Page 1
1.
If a speaker selects a topic that he or she is enthusiastic about and familiar with, the
topic choice is based on _______ interests.
2.
_______ is a technique for spontaneously generating topic ideas.
3.
To inform, to persuade, and to mark a special occasion are the three general speech
_______.
4.
The general purpose of a(n) _______ speech is to influence the attitudes, beliefs, values,
and behaviors of audience members.
5.
After identifying your general speech purpose, you need to determine your _____
speech purpose to lay out exactly what you want your audience to take away.
6.
Use the _________ _________ to keep your speech on track; it concisely states what
your speech is trying to demonstrate.
Page 2
Answer Key
Page 3
1.
If a speech topic is assigned to you, you are not accountable for tailoring it to suit the
audience and speech situation.
A)
True
B)
False
2.
As long as your speech topic interests you, it will interest the audience.
A)
True
B)
False
3.
Local issues are not acceptable speech topics.
A)
True
B)
False
4.
There are no tired or overused topics, if the speaker is good.
A)
True
B)
False
5.
Brainstorming is a topic-generating technique that can be done through word association
or topic mapping.
A)
True
B)
False
6.
Popular internet search engines can be a great resource for identifying speech topics.
A)
True
B)
False
7.
Before giving a presentation, it is important for a speaker to identify whether he or she
is seeking to inform, persuade, or mark a special occasion.
A)
True
B)
False
8.
The general speech purpose answers the question, “What is my topic?”
A)
True
B)
False
Page 4
9.
To narrow a speech topic, you need to consider time constraints, audience expectations,
and the nature of the occasion.
A)
True
B)
False
10.
The specific speech purpose lays out precisely what you want the audience to take away
from your speech.
A)
True
B)
False
11.
The thesis statement is the theme or central idea of the speech.
A)
True
B)
False
12.
The thesis statement and the specific purpose are not related.
A)
True
B)
False
13.
Because the entire speech rests on it, the thesis statement must be clearly stated in the
speech.
A)
True
B)
False
14.
If a speech is informative, its thesis statement represents what you are going to prove in
the address.
A)
True
B)
False
15.
When preparing a speech, the speaker’s first task is to select
A)
a topic and purpose of interest to the speaker.
B)
a topic chosen by the audience.
C)
a topic and purpose appropriate to the audience and occasion.
D)
a purpose appropriate to the topic.
Page 5
16.
When preparing classroom presentations, what can you do to avoid boring your
audience and raising tension in the classroom?
A)
Steer clear of overused and trivial topics.
B)
Appeal to students’ deeply held beliefs.
C)
Discuss only often spoken about topics.
D)
Choose a highly charged topic.
17.
Using word association to generate ideas for topics is what kind of technique?
A)
outlining
B)
audience analysis
C)
brainstorming
D)
survey
18.
What kind of speech purpose answers the question, “What is my objective in speaking
on this topic to this audience on this occasion?”
A)
general
B)
specific
C)
informative
D)
persuasive
19.
What kind of speech has the purpose of increasing the audience’s understanding and
awareness of a topic?
A)
commemorative
B)
persuasive
C)
informative
D)
challenge
20.
When narrowing a topic, the speaker need not consider
A)
audience expectations.
B)
time constraints.
C)
the nature of the occasion.
D)
audience seating arrangements.
21.
What kind of speech purpose expresses exactly what the speaker wishes the audience to
get from the speech?
A)
general
B)
initial
C)
specific
D)
ethical
Page 6
22.
The thesis statement, the theme or central idea of a speech, should be expressed as
A)
a single, declarative sentence.
B)
a single, interrogative sentence.
C)
a single, rhetorical question.
D)
a short paragraph of declarative sentences.
Page 7
Answer Key
Page 8
1.
If you were assigned to write a speech based on your personal interests, what are four
topics you could consider for your speech?
2.
Identify two current events or controversial issues appropriate for a classroom speech.
3.
Name and describe two brainstorming techniques for generating speech topics.
4.
Identify three special occasions that might call for a speech.
5.
Discuss three things to consider when narrowing a speech topic.
6.
How does the general speech purpose differ from the specific speech purpose?
7.
Describe the similarities and differences between the thesis statement and the specific
speech purpose.
8.
Choose a speech topic. Then, write (a) a general speech purpose, (b) a specific speech
purpose, and (c) a thesis statement.
Page 9
Answer Key