Deck 7: Technical Briefings

Question 1

All but which of the following is a useful guideline for constructing technical briefings?

A) Use but don't abuse PowerPoint
B) Beware of statistics
C) Slow down your rate of delivery
D) Use jargon
E) Make the abstract concrete

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Most listeners have trouble processing statistics, although they may expect to hear them used during technical briefings. In order to compensate for this, speakers who employ statistics should take care to:

A) be innumerate
B) explain why significant numbers are particularly important
C) explain a numerical abstraction with a verbal abstraction
D) let the numbers speak for themselves

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is not a suggestion offered in your textbook for the use of PowerPoint:

A) Use as many text slides as possible.
B) Talk about the slide that the audience is currently viewing.
C) Practice your presentation using your PowerPoint slides.
D) Don't mistake PowerPoint slides for organization.
E) All of the above are suggestions for using PowerPoint.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When giving a technical briefing, it is a good idea to make concrete concepts seem more abstract.

Question 5

Inartistic proof may be defined as reasoned arguments that are collected or invented by the speaker.

Question 6

In contemporary society, audiences place much more confidence in empirical evidence than the ancients did.

Question 7

Define inartistic proof. What five types of inartistic proofs did Aristotle identify as operative in legal cases? Discuss all five, giving an example of each.

Question 8

List and discuss four of the five guidelines that Hostetler and Kahl offer for preparing technical briefings. Give an example of each.

Question 9

What are the essential differences between artistic and inartistic proofs? Rely on your understanding of materials from Chapter Four and from this chapter to develop your response. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your points.