Public Speaking and Persuasion

A series of vocabulary flashcards to help review key concepts related to public speaking and persuasion.

Public Speaking

A formal, planned communication process intended to inform, persuade, or entertain an audience.

Empowerment

The process of gaining confidence and control to achieve desired goals.

Communication as Action

A linear communication process where a message is sent from a source to a receiver.

Noise

Any interference that affects the clarity of the message, which can be internal or external.

Central Idea

The main point or thesis of a speech, usually expressed in a complete declarative sentence.

Ethical Speaking

The practice of presenting ideas responsibly, with respect to the audience and honesty in information.

Critical Listening

The process of evaluating the quality of information presented, assessing its validity.

Rhetorical Criticism

The evaluation of a speech's effectiveness and appropriateness based on its design and delivery.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it, such as age, gender, and ethnicity.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others.

Cognitive Dissonance

Mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, prompting change.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A psychological theory that suggests humans have a series of needs that motivate behavior, arranged in a hierarchy.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A theory that explains how people process persuasive messages through central and peripheral routes.

Ethos

An appeal to ethics, establishing credibility and trustworthiness in a speaker.

Logos

An appeal to logic, where arguments are constructed based on facts and rational evidence.

Pathos

An appeal to emotion, used to elicit feelings in the audience to persuade them.

Supporting Material

Evidence or examples used in a speech to reinforce main ideas, including statistics, testimonies, and narratives.

Nonverbal Communication

Form of communication that involves facial expressions, gestures, postures, and tone of voice, conveying messages without words.