Exam Prep Speech: Intros & Transitions Ch.10

Chapter 10 Organizing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions

Multiple Choice

1. Jake started his talk by explaining that he understood how the audience felt because he had also gone through a life-threatening illness as a child. What purpose does his introduction serve?

a. gaining attention

b. creating a favorable response toward the topic

c. creating a favorable response toward the speaker

d. clarifying the purpose of thesis

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2. Bethany started her speech by saying “At least half of you will leave here today with more money in your pocket.” What purpose does her introduction serve?

a. gaining audience attention

b. introducing a transition

c. influencing audience to view speaker favorably

d. clarifying the purpose of thesis

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3. The partition step of the introduction refers to the __________.

a. preview

b. transition

c. thesis

d. attention getter

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4. The introduction previews how you will develop the topic in the body of the speech; classical theorists refer to this step as the __________.

a. a thesis

b. partition

c. rhetoric

d. ethos

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5. Identifying with the audience is a type of introduction that involves __________.

a. referring to experiences and values shared by the speaker and audience

b. referring to members of the audience by name

c. defining the target audience in the introduction

d. defining the desired audience response

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6. When Martin Luther King Jr. opened his famous “I Have a Dream” speech by saying, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” he was using what type of introduction?

a. telling a story

b. using an analogy

c. identifying with the audience

d. referring to the speech situation

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7. Citing statistics in the introduction works best when __________.

a. they are drawn from a small survey

b. they are rounded off

c. they are accurate but not well known

d. they confirm beliefs commonly held by half the audience

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8. Archie opened his speech about the benefits of mainstreaming students with disabilities in the school system by telling about his sister, who succeeded in high school despite being confined to a wheelchair after a car accident. This type of introduction relies on __________.

a. an analogy

b. an anecdote

c. humor

d. a rhetorical question

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

9. A potential drawback of using an anecdote in your introduction is that it __________.

a. may distract from the preview of your topic

b. may be dull and uninteresting to the audience

c. may reveal your thesis prematurely

d. requires more effort from the listeners to interpret

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10. Tracy began her speech about online music services by saying, “Illegally downloading music from the Internet is just like visiting your local music store and shoplifting several CDs.” What type of introductory device is Tracy using?

a. anecdote

b. rhetorical question

c. analogy

d. humor

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11. Greg opened his speech by asking the board members, “Why are manufacturers working so hard today when automation is available?” What type of introduction is Greg using?

a. citing a statistic

b. telling a story

c. asking a rhetorical question

d. quoting someone

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

12. When Keena asked her audience, “When was the last time you paid less than $2 for a gallon of gas?” she didn’t expect anyone to answer. What type of question is Keena using?

a. rhetorical

b. open-ended

c. closed-ended

d. hypothetical

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13. Before attempting to write the introduction of a speech, the speaker should prepare the __________.

a. conclusion

b. support materials

c. transitions

d. body

Learning Objective: 10.2 Prepare an introduction.

Topic: Introductions: Strategies for Preparing an Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

14. What presentation format does the text suggest you use when delivering the introduction to the audience?

a. glancing at notecards

b. memorized

c. extemporaneous

d. reading from a script

Learning Objective: 10.2 Prepare an introduction.

Topic: Introductions: Strategies for Preparing an Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

15. At the end of her speech, June reminded the audience of the three things that would help them lose weight and feel healthier. What is the purpose of her conclusion?

a. establish rapport with the audience

b. build identification with the audience

c. summarize the main ideas

d. state the purpose

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16. What three goals should a conclusion accomplish?

a. summarize main ideas, gain attention, and signal the end

b. signal the end, summarize the main ideas, and make a final appeal

c. transition, restate the thesis, and end humorously

d. restate the purpose, give an internal summary, and preview topic development

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

17. In her conclusion, Lori said, “Today we’ve learned that we all must take precautions against food-borne diseases. The prime candidates are E. coli, botulism, and salmonella. Your care in cooking and storing food could make the difference between a healthy diet or a poisonous one.” Lori’s first sentence serves what function?

a. summarizing the main ideas

b. signaling that the end is coming

c. making a final appeal

d. creating an aid to memory

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

18. What cue is Eleanor giving the audience when she says, “Finally, we have talked about several ways to organize your kitchen to make cooking easier and now it’s your turn to try.”?

a. signaling the end

b. summarizing the main ideas

c. making a personal reference

d. making a final appeal

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19. Which element of the conclusion reminds listeners of the response the speaker wants from them?

a. summarizing the end

b. gaining the audience’s favor

c. signaling the end

d. making a final appeal

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20. Miguel concluded his speech by saying “Now that you know more about the danger our wildlife is in, take five minutes next week to go and vote on this issue.” What is the purpose of his conclusion?

a. summarizing the end

b. gaining the audience’s favor

c. making a final appeal

d. signaling the end

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

21. An effective summary should __________.

a. repeat the main ideas completely

b. reiterate the development of the main ideas

c. remind the audience of the key points

d. signal the end

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22. Which type of conclusion illustrates the speaker’s identification with the subject and encourages the audience to identify with the speaker?

a. summarizing

b. quoting someone

c. making a personal reference

d. challenging the audience

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

23. Marsha summarized her speech on caring for the homeless in the community by holding up a photograph of her family outside of a homeless shelter where they had lived for six months. What type of conclusion is she using?

a. making a personal reference

b. quoting someone

c. summarizing

d. challenging the audience

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

24. Gloria concluded her speech about sexual harassment by saying, “We must all be willing to confront sexual harassment wherever we encounter it, whether in the classroom, the boardroom, our homes, or at work.” This remark constitutes what type of conclusion?

a. a utopian vision

b. a challenge to the audience

c. a summary

d. a quote

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

25. As Micah concluded her speech she reminded her audience, “If we all come together, we can create more jobs and a brighter future for our children.” Which type of conclusion is Micah using?

a. a personal reference

b. a quote

c. a summary

d. a utopian vision

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26. One guideline for preparing a conclusion is to __________.

a. ask a rhetorical question

b. tell a story

c. write the conclusion first

d. keep it brief

Learning Objective: 10.4 Prepare a conclusion.

Topic: Strategies for Preparing a Conclusion

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

27. One way to give unity and enhance the sense of form and unity to your speech is to conclude by __________.

a. summarizing the main ideas

b. challenging the audience

c. returning to your introductory device

d. making a personal reference

Learning Objective: 10.4 Prepare a conclusion.

Topic: Strategies for Preparing a Conclusion

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28. A speaker should prepare a conclusion the same way he or she prepares the introduction by __________.

a. writing out key phrases

b. asking a rhetorical question

c. speaking extemporaneously

d. reading it word-for-word from notecards

Learning Objective: 10.4 Prepare a conclusion.

Topic: Strategies for Preparing a Conclusion

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29. Ultimately, the purpose of a transition is to create __________ in a speech.

a. excitement

b. action

c. tension

d. movement

Learning Objective: 10.5 Use transitions to connect the elements of a speech and give its structure a dynamic quality.

Topic: Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

30. Corinne explained to her classmates, “Let’s take the psychological elements we just discussed and apply them to the issue before us.” What is she using to connect the elements of her speech?

a. a partition

b. hypothetical question

c. transition

d. rhetorical question

Learning Objective: 10.5 Use transitions to connect the elements of a speech and give its structure a dynamic quality.

Topic: Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31. Three elements—internal previews, __________, and internal summaries—make up a complete transition.

a. links

b. introductions

c. partitions

d. conclusions

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32. What order should a complete transition follow?

a. internal summary, link, internal preview

b. internal preview, link, internal summary

c. internal preview, internal summary, link

d. internal summary, internal preview, link

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

33. What is an internal summary?

a. a mental reminder to the speaker to summarize his or her points

b. a claim within the speech

c. a summary of the main ideas within the conclusion of the speech

d. a statement in the body of a speech that reminds listeners what they have just heard

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34. In a speech about the global economy, Samar said, “It should be clear from my first point that every nation relies on foreign trade for its economic strength.” This statement is __________.

a. a transition

b. a link

c. an internal preview

d. an internal summary

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35. Conjunctions such as “furthermore,” “in addition,” and “moreover” commonly serve as ________ in a speech.

a. signposts

b. complete transitions

c. links

d. internal previews

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

36. Javier told his audience, “Not only will the state fail to pass this legislation, it will also raise your taxes.” What type of transition is Javier using?

a. link

b. complete transition

c. signpost

d. internal preview

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

37. Molly helped her audience follow along with her speech when she said, “The main reason we should have our own vegetable gardens is . . .” and “There are also two other reasons having our own garden is important . . .” What device is she using?

a. internal preview

b. partition

c. parallel structure

d. internal summary

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38. Whenever possible, transitions should relate ideas to each other using a(n) __________, a repeated pattern that may make the link more memorable.

a. rhetorical question

b. complete transition

c. parallel structure

d. internal preview

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

39. __________ are verbal cues that alert the audience to where you are in the speech.

a. Signposts

b. Internal summaries

c. Internal previews

d. Parallel structures

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

40. The words “first,” “second,” and “third” serve as ________ in a speech.

a. ideas

b. support

c. signposts

d. internal previews

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Essay Questions

41. List the four goals of an introduction

• Gain the attention and interest of the audience.
• Influence the audience to view you and your topic favorably.
• Clarify the purpose or thesis of your speech.
• Preview the development of your topic.

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Conclusions: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

42. Discuss what should be considered when using humor to begin a speech.

• Humor is a common introductory device.
• Humor can relax the audience, influence listeners to view the speaker favorably, and disarm skeptics.
• Humor reminds everyone not to take themselves too seriously.
• Every speech should not start with a joke.
• Cultural expectations should be considered when using humor.
• If there is doubt about whether to use humor, avoid it.

Learning Objective: 10.1 Identify the main purposes and some common types of introductions.

Topic: Conclusions: Introductions: Beginning the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43. What are some strategies to use when preparing an introduction?

• Prepare the body of the speech first.
• Relate the introduction to the body.
• Keep the introduction brief.
• Make the introduction complete.
• Keep a file of potential introductions.
• Plan the introduction word for word.
• Be guided by examples in the text.

Learning Objective: 10.2 Prepare an introduction.

Topic: Conclusions: Strategies for Preparing an Introduction

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

44. What are the three goals of a conclusion? Provide a description of each goal.

• Signal that the end is coming: The speaker completes the audience’s sense of form by anticipating the end of the speech
• Summarize the main ideas: The speaker draws together the main ideas in a way that helps listeners remember them.
• Make a final appeal to the audience: The speaker takes the opportunity to tell the audience exactly what response he or she is looking for.

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

45. Identify a hypothetical topic and the five types of conclusions, and give an example of each type of conclusion. Select the conclusion you think would work the best.

• Sample topic will vary.
• The five types of conclusions are: (1) summarizing, (2) quoting someone, (3) making a personal reference, (4) challenging the audience, and (5) offering a utopian vision
• A complete example includes a hypothetical topic along with examples of each type of conclusion; point out the best selection and provide a rationale why you consider it to be the best type of conclusion to use in this case.
• Student examples will vary.

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

46. Describe what it means to use a utopian vision to conclude a speech.

• This is closely related to challenging the audience.
• A utopian vision offers an idealized, positive vision of what can be achieved if the audience works together with the speaker.
• It does not focus on the challenge itself, but on the results of meeting the challenge successfully.
• Utopian means that it transcends the immediate.
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech uses this technique.

Learning Objective: 10.3 Identify the main purposes and some common types of conclusions.

Topic: Conclusions: Ending the Speech

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

47. What strategy can a speaker use in the conclusion to enhance the speech’s sense of form and unity? How does this relate to other parts of the speech?

• The speaker can return to the introductory device to enhance the audience’s sense of form and unity.
• This approach will link ideas from the beginning and end of a speech together; the speaker might reference a quotation or anecdote that was used in the introduction.

Learning Objective: 10.4 Prepare a conclusion.

Topic: Strategies for Preparing a Conclusion

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

48. How do the purposes of transitions differ from the purposes of main points?

• The purposes of transitions include (1) creating a sense of movement and form, (2) helping listeners follow the speaker’s movement through the speech, (3) helping listeners remember what was said, and (4) keeping the speaker from being nervous during gaps between ideas.
• An introduction introduces the topic; the main points develop it; the conclusion summarizes the speech. The transitions provide movement between the parts of a speech.
• Transitions connect the introduction to the body, connect the main ideas within the body, and connect the body to the conclusion.

Learning Objective: 10.5 Use transitions to connect the elements of a speech and give its structure a dynamic quality.

Topic: Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

49. Identify the four purposes of transitions. Provide an example which demonstrates at least one purpose.

• The four purposes of transitions are
• (1) create a sense of movement and form
• (2) help listeners follow the speaker’s movement,
• (3) help listeners remember what was said,
• (4) keep the speaker from emphasizing gaps and losing connections.
• Student examples will vary.

Learning Objective: 10.5 Use transitions to connect the elements of a speech and give its structure a dynamic quality.

Topic: Transitions: Connecting the Elements of a Speech

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

50. Identify the three elements of complete transitions and explain how those elements help to accomplish the purposes.

• The three elements of complete transitions are:
• (1) An internal summary draws together the central points discussed within the body of the speech or even within the discussion of one main idea, serving both to aid memory and to signal closure to those points.
• (2) A link is a connection from one idea to the next.
• (3) An internal preview is a compressed version of what the speaker is about to develop ; it prompts the audience to anticipate what is coming. An internal preview will help prepare your audience to follow along every time you introduce a new main idea.
• The three elements make the speaker’s movement explicit, help the audience identify where they are in the progression of ideas, provide a reminder of the points through repetition, and keep the speech flowing from point to point.

Learning Objective: 10.6 Recognize the elements of a transition, which may be either explicit or implicit.

Topic: Elements of Effective Transition

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts