In early September you gave an impassioned speech on the need to alleviate childhood hunger, and then in October you have a chance encounter with a young woman who had been in your audience. She comes up to you and says, "Sorry, I don't even remember your name and I'm not sure how many kids you said were going to bed hungry, but I sure do remember what you said. I even volunteer at the food bank now." Clearly, your speech's ____________ was strong.
A) ethical foundation
B) residual message
C) use of facts and statistics
D) matching of warrant and claim
E) opening

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The residual message refers to what the audience remembers long after the speech is over. The fact that the young woman remembers the speaker's message and was inspired to take action by volunteering at a food bank demonstrates that the speech's residual message was strong. While ethical foundation, use of facts and statistics, matching of warrant and claim, and opening are all important elements of a speech, they do not specifically speak to the impact the speech had on the audience's memory and subsequent actions.

In Early September You Gave an Impassioned Speech on the Need