Page 1
1.
The _______ of a speech establishes the speech purpose and shows its relevance to the
audience.
2.
_______ points express the key ideas and major themes of the speech.
3.
The _______ _______ expresses what you want the audience to learn from the speech.
4.
The _______ expresses the theme or central idea of the speech.
5.
A main point should not introduce more than _______ idea(s).
6.
_______ points represent the material or evidence that a speaker has gathered to explain
or justify the main points.
7.
Points in an outline that are indicated by their parallel alignment are known as _______
points.
8.
Points in an outline that are indicated by their indentation below the more important
points are known as _______ points.
9.
The _______ _______ _______ is the most common outline format.
10.
Points that are _______ are given equal weight.
11.
A well-organized speech is characterized by unity, _______, and balance.
12.
A speech exhibits _______ when it contains only those points that are implied by the
purpose and thesis statements.
13.
The principle of _______ suggests that appropriate emphasis or weight be given to each
part of the speech relative to the other parts and to the theme.
Page 2
14.
Words, phrases, or sentences that tie the speech ideas together and enable the speaker to
move smoothly from one point to the next are called _______.
15.
_______ _______ are transitions that tell the audience what to expect next.
Page 3
Answer Key
Page 4
1.
The structure of a speech is composed of three main parts: an introduction, a body, and a
conclusion.
A)
True
B)
False
2.
The introduction of a speech tells listeners where they are going.
A)
True
B)
False
3.
The body of a speech establishes the speech purpose and shows its relevance to the
audience.
A)
True
B)
False
4.
Main points express the key ideas and major themes of the speech.
A)
True
B)
False
5.
Research shows that audiences can comfortably take in between eight and ten main
points.
A)
True
B)
False
6.
A speaker who has too many main points should further narrow the topic or check for
proper subordination.
A)
True
B)
False
7.
A main point often introduces two or more ideas.
A)
True
B)
False
8.
Listeners will remember main points made in the middle of the speech more than those
made at the beginning or end of the speech.
A)
True
B)
False
Page 5
9.
Each main point should be expressed as a declarative sentence.
A)
True
B)
False
10.
Putting main points in parallel form means casting your main points in similar
grammatical form and style.
A)
True
B)
False
11.
The main points should flow from the speech thesis.
A)
True
B)
False
12.
Supporting points represent the material or evidence that a speaker has gathered to
justify or explain the main points.
A)
True
B)
False
13.
In an outline, supporting points appear in a coordinate position to the main points.
A)
True
B)
False
14.
In an outline, a coordinate point is indicated by indented alignment.
A)
True
B)
False
15.
The most common outline format is the Roman numeral outline.
A)
True
B)
False
16.
In a Roman numeral outline, supporting points are always enumerated with Arabic
numerals.
A)
True
B)
False
Page 6
17.
In an outline, indentation indicates different levels of points.
A)
True
B)
False
18.
In an outline, Main Point II is subordinate to Main Point I, and Subpoint A is coordinate
to Main Point I.
A)
True
B)
False
19.
In an outline, subordinate points are indicated by their parallel alignment, and
coordinate points are indicated by their indentation below the more important points.
A)
True
B)
False
20.
A well-organized speech is characterized by unity, coherence, and balance.
A)
True
B)
False
21.
Coherence refers to the characteristic of a speech containing only those points that are
implied by the purpose and thesis statements.
A)
True
B)
False
22.
Unity refers to clarity and logical consistency.
A)
True
B)
False
23.
The speech body should follow logically from the introduction, and the conclusion
should follow logically from the body.
A)
True
B)
False
24.
The principle of balance suggests that appropriate emphasis or weight be given to each
part of the speech relative to the other parts and to the theme.
A)
True
B)
False
Page 7
25.
Ideas that are coordinate are given equal weight.
A)
True
B)
False
26.
Words, phrases, or sentences that tie the speech ideas together and enable the speaker to
move smoothly from one point to the next are called transitions.
A)
True
B)
False
27.
Transitions should be stated as rhetorical questions, not as full sentences.
A)
True
B)
False
28.
Internal previews and internal summaries can serve as effective transitions.
A)
True
B)
False
29.
The conclusion of the speech should
A)
restate the purpose.
B)
introduce new information.
C)
leave the audience laughing.
D)
preview the next speech.
30.
The body of a speech consists of
A)
thesis statements and introductions.
B)
main points, supporting points, and transitions.
C)
specific purpose statements and internal summaries.
D)
a restatement of the thesis and statement of closure.
31.
Research indicates that audiences prefer speeches that contain how many main points?
A)
one to two
B)
two to seven
C)
five to ten
D)
at least six
Page 8
32.
Audiences find it easiest to remember the
A)
first and last points made.
B)
longest point of the speech.
C)
shortest point of the speech.
D)
points that occur in the middle of the speech.
33.
Facts, statistics, testimonies, and narratives are all examples of
A)
main points.
B)
transitions.
C)
supporting material.
D)
citations.
34.
What kind of points in an outline are of roughly equal importance and weight in the
speech?
A)
subordinate
B)
coordinate
C)
indented
D)
supporting
35.
A well-organized speech is characterized by
A)
unity, coherence, and balance.
B)
unity, coordination, and balance.
C)
unity, subordination, and coherence.
D)
unity, coordination, and subordination.
36.
All of the following are examples of transition techniques EXCEPT
A)
signposts.
B)
internal summaries.
C)
internal previews.
D)
thesis statements.
Page 9
Answer Key
Page 10
1.
Explain how the specific purpose and thesis statements serve as guideposts in creating
main points.
2.
Why should a speaker adhere to using only two to seven main points?
3.
What are three of the five principles of coordination and subordination?
4.
Explain how the concepts of unity, coherence, and balance apply to creating a speech.
5.
What are transitions, and how should they function in a speech?
6.
List and explain two types of transitions used in speeches.
Page 11
Answer Key