77) If you are introducing a speaker, you should
A) use an impromptu introduction to create a sense of relaxed informality.
B) show respect to the person you are introducing by looking at them during your remarks.
C) plan an introduction that is at least five minutes long, to allow time to adequately cover the
speaker’s credentials.
D) practice your introduction enough so you don’t have to rely on notes.
78) Which of the following is good advice to follow when you are toasting someone?
A) Choose a moment when everyone is most likely to be present.
B) The longer your toast, the more respect it shows.
C) Maintain eye contact with the person you are toasting.
D) Drink an alcoholic beverage or two before you give the toast to loosen yourself up.
79) Which of the following is NOT a guideline for presenting an award?
A) The first step in every award presentation must be to announce the name of the award recipient.
B) Don’t forget to state the name and nature of the award.
C) Explain the criteria used in selecting the recipient.
D) Give examples to show how the person met those criteria.
80) Which of the following is NOT a guideline for accepting an award?
A) Don’t act surprised, even if you are surprised.
B) Say thank you at the beginning and again at the end of your presentation.
C) Explain how the reward makes a difference in your life.
D) Remember that brevity is important.
81) A briefing should include an attention getter, a detailed explanation of main points and
supporting points, and a memorable conclusion.
82) All reports should be rather formal and should be accompanied by a written document.
83) In a status report you should identify challenges you have encountered and the steps you are
taking to meet those challenges.
84) A final report should provide background information, describe what occurred during the
project, summarize the results, and explain to audience members how they can obtain more
detailed information about the project.
85) A feasibility report should delineate the criteria that were used to evaluate alternative courses
of action.
86) The purpose of a training session is to teach the audience how to do something.
87) During a business training session, it isn’t important to find ways to link the topic to the
audience’s interests. You already know they will remain attentive because attendance is a
requirement of their job.
88) It is usually best to begin a training session with an overall picture of the topic being presented.
89) Since trainings follow a learn-as-you-go philosophy, there is no need to provide a preview
before you start teaching the first topic.
90) Interjections (e.g., “now this is important”) clutter up the flow of an informative presentation
and should be avoided.
91) Internal summaries and internal previews are recommended during a training session because
they help the audience understand the structure of the material you are presenting.
92) Persuasive speeches aim to change the way the audience thinks, feels, or acts.
93) Goodwill speeches, feasibility reports, motivational talks, and sales presentations are all
classified as persuasive speeches.
94) A presentation that advocates an audience to take action is called a proposal.
95) Sales presentations are rarely planned in advance.
96) In a sales presentation, it is recommended that you be both passionate about the product you
are selling and compassionate about your client’s needs.
97) During a sales presentation, it’s generally more effective to emphasize the benefits your
product will bring to the client, rather than going over every “cool” feature of the product.
98) Persuasion can be an ethical and honorable form of communication.
99) Brandon, Michelle, and Gustav want to convince their city council to vote against a new
zoning proposal. If they use disruption to force the council to vote their way, this would be an
unethical form of communication.
100) Manipulation is honestly and openly convincing someone to think or act in a desired way.
101) Credibility can be defined as the persuasive force that comes from the audience’s belief in and
respect for the speaker.
102) If you speak about a topic that you don’t have much personal experience with, it will probably
be difficult for you to establish credibility with the audience.
103) To claim that “either you’re with us or you’re against us” is a logical fallacy.
104) One form of sound logic is to tell the audience that almost everyone else you know is in favor
of your proposal.
105) According to social judgment theory, if you are an eloquent speaker, it is likely that you can
persuade an audience to agree with a position that they currently oppose.
106) To be truly effective, a persuasive speech should ask audience members to accept an idea that
is extremely different from their current thinking.
107) Effective team presentations require extensive rehearsal.
108) When you are introducing a speaker, keep your introductory remarks quite brief.
109) An effective toast should poke fun at the person being honored in a slightly offensive manner.
110) When presenting an award, always withhold the recipient’s name until after you have
described the award and the criteria used to select the recipient.
111) The following four-step plan is an effective way to accept an award: express gratitude;
acknowledge appreciation to the contributors of the award; describe how the reward will make a
difference; say thank you again.
112) Identify three main types of informative presentations typically found in contemporary
business or professional settings. What is the purpose of each?
113) Choose any one of the types of informative presentations covered in this chapter. Explain the
purpose and key characteristics of this type of presentation. Construct a brief outline that illustrates
how this type of presentation is organized.
114) Select four of the strategies for emphasizing the organization of your material when you are
delivering a training session. Write an example to illustrate each of your chosen strategies.
115) Identify four patterns for organizing a persuasive message. What are the different
characteristics of each pattern? Suggest one specific situation in which you might use each one.
116) Identify four types of persuasive presentations delivered in modern organizations. What is the
purpose of each? What are the key considerations of each type?
117) Imagine that a friend has asked you for advice about asking her boss for a raise. What would
you tell her? In your advice, include suggestions about when to present her request, what to ask for,
and what to avoid.
118) Identify an audience and an idea you would like to propose to the audience. Demonstrate your
knowledge of effective proposals by writing a brief outline showing the organizational structure of
your remarks. Explain why your chosen pattern of organization would be effective for your
audience.
119) Define persuasion, manipulation, and coercion. Your definitions should clearly distinguish
the terms from one another. What two key elements make persuasion more ethical than
manipulation and coercion? Using specific examples from your experience, illustrate each of these
three types of communication.
120) Discuss the concept of credibility. What is it? Why is it especially important in persuasive
speeches? How can you establish credibility in the eyes of your audience? What behaviors should
you avoid because they might detract from your credibility?
121) Define “credibility” and explain why it’s important for a speaker to have credibility with the
audience. Then select a specific topic and a specific audience. Explain how you would establish
your own credibility as a speaker if you were presenting a speech about that topic to that audience.
122) “Credibility exists in the mind of the audience, so there is nothing a speaker can do to change
an audience’s perception of her credibility.” Agree or disagree with this statement. In your answer,
refer to key elements that contribute to the credibility of a speaker.
123) Draw a diagram to illustrate social judgment theory. Include and explain the following terms:
anchor, latitude of acceptance, latitude of rejection, latitude of noncommitment. How can
knowledge of social judgment theory benefit you as a persuasive speaker?
124) Imagine that a professor in one of your other classes has assigned a group presentation as a
major component of the class grade. You have been placed in a group of students who have no
experience in giving group presentations. What advice would you give to the group to help you
achieve a successful presentation?
125) Choose one of the special occasion speeches. What elements should be included in this type
of presentation? What elements should be avoided?