Final Exam Study Guide - COMM110

What is “jargon”?

specialized or peculiar langage that only experts or a particular community can understand

What is “vivid language”?

words that are sensuous and evocative (cues the mind to experiences of touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight)

What is “alliteration”?

The recurrence of the same sound in a series of words

Denotation

refers to the literal and primary meaning of a sign

Connotation

refers to the feelings on associates with a sign

What types of language should speakers avoid in order to prevent misunderstandings, or possibly even offending their audience?

avoid jargon, biased language, sexist language, and slang

What is the function of presentation aids?

to assisit with thinking, encourage retention, excite multiple seses, engage the body and create interest, and simplify complexity

What are different types of visual aids?

props, pictures, data/statistical information, and multimedia (sounds and moving images)

What are some tips for preparing your presentation aids?

aim for calrity and simplicity, bigger/louder is better, keep text easy to read, and use color wisely

What are some suggestions for using slides during your speech?

don’t constantly stare at your aids and turn your back to your audience, trust your audience to be able to read your slides, practice with your aids beforehand, and avoid giving handouts before or during your speech

What is an appeal?

a request made to a person with the intent of influencing them

ex: writing a letter of rec, asking your professor for an extension, urging the UN to do more to address climate change

What is an argument?

a reasoned claim, or series of claims supported by evidence

All arguements are appeals but not all appeals are…

arguments

What’s teh difference between an appeal and an argument?

one is of scope, and one is of order. An appeal is the general attempt to influence someone while an argument refers to the structure of the statements you make

How do you use behavior, attitudes, and values for persuasion?

to influence people and inspire action or change behavior by building on commonly shared values, aiming toward changes in beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.

How can people be motivated to change their beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors?

through influential appeals to reason, emotion, and character

What is Maslow’s “heirarchy of needs”?

a representation of human needs arranged in a system of organized ranking; statess that basic needs have to be satisfied before one can appeal to higher-order needs

How can “needs” be used as an appeal?

by providing incentives that fulfill immediate needs; people are driven by needs

What is a syllogism?

an argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion drawn from those premises

What is an enthymeme?

an argument that leaves a part unsaid or unstated

What is the Toulmin model?

arguments structured in three parts instead of as vertical structures like a syllogism; the toulmin model includes the claim, evidence, and the warrant/reasoning that links the claim and evidence

What are the different type of claims one can make?

a claim of fact, claim of value, or claim of policy

What are the appeal based fallacies?

Ad Hominem, Ad Baculum “to stick/club”, Ad Misericordiam (appeal to pity), Ad populum “to the people, and bandwagon fallacy

Ad Hominem

reducing an issue to a person’s character unfairly; diverts the audiences attention away from an issue to a person

ex: “Ayn Rand was a cruel and insensitive person; therefore, you should not believe in her philosophy”

Ad Baculum

a fear appeal that threatens force or violence if the audience does not accept the will of the speaker

ex: “either clean the floor with this toothbrush, or you’re fired!”

Ad Misericordiam

Appeal to pity/misfortune and plight of another

ex: a commercial ft. a hungry child; viewers are asked to donate money

Ad Populum

appeal to popular feelings or commonly held emotions about a claim or an assertion that is not supported by good evidence

ex: four out of five dentists would recommend chewing Cleenzit gum

Bandwagon fallacy

“everyone is doing it”, commonly used in advertising to work on the audiences fear of missing out

ex: ice cream truck music attracting kids

What is a logical fallacy?

an error in reasoning; in argumentation, a fallacy can make an argument invalid

What are the logical fallacies?

Either-Or, Non Sequitur, Red Herring, Slippery Slope, and Straw-Person fallacy

Either-Or Fallacy

when a speaker claims that you only have to choices in making a decision
ex: Either you’re with us, or you’re against us

Non Sequitar Fallacy

When the conclusion does not logically follow from one or more premises

Red Herring Fallacy

a statement that is distracting and has no relevance to the issue; misdirects the attention of the audience

ex: “If eating deep fried ice cream is wrong, I don’t want to be right” or “I don’t need to study public speaking because I never want to go into politics”

Slippery Slope Fallacy

arguing that something awful will inevitably happen

ex: if you eat just one fast-food hamburger, you will get addicted and find yourself eating nothing but fast-food hamburgers”

Straw-Person Fallacy

When you oversimplify an opponent’s argument, or when you claim that your opponent argued something that they didn’t

• the most common reasoning error in political discourse!

What is the definition of a celebratory speech?

speaking that brings together the audience as a community by highlighting mutual histories, shared values, and common commitments

What are the two commonalities of all celebratory speeches?

1. designed to bring a community together

2. are focused on the present

What are the different types of celebratory speeches?

speeches of recognition, speeches of praise or blame, speeches of inspiration or encouragement, and speeches that mourn loss

What is an “after dinner'“ speech?

a structured, humorous, and entertaining speech; is usually lighthearted

usually at company banquets, professional and academic conferences and family reunions

Advocacy

concerns a speaker’s attempt to persuade others to care about an idea or issue; almost always directed at decision makers

Activism

a form of advocacy, persuading for change by working outside the system

What is the difference between advocacy and activism?

advocacy is influence by working within the system while activism concerns persuasive campaigns working outside the system

Civic Engagement

the manner in which citizens participate in the political or social processes and governance of a given community

Civil disobedience

the refusal to comply with the norms, demands, or laws of a group or government for the purpose of social change

What is the difference between civic engagement and civil disobedience?

Civic engagement complies with governance/a social processes whereas civil disobedience is violating laws of a group or government

Prejudice

an attitude

Discrimination

prejudice + action

“-isms”

at times “phobias”; prejudice + POWER