Deck 4: Select Your Topic, Purposes, and Thesis Step 1

Question 1

You advise a friend who has never given a speech to focus on her thesis, but she's not sure what that means. You can remind her that the thesis is

A) the central idea or theme.
B) the organization or structure.
C) the purpose or goal.
D) the intent or motivation.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Every speech has a thesis as well as a specific purpose. One way that the thesis differs from the specific purpose is that it

A) is practical.
B) focuses on the message.
C) considers time restraints.
D) is shaped by the audience.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A young man is learning a lot about public speaking but can't remember where to start in finding a topic. He might recall that the first step in choosing his topic will be to

A) decide on his purpose.
B) look at his own interests.
C) focus on what is popular.
D) analyze his audience.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The best man is writing the toast that he will give at his brother's wedding reception. What kind of speech is he preparing?

A) a testimonial
B) a eulogy
C) a special occasion speech
D) a persuasive speech

Question 5

A politician identifies a growing social problem, then proposes a sequence of remedies in four steps she believes should be taken. Which kind of organization pattern is she using?

A) sequential pattern
B) topical pattern
C) advantage-disadvantage pattern
D) time-order pattern

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a thesis statement for a persuasive speech?

A) "Spring break."
B) "Three ways to improve your memory."
C) "Everyone should vote in presidential elections."
D) "To illustrate the consequences of drinking and driving."

Question 7

What is considered the biggest mistake made by people who are new to public speaking?

A) choosing a subject based on their own interests and experiences
B) trying to cover too broad a topic
C) starting too early and rehearsing too much
D) using too many specific details and examples

Question 8

The best criterion in evaluating whether a topic will be appropriate to you as the speaker is to ask yourself whether your listeners

A) could view your ideas as relevant to their lives.
B) already agree with you.
C) might think the subject is worth their time and attention.
D) will see you as believable and knowledgeable.

Question 9

A student speaker says his goal is "to persuade my audience to save money." His specific purpose statement is not going to work because it fails to

A) focus on the audience.
B) use an infinitive phrase.
C) limit the purpose.
D) inform listeners.

Question 10

A passionate long-distance runner wants to give a talk on how to train for a marathon. What is her general purpose?

A) to inform
B) to mark a special occasion
C) to entertain
D) to persuade

Question 11

A student browses through the new nonfiction at a library and bookstore, then makes a list of subjects that audiences may consider important. What is she using to find a speech topic?

A) news items
B) surveys
C) topic generators
D) topoi

Question 12

"After listening to my speech, audience members should be able to list the five steps in planting an organic garden." Though worded a bit differently, this is an example of

A) an informative specific purpose.
B) a persuasive specific purpose.
C) a thesis.
D) a general purpose.

Question 13

The thesis sentence is used for several specific reasons, but which of the following is not one of them?

A) to create smooth transitions
B) to generate main points
C) to suggest organizational patterns
D) to focus audience attention

Question 14

A registered nurse is planning to give an informative presentation on the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Which elements will he rely on the most?

A) evidence and proof
B) argument and psychological appeal
C) camaraderie and goodwill
D) example and illustration

Question 15

An author is deciding what to present in a ten-minute talk at a book fair. She quickly jots down every topic that comes to her, no matter how crazy, then reviews her list for the best one. What technique is she using?

A) surveying
B) narrowing
C) brainstorming
D) visualizing

Question 16

A seminar participant is asking herself a series of questions (Who? What? Why? When?) about the general subject she is considering for her presentation. She is using

A) a tree diagram.
B) a search directory.
C) topoi, the system of topics.
D) rhetoric, the system of language.

Question 17

Which of the following is a common standard used in selecting a topic for presentation in a public speaking class?

A) Your topic should cover a wide range of issues.
B) Your topic should be politically correct.
C) Your topic should deal with matters of substance.
D) Your topic should be in line with attitudes and beliefs of listeners.

Question 18

An economics professor creates a tree diagram in preparing his one-hour lecture to open the new semester. This means he needs help in

A) selecting the ideas that are most relevant to his audience.
B) providing visual support for his presentation.
C) dividing his topic into subparts until it seems manageable.
D) combining all his points that have a common focus.

Question 19

What is an acceptable format for phrasing your thesis statement?

A) with a complete declarative sentence
B) with an infinitive phrase
C) with a short paragraph
D) with a question

Question 20

The one type of resource that the text warns against involves websites that _____, because using their materials amounts to plagiarism.

A) sell speeches and term papers
B) link to online news articles
C) post survey research results
D) issue lists of speech topics

Question 21

In all informative speeches, the thesis is relatively neutral or objective. In all persuasive speeches, the thesis is arguable or debatable.

Question 22

Describe how a speaker uses the thesis to develop the structure and body of the speech. Then give an example of a thesis, as well as its main points and subpoints.

Question 23

To be suitable for a public speech, a topic must be limited in scope.

Question 24

Survey data are difficult to get, since results from the larger research organizations are rarely available to the public.

Question 25

How does a specific purpose differ from a thesis? Discuss at least two major differences.

Question 26

There are two main types of general purposes that define and shape public speeches: to _____ and to _____.

Question 27

Briefly explain why cultural sensitivity is required in choosing a speech topic. Identify a cultural feature that every speaker should be aware of (and that may be present in your class), and describe the impact it might have on the suitability of a speech topic.

Question 28

All topics are suitable for a public speech.

Question 29

What are three common methods for narrowing or limiting a topic? Briefly define each and demonstrate how they are used in the early planning of a speech.

Question 30

_____ is a nested list of topics that guides you from the very general to the very specific.

Question 31

Whatever is deemed off-limits changes with the times, so public speaking topics considered inappropriate or obscene at one time may not be seen this way at another time.

Question 32

When speaking to relatively uninformed listeners, it is best to state your thesis explicitly or they may not grasp your main idea.

Question 33

The _____ of a speech are generated from the thesis statement as it is questioned and expanded.

Question 34

We live in a diverse society, at a time when a person's demonstration of _____ is interpreted as a sign of education and sophistication, qualities that definitely benefit a public speaker.

Question 35

In various countries or cultures, certain sensitive subjects―involving sex, race, politics, religion―are considered inappropriate for public discussion. These are called _____.

Question 36

The text suggests five guidelines for formulating a specific purpose of a speech. List at least three of them and explain each briefly.

Question 37

Explain the differences seen among the three major speech purposes, and provide concrete examples to illustrate your points.

Question 38

The general purpose of your speech is essentially a rough list created early on, including as many ideas as you can possibly think of.

Question 39

The _____ identifies precisely what you aim to accomplish in the speech―what you want your audience to learn, remember, believe, think, or even do.

Question 40

Usually, the purpose of your speech is not stated explicitly in your presentation to the audience.