Test Questions & Answers Ch6 Choosing A Topic And Developing

Chapter 6 Choosing a Topic and Developing a Strategy

Multiple Choice

1. Commitment to a cause, reputation, and occasion are situational elements that help you __________.

a. select a topic

b. create demographics

c. analyze the audience

d. make a strategic decision

Learning Objective: 6.1 State when it is appropriate for you to choose the topic of your speech and when the choice is beyond your control.

Topic: Who Chooses Your Topic?

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2. Margo was asked to speak to the environmental group because of the work she had done to save animals following an oil spill in Alaska. What element of this situation likely helps Margo select her topic?

a. feedback

b. occasion

c. commitment

d. reputation

Learning Objective: 6.1 State when it is appropriate for you to choose the topic of your speech and when the choice is beyond your control.

Topic: Who Chooses Your Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3. Controversial topics need to be addressed __________.

a. with respect for the audience and the rhetorical situation

b. with strong conviction by the speaker

c. with caution by the speaker

d. without concern for the rhetorical situation

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4. Brett’s speech to the Adventure Club on canoeing on the Colorado River was difficult for him to make interesting since he had never been in a canoe before. Why was this a poor topic choice?

a. It didn’t fit the allotted time.

b. It wasn’t of interest to the audience.

c. It wasn’t important to the speaker.

d. It would have been better as a written paper.

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

5. Lin-Wu was disappointed when the speaker talked about basic cooking skills to her class of master chefs. What made this a poor topic choice?

a. It wasn’t important to the speaker.

b. It wasn’t worth the listeners’ time.

c. It lacked clarity.

d. It didn’t fit the allotted time.

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

6. Walt wanted to give a five-minute informative speech about the causes and consequences of the federal budget deficit. Unfortunately, this topic is not __________.

a. appropriate in scope

b. important to the speaker

c. suitable for oral delivery

d. clear

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7. Topics with elaborate arguments or highly technical information should be avoided because they are not __________.

a. appropriate for oral delivery

b. appropriate for an informative speech

c. worthy of listeners’ time

d. important to the speaker

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8. You should select a speech topic that is __________.

a. important to you

b. popular

c. controversial

d. easily researched

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9. Jamal considered three potential speech topics: Rock & Roll from its Birth to the Present, The Influence of British Rock on American Rock, or The Work of the Beatles. Which criterion should he use to select the best topic?

a. clarity

b. appropriateness for written delivery

c. self-interest

d. appropriateness of scope

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10. When Parul received feedback on her speech, many audience members mentioned that they were confused and didn’t know if she supported the tax increase or wanted to vote against it. What characteristic of a good topic does this feedback address?

a. clarity

b. pathos

c. dynamism

d. logos

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11. What should you ask yourself in a personal inventory?

a. What are my unusual interests?

b. What are my audience members’ likes/dislikes?

c. How am I different from my audience?

d. Which of my experiences are generalizable?

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12. A good way to ensure that your topic will be important to you and interesting to the audience is to __________.

a. get some ideas from classmates

b. browse the Web

c. consider the universal audience

d. conduct a personal inventory

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13. A speaker conducts a personal inventory in order to __________.

a. select a topic

b. create a strategic plan

c. research the topic

d. brainstorm

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14. Brainstorming to identify potential speech topics is a strategy for __________.

a. conducting a personal inventory

b. critical thinking

c. choosing a good topic

d. narrowing the scope of the topic

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

15. Carrie is stuck for a topic idea. One thing she can do is __________, a mental exercise in which one creates an uncensored list of all the things that come to mind about a given term or category.

a. brainstorm

b. identify her purpose

c. conversion

d. agenda setting

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16. After brainstorming ideas for his presentation, Kevin categorized them into four common topics. What technique is Kevin using?

a. conversion

b. agenda setting

c. definition

d. topoi

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

17. Manuel used topoi to find common categories within his 15 speech topic ideas. He then studied the similarities and differences among the categories. Rhetoric scholar Nathan Crick would say that he is using __________ to find the relationships.

a. definition

b. relationship

c. comparison

d. division

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

18. What is the final step in selecting a good speech topic?

a. brainstorm topic ideas

b. narrow it to fit the situation

c. make sure it is appropriate for oral delivery

d. conduct a personal inventory

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

19. A strategic plan is used to identify the __________ of a speech.

a. purpose

b. rhetorical situation

c. feedback

d. audience

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

20. During strategic planning, you will engage in identifying the __________.

a. purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means

b. topic, means, specific purpose, and organizational pattern

c. rhetorical situation, the occasion, and the speaker

d. thesis, purpose, constraints, and opportunities

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

21. Arjun knew that his fellow union members opposed a plan to cut overtime at the plant, but he wanted them to view it more positively. He planned to discuss the likelihood that the plant would close altogether if payroll costs were not reduced. His purpose was to __________.

a. provide new information or perspective

b. set an agenda

c. strengthen commitment

d. weaken commitment

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

22. Vincent told his audience that putting $50 every week into savings seems like a big sacrifice now but it will create a retirement nest egg for him in the future. What is the purpose of his speech topic?

a. weakening commitment

b. agenda setting

c. conversion

d. adjusting perspective

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23. A speech designed to prompt the audience to think about an issue that they had previously ignored has the purpose of __________.

a. creating a positive feeling

b. agenda setting

c. inducing a specific action

d. strengthening commitment

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24. As the chair of the United Way campaign, Maggie wants to convince all her coworkers that civic engagement is an important goal for the company. Her purpose is to __________.

a. set an agenda

b. strengthen commitment

c. weaken a feeling

d. induce a specific action

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

25. Kenneth is speaking to a group of supporters and is asking them to take the next step and make a financial contribution to the political campaign. What is the purpose of his speech?

a. strengthening commitment

b. conversion

c. agenda setting

d. adjusting perspective

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26. The famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream,” is an example of a speech with the purpose to __________.

a. provide new information or perspective

b. set an agenda

c. strengthen commitment

d. weaken commitment

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

27. Caleb was pleased when four audience members approached him after his speech and said they had changed their minds and would support his political campaign. What was the purpose of Caleb’s speech?

a. topoi

b. scope

c. conversion

d. perspective

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

28. __________ involves replacing a person’s current beliefs with a new set of beliefs.

a. Constraint

b. Conversion

c. Commitment

d. Agenda setting

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29. Michelle, an advocate for women’s rights, uses her persuasive speech to urge her classmates to participate in the campus “Take Back the Night” event. Her purpose is to __________.

a. set an agenda

b. strengthen a feeling

c. strengthen a commitment

d. induce a specific action

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

30. In the strategic planning process, your ethos can be a(n) __________.

a. constraint

b. topoi

c. perspective

d. convergence

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31. What are two primary opportunities that arise with each speaking situation?

a. agenda setting and ethos establishment

b. personal analysis and strategic planning

c. information advantage and audience analysis

d. personal inventory and inducing action

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32. The most important opportunity arising from a rhetorical situation is that __________.

a. you have a captive audience

b. you have done a thorough audience analysis

c. you have an information advantage over your audience

d. only you know your real purpose

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

33. The final step in strategic planning is to __________.

a. determine your purpose

b. identify constraints

c. identify opportunities

d. select the means

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34. Micah wants to create a positive feeling about the proposed school addition when she speaks to the parents group. The positive feeling reflects the __________ of her speech.

a. conversion

b. general purpose statement

c. perspective

d. general feedback

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35. When Hugh wrote, “I want my listeners to replace their high-fat foods for healthier options,” he was writing a ________ for his speech.

a. general purpose statement

b. general thesis statement

c. specific purpose statement

d. specific thesis statement

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

36. “I want to get no less than a B on my speech,” Ashley states as a desired outcome; however, this is not a proper purpose statement because it is not __________.

a. a single idea

b. precise

c. focused on the audience

d. free of vague language

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

37. A single sentence that summarizes what you want your listeners to remember is called the __________.

a. specific purpose

b. general purpose

c. conversion

d. thesis

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

38. The specific purpose statement clearly identifies the __________.

a. outcome sought from the audience

b. principle claim of the speech

c. central idea of the speech

d. goal of the assignment

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

39. An analysis of the issues implied in your thesis statement enables you to __________.

a. determine what points the speech must cover

b. broaden and stretch your supporting material

c. create the transitions

d. create an attention getter

Learning Objective: 6.6 Analyze your thesis statement to figure out which issues you need to discuss and which ideas need support.

Topic: Analyzing the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

40. Miranda’s thesis states “Far too many people don’t understand processed sugars hidden in their diets.” Based on this, she knew she had to address where these processed sugars were hidden and what type of diet many people eat. These two items are examples of __________ based on her thesis.

a. feedback

b. claims

c. issues

d. purposes

Learning Objective: 6.6 Analyze your thesis statement to figure out which issues you need to discuss and which ideas need support.

Topic: Analyzing the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Essay Questions

41. Describe three elements of a situation which can help shape the topic of a speech.

• If the speaker is committed to a specific cause, such as protecting the environment, this can be the basis for a topic. The issue itself defines the topic, while the speaker’s commitment is the reason why it is important to talk about it.
• The speaker’s reputation or experience and knowledge about a specific subject matter may be the reason a group asks them to speak.
• The occasion of the speech also helps shape the topic. Many speeches are delivered on ceremonial occasions. The type of ceremony determines the type of speech, such as praising the life of a co-worker at a retirement gathering.

Learning Objective: 6.1 State when it is appropriate for you to choose the topic of your speech and when the choice is beyond your control.

Topic: Who Chooses Your Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

42. What are the criteria for a good topic, and why are they important?

• Importance to speaker: speaker interest is required to motivate listener interest.
• Interest to audience: listeners must be motivated to listen.
• Worthy of listeners’ time: value to listeners must be evident to them even when the speech is finished.
• Appropriate in scope: it must be possible to cover the topic in the time available.
• Appropriate for oral delivery: listeners must be able to follow the speech on first hearing.
• Appropriate to the rhetorical situation: topic must fit the occasion.
• Clarity: speaker and listeners must know what the speech is about.

Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the characteristics of a good topic.

Topic: What Makes a Good Topic?

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43. What are some questions a speaker should ask when conducting a personal inventory? How can a personal inventory help a speaker choose a good topic?

• What public issues do I care about? These are issues that concern people in general. When audience members are likely to be affected by an issue, they are more inclined to listen to the speech as long as the speaker reveals he or she is also affected by and cares about the topic. Current events are a good way to find out about public issues.
• Which of my experiences might be generalized? While every speaker has unique experiences, not all audience members can relate to them. However, if a speaker has an experience that others can imagine happening to them, this might result in a good topic. Specific situations can be related to an overall theme such as anxiety, stress, or relaxation.
• Which of my interests overlap with those of the audience? Does the speaker share a common interest with audience members? This match might be exact or it might be related to a more general category.

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Analyze It

44. Describe how topoi is used when determining a good speech topic. Provide an example of how topoi works.

• Topoi is used after a speaker has brainstormed a list of possible speech topics.
• It takes the list of topics and places them into common categories.
• Topoi creates general headings for the subject matter.
• Student examples will vary.

Learning Objective: 6.3 Proceed through the steps involved in choosing a good topic.

Topic: How to Choose a Good Topic

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

45. Define the seven speech purposes discussed in your book and identify the unique characteristics of each. Write a purpose statement representing each purpose.

• The seven purposes and unique characteristics of each include:
  • Providing new information or perspective: A speaker fills in gaps in audience knowledge of the topic.
  • Agenda setting: The speaker draws attention to a topic that an audience may not have thought about before.
  • Creating a positive or negative feeling: The speaker seeks to leave the audience with a specific feeling about the topic.
  • Strengthening commitment: The speaker’s goal is to create a stronger commitment in an audience that is already favorable to the topic.
  • Weakening commitment: A speaker attempts to create doubt in an audience’s mind about the topic.
  • Conversion: The speaker looks to change listeners’ minds about the topic.
  • Inducing a specific action: The speaker’s goal is to spur the audience to action.
• Sample purpose statements will vary.

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

46. What are the five sources of constraints? Explain how they affect the speaker’s choices.

• From audiences in general: adapt to short attention spans and treat listeners with respect. To address this constraint, the speaker must make choices about language and organization of ideas in order to capture listeners’ attention.
• From the specific audience analysis: adapt to the particulars of demographics, culture, and psychology. The speaker will be guided by this analysis when making choices about the purpose and presentation of the speech.
• From a speaker’s ethos: build perceptions of the speaker’s character, especially if he or she has negative ethos to begin. The speaker must work within the audience’s perception when choosing language and ways to present a topic.
• From the nature of the topic: consider what is necessary to make the topic interesting, relevant, and clear. A speaker must plan strategies that heighten interest in the topic.
• From the rhetorical situation: set realistic goals considering the situation. A speaker must keep in mind the setting for the speech when choosing how to present a topic.

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

47. What should a speaker take into consideration when determining the means of a speech?

• How will I lead my audience through reasoning to the conclusions I want to establish?
• How will I structure the speech?
• What supporting materials will I use?
• What choices will I make about wording, emotional language, and repetition?
• How will I actually present the speech?

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

48. Suppose you were asked to speak at your uncle’s 75th birthday party to commemorate his life’s work. Identify and explain the steps you would take in developing and implementing a strategic plan for this speech. Identify the differences between each step.

• The steps and definitions of each:
  • Identify purpose: defines the goal of the speech.
  • Identify constraints: defines obstacles to obtaining the goals.
  • Identify opportunities: defines assets and should reference information advantage.
  • Deliver the speech: how will it modify the rhetorical situation?
  • Evaluate the results: reflect on what worked and what did not.
• The answer should note a progression in the process, so each step fills in something the preceding step did not.
• Student examples will vary.

Learning Objective: 6.4 Define strategic plan and explain the steps for developing and implementing one.

Topic: Developing a Strategic Plan

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

49. Write a specific purpose statement and a thesis statement for a speech on the general topic of higher education. Explain how the specific purpose statement has all of the important characteristics that are required. Identify at least three issues implied in the thesis statement.

• The purpose statement should be focused on the audience.
• The purpose statement should be focused on a single idea.
• The purpose statement should be precise and free of vague language.
• As an example, “To provide information about health services on campus” would consider the audience, focus on a topic appropriate in scope, and be sufficiently specific. The speech might identify the services provided, the costs involved, and concerns about confidentiality.
• Student examples will vary.

Learning Objective: 6.5 Formulate statements of the specific purpose and thesis of your speech and illustrate how these statements will influence other strategic decisions.

Topic: Developing the Purpose Statement and the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

50. Why is it important for a speaker to identify the issues associated with a thesis statement?

• It helps determine what the speech must cover.
• It helps direct the research necessary to develop the speech. One way to make research manageable is by focusing the inquiry.
• It might lead you to modify your thesis.
• It helps you organize your speech.

Learning Objective: 6.6 Analyze your thesis statement to figure out which issues you need to discuss and which ideas need support.

Topic: Analyzing the Thesis Statement

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts