Question 1

Ken described a series of cases in which excessive speeding led to fatal consequences. He then stated that an overall decrease in the city's speed limits would result in fewer fatalities. What type of argument is Ken using?

Accepted Answer

Ken is using an argument by induction, where he generalizes a conclusion about all instances of speeding based on specific observed cases. Inductive reasoning moves from specific instances to a general conclusion.

Question 2

Which type of persuasive argument relies upon the credibility of the experts cited as sources?

Accepted Answer

Argument by authority relies on the credibility of experts cited as sources, leveraging their authority in the field to support the argument's claims.

Question 3

Expectancy-outcome values theory states that people will try to determine what they will gain or lose by changing their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Expectancy-outcome values theory suggests that individuals evaluate the potential benefits and costs of engaging in a particular behavior before deciding whether to enact it, essentially assessing what they will gain or lose by changing their behavior.

Question 4

Critical listeners and thinkers engage in peripheral processing most of the time.

Accepted Answer

Critical listeners and thinkers engage in central processing, where they focus on the argument's content and evidence rather than being swayed by peripheral cues such as the speaker's charisma or emotional appeals.

Question 5

The elaboration likelihood model states that people process persuasive messages using either central or peripheral processing.

Accepted Answer

The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) indeed posits that there are two primary routes to persuasion: the central route, which involves careful and thoughtful consideration of the arguments (content) of the message, and the peripheral route, which involves other cues outside the content of the message, such as the attractiveness or credibility of the source.

Question 6

Keith isn't interested in Ruth's speech because he doesn't see the relevance of it. He is probably using central processing as he is listening.

Accepted Answer

Keith is likely using peripheral processing, as central processing involves actively engaging with and thinking about the message's content, indicating interest and relevance.

Question 7

Argument has little place in persuasive speaking.

Accepted Answer

Argument is a key component of persuasive speaking as it involves presenting reasons and evidence to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint or action.

Question 8

"Wasting natural resources should be criminalized" is a proposition of fact.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a proposition of value, as it expresses a judgment about the morality or desirability of criminalizing the wasting of natural resources, rather than stating a verifiable fact.

Question 9

"All public buildings should be smoke-free" is a claim of policy.

Accepted Answer

A claim of policy advocates for a change in rules, laws, or policies, and the statement "All public buildings should be smoke-free" suggests a change in policy regarding smoking in public buildings.

Question 10

Monroe's motivated sequence is a classic organizational strategy using an appeal to need.

Accepted Answer

Monroe's Motivated Sequence is a technique for organizing persuasive speeches that appeal to the audience's needs and motivates them to action. It follows a five-step process: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.

Question 11

Another word for evidence is warrants.

Accepted Answer

Evidence refers to information or facts that support a claim or argument, while warrants in argumentation theory connect the evidence to the claim, explaining why the evidence supports the claim.

Question 12

Motivational warrants link the evidence to the claim based on the speaker's and audience's needs and values.

Accepted Answer

Motivational warrants operate on the assumption that the evidence will be more persuasive if it appeals to the audience's needs, values, and emotions, thus effectively linking the evidence to the claim in a way that motivates the audience to accept the claim.

Question 13

Substantive warrants link the evidence to the claim based on the reliability of the support materials.

Accepted Answer

Substantive warrants are a type of reasoning that connects evidence to a claim by demonstrating the reliability and relevance of the support materials used to justify the claim.

Question 14

A syllogism consists of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A syllogism is a form of logical reasoning that includes a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion, where the conclusion is deduced from the premises.

Question 15

An enthymeme results from a faulty syllogism.

Accepted Answer

An enthymeme is a rhetorical syllogism used in arguments where a premise is omitted because it is assumed to be understood or accepted by the audience, not because the syllogism is faulty.

Question 16

In an argument by cause, you argue from specific cases to a general statement, suggesting something to be likely based on the specific cases.

Accepted Answer

In an argument by cause, you argue that one event (the cause) directly leads to another event (the effect), rather than arguing from specific cases to a general statement.

Question 17

When you argue by induction, you can base your claim on examples, statistics, facts, or testimony.

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific examples, observations, or various forms of evidence such as statistics, facts, or testimonies.

Question 18

If an education lottery works in Georgia, it will also work in Alabama." This is an argument by ______________ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an education lottery works in Georgia,...

Question 19

When you argue by ______________ , you argue from specific cases to a general statement suggesting that something is likely based on the specific cases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When you argue by ______________ , you...

Question 20

Argument by ______________ attempts to demonstrate a relationship between two events or factors, in which one of the events or factors causes the other.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Argument by ______________ attempts to demonstrate a...

Quiz 15: Tools for Persuading