to respond by offering your ______.

Question 49

Unlike the ______ purpose, the ______ is usually delivered directly to the audience.

Question 50

An informative speech is designed to ______.

Question 51

A speech to persuade is primarily to change the thoughts or ______ of an audience.

Question 52

The specific purpose statement of an informative speech may include words such as ______, ______, or ______.

Question 53

When brainstorming, it is preferable to censor yourself.

Question 54

An online topic generator can help you find a topic.

Question 55

When brainstorming for speech topics you should approach your speech systematically.

Question 56

The chart approach is particularly useful in helping prevent "idea paralysis."

Question 57

The ABC approach uses the alphabet to help find a potential topic.

Question 58

A mind chart is a visual means of showing the relationship between brainstormed ideas.

Question 59

Mixing and matching ideas you've generated to form interesting combinations is known as a sensor.

Question 60

When a speaker mixes and matches ideas they've generated to form interesting combinations, they are piggybacking ideas.

Question 61

After you have picked a topic, you should ask yourself "What purpose do I want to fulfill by speaking on this topic?"

Question 62

Informative speeches are often controversial.

Question 63

The speech to persuade is designed primarily to change the thoughts or behaviors of receivers.

Question 64

An informative speaker acts like a parent for his or her audience.

Question 65

The speech to entertain is designed to amuse an audience.

Question 66

"How to open a bank account" is an example of an informative speech topic.

Question 67

The general purpose of a speech is your statement of the speech's main objectives.

Question 68

"Following my speech, the audience should," is an example of an informative purpose.

Question 69

Writing a behavioral objective will help the speaker focus the content of their speech on those aspects that audience members will find most interesting.

Question 70

A thesis is limited to one central idea that is expressed as a declarative sentence.

Question 71

When your speech is an informative one, the thesis statement is sometimes called a claim.

Question 72

The general purpose of a speech is your statement of the speech's main objectives.

Question 73

A good specific purpose is ambitious but does not overreach.

Question 74

A thesis statement for a persuasive speech is also called the claim.

Question 75

Whether the speech is informative or persuasive, the thesis statement is your speech "in a nutshell."

Question 76

The specific purpose should be supported by the thesis statement.

Question 77

Unlike the general purpose, the specific purpose is usually delivered directly to the audience.

Question 78

The specific purpose statement of a persuasive speech would often include words like persuade, motivate, or convince.

Question 79

Discuss and exemplify how you brainstorm using categories as stimuli.

Question 80

Why is it important not to sensor during brainstorming?