14 Developing the Introduction
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. The introduction and the conclusion of the speech are more important than the
body.
2. The choices a speaker makes about the introduction of a speech can affect the
outcome of the entire speech.
3. Audience members decide in the first several minutes of a speech whether they
will give their full attention to the speaker and believe what he or she has to
say.
4. A speaker should wait until the introduction is over to reveal the topic and
purpose.
5. The introduction should be prepared after the speech body is completed.
6. The first challenge any speaker faces in developing an introduction is to win the
7. In an introduction, using a quotation from someone who is not famous will
likely discredit the speaker.
8. Using a story in an introduction can make the spe
colorful.
9. An anecdote is a brief story of interesting, entertaining, or real-life incidents.
10. Rhetorical questions posed by the speaker seek a direct response from the
audience.
11. Polling audience members during a speec
gain their attention.
12. Speakers who introduce their speeches with unusual or startling information
13. When using humor in an introduction, the speaker should keep in mind that the
humor should match the audience, topic, purpose, and occasion.
14. Sarcasm that belittles others in a speech introduction is always inappropriate.
15. Audiences can be won over when speakers express interest in them and show
that they share similar concerns and goals.
16. Introductions that include references to the speech occasion and to relevant
facts about the audience make listeners feel recognized as individuals.
17. ention, but it does
not need to mention the topic and purpose of the speech.
18. Establishing speaker credibility is particularly important when the audience
19. To build credibility in the introduction, a speaker should make a simple
statement of his or her qualifications for speaking on the topic.
20. When speakers use the technique of previewing in an introduction, they state
the main points of the speech as well as the order in which they will be
addressed.
21. Previewing helps the audience mentally organize a speech.
22. Explaining to audience members what they have to gain by listening to you is
not effective in motivating an audience to accept the goals of your speech.
23. A speaker should try to convince audience members that the speech content is
consistent with their motives and values.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
24. One function of a speech introduction is to
A)
B) provide an in-depth discussion of the topic.
C) review and discuss all the main points of a speech.
D) ensure that the audience remembers the speech.
25. An effective introduction should
A) introduce the speech topic and purpose.
B) comprise at least 25 percent of your total speech.
C) be prepared before the body of the speech.
D) provide a detailed biography of the speaker.
26. Generally, the introduction should be brief and occupy no more than ______
percent of the overall speech.
A) 5 to 10 C) 15 to 20
B) 10 to 15 D) 20 to 25
27. In her speech
introduction by using
A) repetition. C) a quotation.
B) unusual information. D) a story.
28. Using a story as a speech introduction
A) personalizes issues. C) discourages identification.
B) makes ideas irrelevant. D) is not ideal.
29. When planning to poll the audience during the introduction, speakers should
do which of the following?
A) Prepare a vague question to inspire varied responses.
B) Perform an audience analysis.
C)
D) Plan time for the audience to ask questions during the introduction.
30. Which of the following can be used to effectively introduce a speech?
A) unusual information C) questions
B) stories D) All of the options are correct.
31. Speakers frequently base their startling statements on
A) statistics. C) attitudes.
B) humor. D) personality.
32. Speech humor should always match
A) the audience. C) the occasion.
B) the topic. D) All of the options are correct.
33. During the speech introduction, the audience decides whether they are
interested in the topic and the speaker. To build credibility, a speaker should
establish his or her
A) family background. C) qualifications.
B) supporting material. D) logos.
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK QUESTIONS
34. The speech introduction should be prepared ______ the speaker has completed
the speech body.
35. The introduction should occupy no more than _______ percent of the overall
speech.
36.
_______.
37. Used to introduce a speech, a(n) ______ can be culled from literature, poetry,
film, or individuals.
38. Brief stories of interesting, entertaining, or real-life incidents are called ______.
39. Questions that do not invite actual responses are called ______ questions.
40. Speakers frequently base their startling statements on ______.
41. When using ______ in an introduction, the speaker should keep in mind that it
should match the audience, topic, purpose, and occasion, and should not belittle
others.
42. Speakers can capture audience attention by referring to the audience or the
______.
43. You should use the introduction to alert listeners to the speech topic and _______.
44. By stating their qualifications in a speech introduction, speakers help build
their ______.
45. The technique of ______ the main points helps the audience mentally organize
46. A final function of the introduction is to _______ the audience to accept your
goals.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
47. Why is it important for speakers to prepare the introduction and conclusion
just as thoroughly as they prepare the speech body?
48. List three functions of an effective introduction.
49. Explain why the introduction should be written after the speech body.
50. List at least three ways to gain audience attention.
51. Discuss the advantages of using quotations during an introduction.
52. Write a brief introduction that begins with the following quotation by Maya
53. Name two general guidelines for using a story or an anecdote in a speech.
54. Give an example of a rhetorical question used to introduce a speech.
55. Identify some potential drawbacks to polling audience members.
56. List three tips that a speaker should keep in mind when using humor in a
speech.
57. How can a speaker express a genuine interest in the audience during the
introduction?
58. Give an example of referring to the occasion in the introduction of a speech.
59. How can a speaker establish his or her credibility in an introduction?
60. Why is it so important for a speaker to use the introduction to establish the
relevance of the topic to the audience?
ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER 14