Speech/Debate Final Vocab Part 1
academic database
A database that catalogues articles from scholarly journals.
abstract
A summary of a magazine or journal article, written by someone other than the original author.
newspaper and periodical database
A research aid that catalogues articles from a large number of magazines, journals, and newspapers.
reference work
A work that synthesizes a large amount of related information for easy access by researchers.
call number
A number used in libraries to classify books and periodicals and to indicate where they can be found on the shelves.
catalogue
A listing of all the books, periodicals, and other resources owned by a library.
brief example
A specific case referred to in passing to illustrate a point.
example
A specific case used to illustrate or represent a group of people, ideas, conditions, experiences, or the like.
supporting materials
The materials used to support a speaker's ideas. The three major kinds of supporting materials are examples, statistics, and testimony.
preliminary bibliography
A list compiled early in the research process of works that look as if they might contain helpful information about a speech topic.
research interview
An interview conducted to gather information for a speech.
sponsoring organization
An organization that, in the absence of a clearly identified author, is responsible for the content of a document on the Internet.
mode
The number that occurs most frequently in a group of numbers.
median
The middle number in a group of numbers arranged from highest to lowest.
mean
The average value of a group of numbers.
statistics
Numerical data.
hypothetical example
An example that describes an imaginary or fictitious situation.
extended example
A story, narrative, or anecdote developed at some length to illustrate a point.
paraphrase
To restate or summarize an author's ideas in one's own words.
direct quotation
Testimony that is presented word for word.
peer testimony
Testimony from ordinary people with firsthand experience or insight on a topic.
expert testimony
Testimony from people who are recognized experts in their fields.
testimony
Quotations or paraphrases used to support a point.
abstract words
Words that refer to ideas or concepts.
concrete words
Words that refer to tangible objects.
thesaurus
A book of synonyms.
connotative meaning
The meaning suggested by the associations or emotions triggered by a word or phrase.
denotative meaning
The literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase.
quoting out of context
Quoting a statement in such a way as to distort its meaning by removing the statement from the words and phrases surrounding it.
rhythm
The pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and arrangement of words.
metaphor
An implicit comparison, not introduced with the word "like" or "as," between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common.
cliché
A trite or overused expression.
simile
An explicit comparison, introduced with the word "like" or "as," between things that are essentially different yet have something in common.
imagery
The use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, actions, or ideas.
clutter
Discourse that takes many more words than are necessary to express an idea.
mental dialogue with the audience
The mental give-and-take between speaker and listener during a persuasive speech.
persuasion
The process of creating, reinforcing, or changing people's beliefs or actions.
antithesis
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure.
alliteration
Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words.
repetition
Reiteration of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences.
parallelism
The similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences.
speech to gain passive agreement
A persuasive speech in which the speaker's goal is to convince the audience that a given policy is desirable without encouraging the audience to take action in support of the policy.
question of policy
A question about whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken.
question of value
A question about the worth, rightness, morality, and so forth of an idea or action.
question of fact
A question about the truth or falsity of an assertion.
target audience
The portion of the whole audience that the speaker most wants to persuade.
practicality
The third basic issue in analyzing a question of policy: Will the speaker's plan solve the problem? Will it create new and more serious problems?
plan
The second basic issue in analyzing a question of policy: If there is a problem with current policy, does the speaker have a plan to solve the problem?
burden of proof
The obligation facing a persuasive speaker to prove that a change from current policy is necessary.
need
The first basic issue in analyzing a question of policy: Is there a serious problem or need that requires a change from current policy?
speech to gain immediate action
A persuasive speech in which the speaker's goal is to convince the audience to take action in support of a given policy.
credibility
The audience's perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic. The two major factors influencing a speaker's credibility are competence and character.
ethos
The name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as credibility.
Monroe's motivated sequence
A method of organizing persuasive speeches that seeks immediate action. The five steps of the motivated sequence are attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.
comparative advantages order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which each main point explains why a speaker's solution to a problem is preferable to other proposed solutions.
problem-cause-solution order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point identifies a problem, the second main point analyzes the causes of the problem, and the third main point presents a solution to the problem.
problem-solution order
A method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point deals with the existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem.
evidence
Supporting materials used to prove or disprove something.
creating common ground
A technique in which a speaker connects himself or herself with the values, attitudes, or experiences of the audience.
terminal credibility
The credibility of a speaker at the end of the speech.
derived credibility
The credibility of a speaker produced by everything she or he says and does during the speech.
initial credibility
The credibility of a speaker before she or he starts to speak.
analogical reasoning
Reasoning in which a speaker compares two similar cases and infers that what is true for the first case is also true for the second.
causal reasoning
Reasoning that seeks to establish the relationship between causes and effects.
reasoning from principle
Reasoning that moves from a general principle to a specific conclusion.
reasoning from specific instances
Reasoning that moves from particular facts to a general conclusion.
reasoning
The process of drawing a conclusion on the basis of evidence.
logos
The name used by Aristotle for the logical appeal of a speaker. The two major elements of logos are evidence and reasoning.
bandwagon
A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.
invalid analogy
An analogy in which the two cases being compared are not essentially alike.
false cause
A fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second.
hasty generalization
A fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence.
fallacy
An error in reasoning.
appeal to tradition
A fallacy which assumes that something old is automatically better than something new.
slippery slope
A fallacy which assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented.
either-or
A fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist.
ad hominem
A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute.
red herring
A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion.
commemorative speech
A speech that pays tribute to a person, a group of people, an institution, or an idea.
acceptance speech
A speech that gives thanks for a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition.
speech of presentation
A speech that presents someone a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition.
speech of introduction
A speech that introduces the main speaker to the audience.
pathos
The name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as emotional appeal.
appeal to novelty
A fallacy which assumes that something new is automatically better than something old.