Question 1

In her speech on gardening, Elvira noted that she planted similar vegetables together, based on the idea that "foods that grow together go together." By pointing out where she planted each vegetable, Elvira used which organizational pattern for her speech?
A) Chronological
B) Problem-solution
C) Topical
D) Spatial

Accepted Answer

Elvira used a spatial organizational pattern for her speech as she provided information about where she planted each vegetable.

Question 2

Nicole was planning a speech advocating the position that all students be required to take two years of a foreign language prior to graduation. She was fairly certain that most of the people in her class were against her position. She felt that the strongest argument she had for this audience was the value of this skill when seeking employment. She decided to present that argument as her first main point. What principle is Nicole using?
A) Recency
B) Complexity
C) Primacy
D) Specificity

Accepted Answer

Nicole is using the principle of primacy by presenting her strongest argument first in order to make a strong impression on her audience.

Question 3

Adrianna says, "Next, we will discuss the steps to become certified and remain certified in CPR: enroll in the course, attend the course, and keep your certification up to date by taking the course again." This is an example of a(n) _____.
A) initial preview
B) internal preview
C) internal summary
D) final summary

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an internal preview, as Adrianna is previewing the steps she will be discussing next within her presentation. It is not an internal summary or a final summary, as she is not summarizing information already covered in her presentation.

Question 4

If you want to inform an audience about the four types of sport utility vehicles on the market, which organizational pattern would work best?
A) Spatial
B) Topical
C) Chronological
D) Problem-solution

Accepted Answer

The topical organizational pattern would be the best choice for informing an audience about the four types of sport utility vehicles on the market, as it allows for a clear and concise presentation of information about each type of SUV. This pattern would organize the information into four main sections, one for each type of SUV.

Question 5

Maxine develops a speech in which her main ideas include the following: I. Fuel emissions from cars result in pollution.
II) Driving alternative fuel vehicles will help decrease the pollution.
What type of organizational pattern is Maxine using?
A) Topical
B) Chronological
C) Spatial
D) Problem-solution

Accepted Answer

Maxine is using the problem-solution organizational pattern where she presents a problem (fuel emissions causing pollution) and then offers a solution that addresses the problem (driving alternative fuel vehicles to decrease pollution).

Question 6

What type of organizational pattern is reflected in these main points? I. As a young child, J.R.R. Tolkien and his young cousins invented a language called Nebosh.
II) As a college student, J.R.R. Tolkien invented several languages influenced by Welsh and Finnish.
III) By the time he published the works of fiction for which he is famous, J.R.R. Tolkien had invented a number of Elvish languages.
A) Chronological
B) Spatial
C) Topical
D) Problem-solution

Accepted Answer

The main points are organized in the order of time, reflecting the chronological development of J.R.R. Tolkien's language invention from childhood to adulthood.

Question 7

La Verne makes the claim in her persuasive speech that unregulated cars in major urban areas contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, and depletion of the ozone layer contributes to global warming. Which type of organizational pattern is reflected in this example?
A) Cause-effect
B) Topical
C) Problem-solution
D) Spatial

Accepted Answer

The pattern reflected in the example is Cause-effect, as La Verne presents the cause (unregulated cars in major urban areas) and its effect (depletion of the ozone layer), as well as the effect of that cause (contribution to global warming).

Question 8

In Stephanie's speech on jazz dance, she tells the audience in the introduction that she is going to discuss the history of the dance, some of the rules, and the benefits of dancing as it relates to cardiovascular fitness. What type of signpost is Stephanie demonstrating?
A) A transition
B) An initial preview
C) An internal summary
D) A final summary

Accepted Answer

Stephanie is giving an initial preview by outlining the main points she will cover in her speech.

Question 9

J.P. wants to develop a presentation about the five bases of interpersonal power (legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent). His topic would be best suited for what type of organizational pattern?
A) Topical
B) Spatial
C) Chronological
D) Cause-and-effect

Accepted Answer

The topic of the five bases of interpersonal power lends itself well to a topical organizational pattern, where each base of power can be discussed individually and in detail.

Question 10

An arrangement of ideas from the most important to the least important or from strongest to weakest is called __________.
A) recency
B) primacy
C) complexity
D) specificity

Accepted Answer

The arrangement of ideas from the most important to the least important or from strongest to weakest is called the primacy effect. This is an important concept in communication and persuasive messaging as it highlights the importance of starting with the most compelling argument to capture the audience's attention and interest.

Question 11

In his last two speeches, Lenny used a technique of grouping his specific information and offering it first, followed by his general explanation and statistics, then in the second speech, by giving his general explanation and statistics first, then following with his illustrations. This technique is called _____.
A) recency
B) primacy
C) specificity
D) soft evidence

Accepted Answer

The technique Lenny used is called specificity, where he organizes his information by presenting specific details first in one speech and general information first in another.

Question 12

Corinne spoke about how the cost of fuel continued to increase and offered possible ways to correct fuel inflation rates. What organizational pattern did Corinne use in this speech?
A) Cause-effect
B) Problem-solution
C) Chronological
D) Topical

Accepted Answer

Corinne used the problem-solution organizational pattern in her speech about the increasing cost of fuel. She first presented the problem, which was the rising fuel inflation rates, and then offered possible ways to correct it. The problem-solution pattern is effective in addressing issues and proposing solutions.

Question 13

Janine organized her three statistics on organ transplants according to their significance. She saved her "clincher" point about how easy it is to indicate your willingness to donate by signing the back of your driver's license for the last point before her conclusion. What organizational principle did Janine demonstrate in this speech?
A) Complexity
B) Specificity
C) Primacy
D) Recency

Accepted Answer

Janine demonstrated the principle of Recency by saving the most significant point for the end of her speech.

Question 14

In his speech on varying explanations of how the earth came into existence, Eduardo begins with opinions, moves to inferences, and uses scientific facts in support of his last point. What principle of supporting material organization is Eduardo reflecting in his speech?
A) Primacy-recency
B) "Soft" to "hard" evidence
C) Complexity
D) The specificity principle

Accepted Answer

Eduardo is presenting his supporting materials in a "soft" to "hard" evidence format. He starts with opinions (soft), moves to inferences (medium), and uses scientific facts (hard) in support of his last point.

Question 15

For your persuasive speech on assisted suicide, you decide to first provide a hypothetical example of a terminally ill patient who requested assistance with bringing about his own death, then to talk about the current state of the laws covering assisted suicide. Which organizational strategy does this plan reflect?
A) Complexity
B) Specificity
C) Primacy
D) "Soft" to "hard" evidence

Accepted Answer

The strategy reflects moving from "soft" evidence, like a hypothetical example, to "hard" evidence, such as the current state of laws.

Question 16

When speakers give an opinion to support their speech topic, it is an example of _____ evidence.
A) soft
B) hard
C) topical
D) chronological

Accepted Answer

Soft evidence refers to subjective opinions or personal experiences that cannot be objectively measured or proven, but can still be persuasive in supporting a speech topic. Hard evidence, on the other hand, refers to factual data or statistics that can be backed up with tangible evidence. Topical and chronological evidence refer to the organization of speech material based on subject matter or time sequence.

Question 17

Dallas has begun her main points with some that are very easy-to-understand and has then moved to concepts that are more difficult to understand. She has used which organizational style?
A) Regency
B) Primacy
C) Specificity
D) Complexity

Accepted Answer

The complexity organizational style involves starting with simpler concepts and gradually moving to more complex ones.

Question 18

Margo wants to give a speech on the life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. She wants her main points to discuss Kennedy's childhood, his college years, and his adult years. What type of organizational pattern is Margo using?
A) Topical
B) Chronological
C) Cause-effect
D) Problem-solution

Accepted Answer

Margo is using a chronological organizational pattern to discuss Kennedy's life, which means she is presenting the information in the order in which events occurred over time.

Question 19

A way for the speaker to signal to the audience that he or she is moving from one idea to another is by using a(n) _____.
A) transition
B) preview
C) initial preview
D) summary

Accepted Answer

A transition is a word or phrase that connects one idea to another and helps the audience follow the speaker's train of thought. It is the most appropriate choice for signaling a move from one idea to another. Preview and initial preview refer to the speaker introducing the main points of the speech at the beginning, and a summary is a recap of the main points at the end.

Question 20

Stephen was planning a speech on the environmental impact of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. He planned to organize his speech by starting at the area immediately around the cone, move to a discussion of the areas directly east of the mountain, and then move counterclockwise to the north and west of the mountain. What type of organizational pattern was he using?
A) Chronological
B) Spatial
C) Topical
D) Cause-and-effect

Accepted Answer

Stephen is organizing his speech based on the physical location of different areas relative to Mt. St. Helens. This is a spatial organizational pattern.

Quiz 12: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech

In her speech on gardening, Elvira noted that she planted similar vegetables together, based on the idea that "foods that grow together go together." By pointing out where she planted each vegetable, Elvira used which organizational pattern for her speech?

Adrianna says, "Next, we will discuss the steps to become certified and remain certified in CPR: enroll in the course, attend the course, and keep your certification up to date by taking the course again." This is an example of a(n) _____.

If you want to inform an audience about the four types of sport utility vehicles on the market, which organizational pattern would work best?

Maxine develops a speech in which her main ideas include the following: I. Fuel emissions from cars result in pollution. II) Driving alternative fuel vehicles will help decrease the pollution. What type of organizational pattern is Maxine using?

La Verne makes the claim in her persuasive speech that unregulated cars in major urban areas contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, and depletion of the ozone layer contributes to global warming. Which type of organizational pattern is reflected in this example?

In Stephanie's speech on jazz dance, she tells the audience in the introduction that she is going to discuss the history of the dance, some of the rules, and the benefits of dancing as it relates to cardiovascular fitness. What type of signpost is Stephanie demonstrating?

J.P. wants to develop a presentation about the five bases of interpersonal power (legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent) . His topic would be best suited for what type of organizational pattern?

An arrangement of ideas from the most important to the least important or from strongest to weakest is called __________.

Corinne spoke about how the cost of fuel continued to increase and offered possible ways to correct fuel inflation rates. What organizational pattern did Corinne use in this speech?

In his speech on varying explanations of how the earth came into existence, Eduardo begins with opinions, moves to inferences, and uses scientific facts in support of his last point. What principle of supporting material organization is Eduardo reflecting in his speech?

When speakers give an opinion to support their speech topic, it is an example of _____ evidence.

Dallas has begun her main points with some that are very easy-to-understand and has then moved to concepts that are more difficult to understand. She has used which organizational style?

Margo wants to give a speech on the life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. She wants her main points to discuss Kennedy's childhood, his college years, and his adult years. What type of organizational pattern is Margo using?

A way for the speaker to signal to the audience that he or she is moving from one idea to another is by using a(n) _____.