Question 1

The ______ fallacy suggests that because everyone else believes something or is doing something,that it must be valid,accurate,or effective.

Accepted Answer

The bandwagon fallacy relies on the belief that popularity or the number of people who believe something is evidence of its validity or truth. It assumes that because everyone else is doing something, it must be correct or good. However, the fact that many people believe or do something does not make it necessarily true or effective.

Question 2

When a persuasive speaker attacks the person supporting an issue rather than the issue itself,which fallacy is the speaker committing?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem fallacy occurs when the speaker attacks the person instead of addressing the issue at hand. This is done to discredit the person and their argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

Question 3

The factor in a speaker's credibility that refers to his/her being perceived as energetic is known as

Accepted Answer

Dynamism refers to a speaker's level of energy and enthusiasm while delivering a speech, which can influence their perceived credibility. Competence refers to the speaker's knowledge and expertise on the topic, while trustworthiness refers to their perceived honesty and integrity. Charisma refers to a speaker's likability and ability to influence others, but it is not specifically related to their energy level.

Question 4

The audience's perception of a speaker's competence,trustworthiness,and dynamism is termed

Accepted Answer

The audience's perception of a speaker's competence, trustworthiness, and dynamism is referred to as his/her credibility. This credibility is the extent to which the audience believes in the speaker's abilities, character, and intentions. A speaker's credibility can significantly impact their effectiveness in persuading or influencing their audience.

Question 5

Aristotle used the term ______ to refer to a persuasive argument based on logic and reason.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle used the term logos to refer to a persuasive argument based on logic and reason. Ethos refers to the credibility or trustworthiness of the speaker, pathos refers to appealing to the emotions of the audience, and mythos refers to a narrative or story that embodies a cultural or societal belief.

Question 6

The type of credibility established by giving careful thought to your appearance,establishing eye contact,and having your credentials as well as accomplishments presented to the audience is known as _____ credibility.

Accepted Answer

Initial credibility refers to the credibility established before a presentation based on factors such as appearance, credentials and accomplishments. Derived credibility, on the other hand, is established during the presentation through factors such as evidence and arguments presented. Terminal credibility is established after the presentation based on how well the speaker presented and delivered the information. Deserved credibility is not a recognized type of credibility in public speaking.

Question 7

What is the term for reasoning that uses specific instances or examples to reach a general,probable conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning is the term for reasoning that uses specific instances or examples to reach a general, probable conclusion.

Question 8

What is the term for a conclusion reached based on available evidence or partial information?

Accepted Answer

An inference is a conclusion reached based on available evidence or partial information. It is not a fact because it is not necessarily true, and it is not an opinion because it is based on evidence rather than personal belief. An example is a specific case used to illustrate a point and does not necessarily involve reaching a conclusion.

Question 9

When Ramone spoke about the need for regular health check-ups,he was so knowledgeable,so sincere,and so energetic in his delivery that everyone responded quite positively to his speech.What aspect of good persuasive delivery did Ramone demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Ramone demonstrated ethos, which is the aspect of persuasive delivery that involves establishing the speaker's credibility and trustworthiness through knowledge, sincerity, and energy.

Question 10

A three-part argument that consists of a major premise,a minor premise,and a conclusion is known as

Accepted Answer

A syllogism is made up of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. The major premise is a broad generalization, the minor premise is a specific example or case, and the conclusion follows logically from the two premises.

Question 11

When speakers attempt to persuade without adequate evidence or use arguments that are irrelevant or inappropriate,they are using

Accepted Answer

When speakers use arguments that are irrelevant or inappropriate or attempt to persuade without evidence, they are committing a fallacy. A fallacy is an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid. Therefore, the appropriate option is C, a fallacy.

Question 12

What is Aristotle's term for a speaker's credibility?

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's term for a speaker's credibility is ethos. Ethos refers to a speaker's character and credibility in delivering a persuasive message.

Question 13

When you argue that a new parking garage should not be built on campus because the grass has not been mowed on the football field for three weeks,you are guilty of a

Accepted Answer

A non sequitur is a logical fallacy that occurs when the conclusion does not follow from the premises. In this case, the argument that a new parking garage should not be built on campus because the grass has not been mowed on the football field for three weeks is a non sequitur because the two premises are not related.

Question 14

In an introduction to a persuasive speech,Fran said: "There was a time when I thought I would never have a job,a decent life,a boyfriend,or any pleasure in life.But,after working as an intern at Channel 3,I know what I really want to do with my life and that gives me great satisfaction.I encourage you all to become interns,so that you,too,can discover that there is something in life that inspires passion in you...that you're willing to work for...to work hard for...to be successful...to be happy." What type of message did this speaker effectively use in this introduction?

Accepted Answer

The speaker effectively used an appeal to emotion by sharing a personal story of struggle and then finding inspiration and satisfaction through an internship. The message encourages the audience to seek out their own passions and work hard towards success and happiness.

Question 15

As a Roman teacher of public speaking,Quintilian felt that effective public speakers should be

Accepted Answer

Quintilian emphasized the importance of the speaker's moral character, believing that effective public speakers should be people of good character.

Question 16

Marty's persuasive speech was about gun control and school violence.He made the statement,"Either we take guns out of the hands of everyone in this country,except the police and military,or we can expect massacres in schools all over this country." This kind of argument represents

Accepted Answer

Marty's argument presents only two extreme and opposite options without any middle ground or alternatives. This is a classic example of an either/or fallacy, also known as a false dichotomy, which presents the audience with a forced choice between two options as if they were the only possible ones. It ignores the possibility of finding a nuanced and balanced solution to the problem of school violence and gun control.

Question 17

The process of reasoning from a general statement or principle to a specific,certain conclusion is known as

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning follows a logical process of starting with a general statement or principle and using it to logically deduce a specific, certain conclusion. Inductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions from specific observations or examples, and reasoning by analogy involves comparing two similar situations or things to draw a conclusion. Generalization involves making a broad statement based on limited evidence or examples.

Question 18

In a speech to the neighborhood watch group,Mr.Simmons made the following statement: "If you see someone running down the sidewalk in our neighborhood and you don't recognize that person,you can assume that person has committed some type of crime.You must act immediately.Don't hesitate for a second.Call 911." Some members of the audience recognized this statement as an example of

Accepted Answer

The statement made by Mr. Simmons is an example of a causal fallacy because it assumes that any unknown person running down the sidewalk must have committed a crime, without any evidence or logical reasoning to support this claim. This type of reasoning can lead to false assumptions and unjustified actions.

Question 19

The type of reasoning in which one thing,person,or process is compared to another to predict how something will perform or respond is reasoning by

Accepted Answer

Reasoning by analogy involves comparing one thing or process to another to predict how it will perform or respond. Syllogism involves deducing a conclusion from two premises, deduction involves drawing a conclusion based on a general principle or premise, and induction involves drawing a general conclusion based on specific observations or data. None of these match the description given in the question.

Question 20

Jerry is a politician who calls a press conference after being accused of taking bribes.Instead of addressing the accusations in the press conference,Jerry speaks about the evils of child pornography.What fallacy is Jerry practicing?

Accepted Answer

Jerry is using a red herring fallacy by diverting attention from the accusations at hand and instead trying to elicit an emotional response from the audience by talking about a different topic.

Quiz 15: Using Persuasive Strategies