Public Speaking Final Exam

Vocabulary and terminology from Chapters 8, 12, 13, 17, and 20 for the Public Speaking Final Exam.

Example

A short specific instance used to explain or prove a point.

Extended example

A longer more detailed story or case study used to support an idea.

Hypothetical example

An imagined situation that could realistically happen.

Statistics

Numbered data used to support your claim; they should be explained instead of just read.

Mean

Average number in a group.

Median

The middle number in a list from highest to lowest.

Mode

The number that occurs the most frequently.

Testimony

Quotations or paraphrases used to support a point.

Expert testimony

Information from someone qualified in the topic.

Peer testimony

Opinions or experiences from regular people with personal experience.

Paraphrasing

Putting information into your own words.

Quotations

Repeating word for word.

Connotative

The emotional or cultural feeling connected to a word.

Denotative meaning

The literal dictionary definition of a word.

Abstract words

Ideas that are vague or general, such as freedom, love, or success.

Concrete words

Specific words people can picture, such as red car or barking dog.

Clutter

Unnecessary words that make speaking confusing.

Imagery

Descriptive language that helps the audience picture something.

Metaphors

A comparison of two things without using "like" or "as" (ex. Time is a thief).

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as" (ex. busy as a bee).

Repetition

Repeating phrases for emphasis.

Alliteration

Repeating beginning sounds (ex. silky snakes slide slowly).

Rhythm

The flow and pattern of speech.

Inclusive language

Respectful language that avoids excluding or stereotyping groups of people.

Manuscript speech

Reading word for word from a script.

Impromptu speech

Speaking with little or no preparation.

Extemporaneous

A prepared and organized speech delivered naturally using notes; considered the most common and effective style.

Speaking from memory

Memorizing the entire speech word for word.

Pitch

How high or low your voice sounds.

Vocalized pauses

Fillers used in speech such as "um," "Uh," and "like."

Dramatic pauses

Intentional silence used for emphasis.

Vocal variety/modulation

Changing tone, speed, and volume to sound more interesting.

Articulation

Speaking clearly.

Pronunciation

Speaking correctly.

Either-or fallacy

Making it seem like there are only two choices.

Bandwagon fallacy

Claiming something is true because everyone believes it.

Slippery slope fallacy

Saying one small event will lead to extreme results.

Red herring fallacy

Distracting from the real issue.

Ad hominem fallacy

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

False cause

Assuming one thing caused another without proof.

Initial credibility

Credibility before the speech begins.

Derived credibility

Credibility earned during the speech.

Terminal credibility

Credibility after the speech ends.

Manipulation

Unfairly influencing people.

Bribery

Offering rewards to persuade someone.

Coercion

Using threats or pressure.

Deception

Misleading or lying to people.

Dyad

A group of two people.

Small group

A collection of people, typically 3 to 12 individuals, that assemble for a specific purpose.

Implied leader

A person other members are drawn to choose because of their expertise, rank, or other qualities.

Emergent leader

Someone who becomes the leader during group meetings due to participation, communication skills, or group respect over time.

Designated leader

A person who is elected or appointed as leader when the group is formed.

Procedural needs

Routine "housekeeping" actions such as setting meetings or making handouts.

Task needs

Actions that help complete a task, such as distributing work or keeping the group on task.

Maintenance needs

Communicative actions necessary to maintain interpersonal relations in a small group.

Reflective thinking process steps

1. Identify the problem, 2. Analyze the problem, 3. Brainstorm solutions, 4. Evaluate solutions, 5. Choose and implement the best solution.