Deck 12: Planning and Crafting Presentations

Question 1

Narrowing the scope of your speech involves

A) selecting a topic and conducting research.
B) creating an outline and detailing subpoints.
C) determining your main points and organizing them strategically.
D) clarifying the specific purpose of your speech and crystalizing its thesis.
E) creating a compelling introduction and conclusion for your speech.

Answer 1

clarifying the specific purpose of your speech and crystalizing its thesis.

Question 2

A declaration of a specific goal for a speech is called a(n)

A) topic sentence.
B) goal orientation.
C) thesis.
D) purpose statement.
E) outline.

Answer 2

purpose statement.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a purpose statement?

A) to persuade
B) composting organic garbage
C) The food industry should compost garbage to reduce waste and help the environment.
D) Persuade food manufacturers to compost their organic garbage.
E) to inform

Answer 3

Persuade food manufacturers to compost their organic garbage.

Question 4

Which of the following is a guideline for developing a strong purpose statement?

A) Be general.
B) Be demonstrative.
C) Be declarative.
D) Pose a question.
E) Express the message.

Question 5

Which of the following purpose statements best follows the guideline to "be specific"?

A) Teach my listeners best practices in the healthcare industry for preventing medical errors.
B) Teach my listeners about the healthcare industry.
C) How do doctors and nurses prevent medical errors?
D) Teach my listeners about medical errors.
E) Teach my listeners best practices for healthcare.

Question 6

Which of the following purpose statements best follows the guideline to "be selective"?

A) Explain the benefits of eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting adequate sleep.
B) Teach my audience a simple exercise routine they can do at home to stay healthy.
C) Educate my audience about the benefits of organic produce and how to make healthy meals.
D) Convince my listeners to reduce their consumption of red meat and increase their exercise levels.
E) Persuade audience members to sleep more and reduce their alcohol consumption.

Question 7

Saanvi will introduce the keynote speaker at an upcoming conference on digital advertising. Which of the following purpose statements would be the most effective option for Saanvi's speech?

A) to introduce
B) Introduce Alicia Goldman.
C) Introduce Alicia Goldman by describing her expertise on digital advertising.
D) Introduce Alicia Goldman by describing her personal accomplishments, education, and career history.
E) Because she runs one of the country's most successful marketing firms, Alicia Goldman is an expert on digital advertising.

Question 8

A one-sentence version of the message of a speech is called a

A) goal sentence.
B) purpose statement.
C) topic sentence.
D) main question.
E) thesis statement.

Question 9

Which component of a speech is best exemplified by the following sentence? "Allowing employees to work remotely benefits businesses by increasing productivity."

A) purpose
B) goal
C) topic
D) thesis
E) audience

Question 10

Which of the following is a guideline for developing a strong thesis statement?

A) Pose a question.
B) Use a broad scope.
C) Be truthful.
D) Be selective.
E) Be declarative.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of an effective thesis statement?

A) to teach
B) The surest way to protect data is by using multiple databases to create redundancy.
C) backing up data
D) What's the best way to avoid data loss?
E) technology

Question 12

Which of the following thesis statements best exemplifies the guideline to "be concrete"?

A) The digital revolution has transformed media.
B) The way Americans consume media has changed.
C) Since the digital revolution, Americans consume more digital media than print or radio.
D) Teach listeners how Americans' consumption of media has changed.
E) The digital revolution has transformed the way Americans consume media.

Question 13

In preparing a speech about how best to market to millennials, Dakari's original thesis is that celebrity endorsements are an effective marketing method. However, during his research, he discovers that millennials trust recommendations from experts, friends, and family more than those of celebrities. He revises his thesis accordingly. Which guideline for developing a strong thesis statement is Dakari following?

A) Be flexible.
B) Be creative.
C) Make a statement.
D) Be concrete.
E) Be selective.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about exaggeration in a speech is true?

A) Exaggeration will help you create a more concrete thesis.
B) Exaggeration is useful if the purpose is to persuade.
C) Exaggeration beyond what the evidence warrants is unethical.
D) Exaggeration is common and acceptable in the sales industry.
E) Exaggeration is acceptable if the underlying thesis is technically true.

Question 15

Listeners are motivated to learn, take detailed notes, and recall more of the information when a speaker

A) exaggerates his or her claims.
B) focuses on a single main point.
C) jumps from point to point.
D) uses transitions strategically.
E) presents organized, coherent material.

Question 16

Most speeches have how many main points?

A) 1
B) 2-5
C) 4-6
D) 6-8
E) 7-10

Question 17

Main points should

A) be in the form of questions.
B) be organized from least to most important.
C) not be closely related to each other.
D) excite and inspire listeners.
E) each express a distinct idea.

Question 18

Which of the following examples of a main point is written correctly?

A) Many companies use employees to perform accounting tasks that could be automated.
B) automate employee tasks
C) How can companies reduce wasting time and money on accounting tasks?
D) accounting tasks
E) automate accounting instead of using employees

Question 19

Which of the options listed would be the most effective main point for a speech with the following thesis? "By 2050, the United States will be using solar power for most energy needs."

A) One form of energy can be converted into other forms of energy.
B) Transportation is one of the primary fuel consuming sectors.
C) Hydroelectric power is also on the rise.
D) The technology for solar energy is available and ever improving.
E) Explain how transitioning to solar power will benefit the environment.

Question 20

Which of the following examples features the main points that are most distinct?

A) 1. Increased online purchasing will create the need for additional freight distribution of goods.
2) Changing consumer purchasing patterns will increase the need for freight shipping.
B) 1. Internet retail spending is expected to increase dramatically over the next several years.
2) When online purchasing increases, demand for the freight distribution of goods rises.
C) 1. Internet retail spending is expected to increase dramatically over the next several years.
2) Americans are conducting an increasingly large amount of their shopping online.
D) 1. The freight industry faces a problem finding skilled labor to meet shipping needs.
2) Increased shipping needs have resulted in a shortage of employees in the freight industry.
E) 1. Most freight shipping businesses do not yet use analytics for operating decisions.
2) Trucking companies are often slow to adopt new business operation technologies.

Question 21

In preparing a speech to her company's board about the most comprehensive professional liability plans, Alessandra realizes that she is spending most of her time discussing her second and third points and very little time discussing her first point. Which of the following actions should Alessandra take?

A) Delete the first point and only have two main points.
B) Spend different amounts of time on each main point.
C) Add more main points to even out the time distribution.
D) Combine all her ideas into one main point.
E) Broaden her topic and thesis so to enable her to spend more time on her first main point.

Question 22

The following points about supply chain trends are organized in which type of pattern?
1) Analytics has become essential for planning, sourcing, and logistics.
2) China is still a major force in global manufacturing and trade.
3) 3D printing will increasingly influence the industry.

A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Question 23

Which of the following sets of main points is organized in a time pattern?

A) 1. Television advertising to the target has been ineffective.
2) Re-evaluate our marketing efforts.
3) Come up with new advertising ideas.
B) 1. Baby boomers are more influenced by television than digital media.
2) Baby boomers historically respond more to celebrity endorsements than millennials.
3) Targeting baby boomers requires effective search engine marketing.
C) 1. Mining erodes the landscape.
2) Runoff from mining contaminates water.
3) Contaminants damage wildlife and habitats.
D) 1. Hold a brainstorming meeting.
2) Analyze which ideas will be most effective.
3) Create a plan of action.
E) 1. Improve network access in rural areas.
2) Maintain network coverage in urban areas.
3) Create network agreements for international travel.

Question 24

Ruben is creating a presentation on his company's sales revenue in various regions of the United States. Which of the following methods is the best way for him to organize his main points?

A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Question 25

The following set of main points is arranged in which kind of pattern?
1) Medical facilities may have inaccurate or incomplete documentation.
2) Patients take the wrong medication or a harmful combination of medications.
3) Patients experience preventable injury or fatality.

A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Question 26

The following set of main points and subpoints is arranged using which type of organization?
I. Our competitors' product is outselling ours.
A. Our main competitor has more recognizable branding.
B. Our competitor's product has a lower price.
II. There are several strategies for improving sales of our product.
A Update our branding with our target market in mind.
B. Make our pricing more competitive.

A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Question 27

One purpose of subpoints is to

A) stimulate your audience with presentation aids.
B) emphasize your main point through repetition.
C) smooth the transition between main points.
D) cite your sources.
E) offer evidence to support a main point.

Question 28

The rule of subordination states that

A) specific claims come first in the form of main points, and broader ideas follow as subpoints.
B) whenever there is one subpoint, there must be at least one more.
C) subpoints reinforce other subpoints.
D) main points and subpoints make up the body of a speech.
E) the broadest claims come first as main points, and more specific claims follow as subpoints.

Question 29

The rule of division means that whenever there is one subpoint,

A) there must be at least one more.
B) it must sufficiently explain the main idea.
C) there must be at least two more.
D) sub-subpoints must follow.
E) more main points must follow.

Question 30

Capturing your listeners' interest, helping build credibility, and previewing the points you will make are all goals of a(n)

A) thesis statement.
B) introduction.
C) conclusion.
D) purpose statement.
E) outline.

Question 31

Yuri begins her speech on cyber security by telling her listeners about the time a computer virus wiped out all the data on her personal laptop. Which method of capturing her listeners' attention is Yuri using?

A) Startle your listeners.
B) Identify something familiar.
C) Tell a joke.
D) Tell a story.
E) Incorporate technology.

Question 32

Alyssa is giving a presentation on the importance of small businesses. She wants to capture her listeners' interest by demonstrating the impact that small businesses have on the economy. The best way for Alyssa to illustrate this magnitude is through which of the following techniques?

A) using statistics
B) citing an opinion
C) telling a joke
D) noting the occasion
E) identifying something familiar

Question 33

Which of the following speakers is capturing listeners' attention by startling his or her audience?

A) Mufid opens his speech about focus and productivity by asking the audience how many of them check their mobile phones during work tasks.
B) Aiesha begins her speech about work/life balance by juggling plates until one accidentally drops and breaks.
C) Cole starts his speech about entrepreneurship with a quote from Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
D) Nikola begins her speech about tourism by sharing jokes that the tour guides in her city often tell their visitors.
E) Pedro begins his presentation on marketing strategy by playing video clips of the most watched television ads of the previous year.

Question 34

Ethos refers to a speaker's

A) knowledge.
B) first impression.
C) effectiveness.
D) coherence.
E) credibility.

Question 35

Sofia's corporation has just acquired another company, and she is scheduled to speak to her newly acquired employees. She begins her speech by telling the acquired employees that she knows they are worried that their jobs might be eliminated. She goes on to say that she would be worried too, if she were in their positions, but that she personally promises that there will be no mass firings. What component of ethos is Sofia attempting to build with her audience?

A) wisdom
B) virtue
C) goodwill
D) knowledge
E) trust

Question 36

In opening his presentation on effective team leadership skills, Han mentions that he has been studying management and advising business leaders for over ten years. Han is using which aspect of ethos to build credibility with his audience?

A) wisdom
B) virtue
C) goodwill
D) sincerity
E) trust

Question 37

Which of the following speakers is demonstrating virtue to build credibility with his or her listeners?

A) In his speech about human resource management, Ethan tells his listeners that he has a master's degree in the subject.
B) In her speech on career planning, Uma tells her audience of college students how passionate she is about helping young people find success.
C) In his presentation about retirement investment, Nilesh tells his listeners that he recommends the same strategies for them that he uses for his own mother's retirement account.
D) In her presentation on innovation, Annette tells the audience about how much effort it took to get interviews with leaders of the top two companies in the digital technology industry.
E) In his speech on current economic conditions, Declan tells his listeners that he has been studying and evaluating the economy since he was in graduate school.

Question 38

What is the final goal of an introduction to a speech?

A) to build credibility
B) to preview your points
C) to capture your listeners' attention
D) to demonstrate your knowledge
E) to pose a question

Question 39

Which of the following speeches calls for a particularly careful introduction?

A) congratulating the sales team on exceeding its goals
B) displaying proper office party etiquette
C) coping with the death of a coworker
D) introducing the new CEO
E) dealing with customer complaints

Question 40

Which of the following parts of a speech summarizes your main points, creates a memorable moment, and includes a call to action?

A) introduction
B) body
C) transitions
D) conclusion
E) thesis statement

Question 41

What is the first goal of a conclusion to a presentation?

A) Summarize your main points.
B) End with a call to action.
C) Signal the end of your speech.
D) Create a memorable moment.
E) Tie points together in an effective manner.

Question 42

Effective speakers often repeat their ________ in their conclusion.

A) call to action
B) memorable moment
C) speech title
D) purpose statement
E) thesis statement

Question 43

Which of the following examples provides a summary of a speaker's main points?

A) It is inefficient to use employees for tasks that can be fully automated. Accounting software is easy to use and will save your company valuable time and money.
B) In conclusion, the flexibility of working remotely can greatly improve work/life balance.
C) I am happy to conclude the story I began earlier by telling you that MaryAnne successfully overcame workplace discrimination and is celebrating five years at her current job.
D) And always remember how many marketing professionals it takes to screw in a light bulb: none-they've automated it!
E) One thing you can do today to improve your online security is to update your operating system.

Question 44

Using humor, surprise, or drama in your conclusion can help you

A) improve your nonverbal communication.
B) signal the end of your speech.
C) provide a summary of your main points.
D) end with a call to action.
E) create a memorable moment.

Question 45

Kotomi ends her presentation on workplace safety by saying, "When you return to your office, take a look at the building map near the elevator. What's the closest stairwell to your desk? What's the fastest way to exit the building? Review your company's emergency protocol, and you'll be better prepared for any possible emergency." Which goal of an effective conclusion is Kotomi demonstrating?

A) Signal the end of your speech.
B) Provide a summary of your main points.
C) Create a memorable moment.
D) End on an emotionally dramatic note.
E) End with a call to action.

Question 46

Previews, internal summaries, signpost phrases, and nonverbal behaviors can all be used as

A) introductions.
B) conclusions.
C) transitions.
D) main points.
E) thesis statements.

Question 47

Which of the following is an example of a preview transition?

A) "We've covered the ways in which strong leaders communicate: listening openly, prioritizing expectations, and being honest."
B) "Secondly, I want to address effective strategies for motivating your employees."
C) "For instance..."
D) "In summary..."
E) Briefly pausing at the end of a point.

Question 48

Bahar makes the following transition statement in her speech: "Thus far, we've covered how analytics will improve your organization's performance, consistency, and planning." Which type of transition is Bahar using?

A) preview
B) nonverbal
C) signpost
D) example
E) summary

Question 49

To transition from discussing his company's previous quarterly earnings to its current financial situation, Gus wants to use a signpost that contrasts his points. Which of the following phrases will best help Gus achieve this goal?

A) In a similar way...
B) In other words...
C) On the other hand...
D) Consequently...
E) Most importantly...

Question 50

Devorah is giving a presentation about her company's decision to switch to a new software platform. At the end of a passage in which she described the problems caused by the old software platform, she says, "Thankfully, we can forget about all of that now," as she makes a sweeping motion with her hand as if to brush the old platform and its issues away. Which kind of nonverbal transition is Devorah using?

A) body movement
B) gesture
C) vocal inflection
D) pause
E) signpost

Question 51

A purpose statement makes your general goal more specific.

Question 52

The following sentence is an effective purpose statement.
"Outsourcing accounting tasks will make your company more efficient."

Question 53

Drafting your thesis statement will help guide your research.

Question 54

Exaggerating claims in your thesis is ethical because you are not directly making false statements.

Question 55

The following sentence is an example of an effective thesis statement.
"Industrial corporations have a duty to be environmentally responsible."

Question 56

Having an interesting topic and a compelling thesis are the two keys to keeping an audience interested in a speech.

Question 57

Formulating main points as complete sentences will be useful as you practice your speech.

Question 58

The following main points are organized in a topic pattern.
1. Overworked employees sacrifice nights and weekends.
2. Employee exhaustion causes burnout and lower morale.
3. As a result, quality of employee output decreases.

Question 59

The following main points are organized in a time pattern.
1. Conduct security analysis of all Internet-accessible systems.
2. Review techniques for improving security and backing up data.
3. Research vendors for relevant security software.
4. Complete contract agreements and implement solutions.

Question 60

Supporting materials, such as quotations, definitions, and statistics, should be incorporated into your subpoints.

Question 61

The goals of an introduction are to capture listeners' interest, build credibility, preview your main points.

Question 62

The most effective way to capture listeners' attention is by telling a story that will spark your audience's curiosity.

Question 63

Judgments about a speaker's credibility are determined by the speaker.

Question 64

The following speaker is demonstrating the aspect of ethos called virtue.
"I wrote my PhD thesis on how creativity influences problem solving, and I have been a consultant in the corporate world for the past twelve years."

Question 65

You should exercise particular care when introducing a speech on a sensitive topic.

Question 66

A speaker can signal the end of a speech nonverbally as well as verbally.

Question 67

The following part of a conclusion is an example of creating a memorable moment:
"The next time Arnold needed to hire a new team member, he understood how to recruit great talent. He paid more attention to the details of each candidate's experience, noted the rapport he had with each of them, and included other team members in the process to ensure the new hire would fit in with his company's culture. Arnold also learned to ask the right questions, so he had a better idea of each candidate's strengths and weaknesses. Today, Arnold's newest employee has been with his company for five years, and his firm is one of the most successful marketing strategy groups in the industry."

Question 68

Transitions are what give a speech a satisfying flow and help distinguish one point from another.

Question 69

The following statement is an example of a summary transition.
"Now, I'm going to address a question many of you might be asking yourselves: If constant change is the norm, how can your business anticipate the next trend and prepare to meet each challenge head on?"

Question 70

Nonverbal transitions are most effective when they seem natural.

Question 71

Review the following purpose statement.
"Explain how newspapers have adapted to the digital age and teach listeners how consumers' media habits are changing."
List the three guidelines for developing a strong purpose statement and analyze whether this example follows each guideline. If it does not meet one or more of the guidelines, explain how it could be stronger and give an example of one way to change it to meet the guidelines.

Question 72

Rashida is a sales representative for a technology start-up company that provides software solutions primarily for human resources needs. In a speech to potential clients, Rashida considers using the following thesis.
"AutomateBiz will quickly transform your business by providing tech solutions in every area you need."
List the guidelines for a strong thesis statement and identify what actions Rashida needs to take to meet these guidelines. Are there ways Rashida's thesis could be improved? If so, provide an example.

Question 73

Write a thesis statement and three main points for the speech topic of your choice. List the four guidelines for main points and ensure that your example meets these guidelines.

Question 74

Review the following main points and select the best pattern in which to organize them. Explain why your decision is the best organizational pattern.
1. You realize that you do not have the resources to accommodate your client's request.
2. Your client asks your firm for a solution to a particular issue.
3. You recruit and hire a consultant who can meet your client's needs.

Question 75

Andre is writing a speech about effective strategies nonprofit businesses use for fundraising. What are two different patterns in which Andre might organize his main points and what are the strengths of each?

Question 76

The first goal of an introduction is to capture your listeners' attention. Write a brief introductory paragraph on the topic of your choice that will capture your listeners' attention. Explain which method you are using and why it is the best choice for an introduction on your topic.

Question 77

Caesar is giving a speech about cross-cultural communication in business settings and wants to build credibility with his audience. Caesar has been studying this topic for several years and conducted brand-new research specific to this speech for this audience. He also cares deeply about helping others with communication, as he worked at an international corporation early in his career and experienced his own challenges in cross-cultural settings. Define the three components of ethos, and name which one you think Caesar should highlight during his introduction. Explain why you chose this component and how it will help Caesar build credibility with his listeners.

Question 78

Effective conclusions create a memorable moment for the audience. Explain why this is an important aspect of concluding a speech and write an example of a memorable moment on the topic of your choice.

Question 79

Explain the difference between a preview transition and a summary transition and how each effectively connects the ideas in a speech. Provide an example of a preview transition and a summary transition.

Question 80

Some transitions are nonverbal. Define the four types of nonverbal transitions and give examples of how each helps listeners follow the flow of your speech.