Question 1

How does argument by definition differ from argument by analogy?

Accepted Answer

Argument by definition focuses on the meaning or definition of a concept to support a point, while argument by analogy draws comparisons between different ideas or situations to reach a conclusion.

Question 2

In Aidan's speech on how to get ahead at work, he notes that "work is like a race. Those that put in the training and don't slack off, win the prize." Which type of argument is Aidan using?

Accepted Answer

Aidan is using an argument by analogy, comparing work to a race to illustrate that success comes from effort and dedication, similar to how training leads to winning in racing.

Question 3

If you are using a general idea or definition to make a specific case, you are using what method of reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with a general idea or hypothesis and then uses it to make a conclusion about a specific case.

Question 4

In her persuasive speech, Marita argues that men can be feminists by outlining exactly what it means to be a feminist. Which type of argument is Marita using?

Accepted Answer

Marita is using an argument by definition because she is explaining what it means to be a feminist, thereby defining the concept to support her argument that men can be feminists.

Question 5

To persuade an audience that social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and networking sites such as LinkedIn are important networking tools and one's active engagement on these sites can lead to future employment opportunities is an example of an argument by ______.

Accepted Answer

The argument is based on the relationship between active engagement on social media and the potential for future employment opportunities, highlighting how one can lead to the other.

Question 6

An argument by relationship might use ideas involving ______ or ______.

Accepted Answer

An argument by relationship often involves discussing how two or more things are related, which can include how one thing causes another (causation) or how two things are related without direct causation (correlation).

Question 7

Arguing that one thing causes another thing to occur is an example of which type of argument?

Accepted Answer

Arguing that one thing causes another thing to occur directly aligns with the concept of causation, which is the action of causing something.

Question 8

Arguing that a relationship may exist between two things, but one doesn't necessarily cause the other to occur, is an example of which type of argument?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a correlation argument, which suggests a relationship or association between two variables, but does not assert that one causes the other.

Question 9

Jarrod argues that drinking alcohol increases the likelihood that one will also smoke. His argument related to drinking and smoking is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Jarrod's argument suggests a relationship between drinking alcohol and smoking, which is an example of correlation. Correlation indicates a statistical association between two variables, but it does not imply that one causes the other.

Question 10

Monique argues that posting drinking pictures on social media sites such as Facebook can lead to decreased job opportunities. Her argument related to posting inappropriate pictures and fewer job opportunities is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Monique's argument implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship between posting drinking pictures on social media and experiencing decreased job opportunities, which is an example of causation.

Question 11

______ is a strategy for creating a persuasive appeal by providing overwhelming substantiation that any reasonable person would have to accept.

Accepted Answer

Sufficiency of evidence is the correct answer because it refers to the strategy of using ample and convincing evidence in an argument or appeal, making it difficult for a reasonable person to reject the claim. This approach relies on the quality and quantity of evidence to persuade.

Question 12

Which statement best reflects the sufficiency of evidence?

Accepted Answer

Providing enough evidence for people to understand ensures that the evidence is sufficient for the argument or topic being discussed. This approach ensures clarity and comprehensibility, which are key to effective communication and persuasion.

Question 13

If your topic is controversial or the members of your audience have strong opinions about your topic already, it is best to ______.

Accepted Answer

Asking the audience to suspend their own judgments until after you present your arguments allows for a more open and receptive environment, enabling the speaker to fully present their case without immediate bias or resistance.

Question 14

Leland begins his speech by stating, "I know that many of you have strong opinions about gun control. I simply ask you to keep an open mind this evening as you listen to my speech."
Leland is using which strategy of persuasion?

Accepted Answer

Leland is asking the audience to temporarily withhold their preconceived opinions or judgments about gun control while they listen to his speech, which is a strategy of asking for a suspended judgment.

Question 15

The persuasive strategy of presenting your audience with the possible advantages of adopting your opinion, solution, or point of view is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Demonstrating cost-benefits is a persuasive strategy where the speaker outlines the potential advantages (benefits) and disadvantages (costs) of adopting a particular opinion, solution, or point of view, aiming to show that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Question 16

Deborah asks her classmates to sign a petition to increase campus parking options. She reasons that bringing a petition for students to sign will make them more likely to participate in this policy change. What persuasive strategy is Deborah using?

Accepted Answer

Deborah is demonstrating the cost-benefits of signing the petition by suggesting that it will make students more likely to participate in the policy change.

Question 17

______ refers to a strategy that, rather than asking the members of one's audience to adopt the big-picture purpose, asks the audience to take smaller steps that can eventually lead to bigger steps.

Accepted Answer

Seeking out micro changes refers to the strategy of encouraging an audience to make small, manageable changes that can lead to larger changes over time, rather than overwhelming them with the need for immediate, large-scale transformation.

Question 18

What strategy did Yale professors Sherif and Hovland (1961) develop that maintains that individuals can be persuaded on a topic by being convinced to accept changes that are close to their already held beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Sherif and Hovland developed the social judgment theory, which posits that persuasion is more likely when the proposed changes are close to the individual's existing beliefs.

Question 19

The social judgment theory argues that if you want to persuade someone, your argument must be in her or his latitude of ______.

Accepted Answer

The social judgment theory posits that for persuasion to be effective, the message must fall within the audience's latitude of acceptance, meaning it is within the range of ideas that the person finds acceptable or reasonable.

Question 20

Latitude of ______ occurs when new information causes a person to neither accept or reject a position but instead maintain his or her original position.

Accepted Answer

Latitude of noncommitment refers to the range of ideas that a person sees as neither acceptable nor objectionable. In this context, when new information is presented, it falls within this latitude, leading the individual to neither shift towards acceptance nor rejection, but rather to remain in their original stance or position.

Quiz 15: Persuasive Presentations