COM 231 Study Guide PDF

## Public Speaking Concepts ### 1. Fear Appeals (Negative Motivation) **Definition:** Fear appeals are persuasive techniques that invoke fear to motivate behavior change. They rely on highlighting negative consequences if a specific action is not taken. **How They Are Most Effective:** - The audi...

## Public Speaking Concepts ### 1. Fear Appeals (Negative Motivation) **Definition:** Fear appeals are persuasive techniques that invoke fear to motivate behavior change. They rely on highlighting negative consequences if a specific action is not taken. **How They Are Most Effective:** - The audience perceives the threat as severe. - The solution or action is presented as effective and attainable. - The audience feels personally vulnerable to the threat. **Reference:** Pages 248-249. ### 2. Five Types of Figures of Speech **Definitions and Examples:** 1. **Metaphor:** Implied comparison between two unlike things (e.g., "Time is a thief"). 2. **Simile:** Comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "She's as brave as a lion"). 3. **Hyperbole:** Deliberate exaggeration for effect (e.g., "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse"). 4. **Personification:** Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects (e.g., "The wind whispered through the trees"). 5. **Alliteration:** Repetition of initial consonant sounds (e.g., "She sells seashells by the seashore"). **Reference:** Pages 185-186. ### 3. Specific Purpose Statement **Definition:** A specific purpose statement clearly defines what the speaker aims to achieve in their speech, typically addressing the audience's needs. **Example:** "To inform my audience about the benefits of renewable energy." **Reference:** Pages 74-76. ### 4. Four Parts of an Introduction 1. **Attention Getter:** Start with a hook (e.g., a story, quote, or question). 2. **Credibility Statement:** Establish why you are qualified to speak. 3. **Thesis Statement:** Clearly state the main idea of your speech. 4. **Preview:** Outline the main points you will cover. **Reference:** Pages 134-140. ### 5. Social Judgment Theory **Definition:** Social Judgment Theory explains how audiences evaluate messages based on their pre-existing attitudes, categorizing them into: - Latitude of acceptance - Latitude of rejection - Latitude of non-commitment **Key Insight:** Audiences are more likely to accept messages close to their current beliefs. **Reference:** Page 258. ### 6. Overcoming Nervousness and Anxiety **Five Techniques:** 1. Practice thoroughly. 2. Use visualization techniques. 3. Focus on your message, not yourself. 4. Adopt relaxation exercises. 5. Start with familiar content. **Reference:** Pages 22-32 (Chapter 2). ### 7. The Model of Public Speaking as Communication **Key Components:** * **Sender (speaker)** * **Message** * **Channel (medium of communication)** **Reference:** Pages 265-267. ### 8. Speech Patterns **Six Patterns:** 1. **Chronological:** Organize by time sequence. 2. **Spatial:** Arrange ideas based on location or direction. 3. **Cause-Effect:** Show a cause-and-effect relationship. 4. **Problem-Solution:** Present a problem and propose solutions. 5. **Topical:** Divide the subject into related subtopics. 6. **Comparative:** Compare and contrast items or ideas. **Examples:** Prepare to give examples of each. **Reference:** Chapters 7, 12, 13, and 14. ### 9. The CRAAP Model **Five Parts:** 1. **Currency:** Is the information up-to-date? 2. **Relevance:** Does it relate to your topic? 3. **Authority:** Who is the author? 4. **Accuracy:** Is the information accurate and supported? 5. **Purpose:** Why does this information exist? **Reference:** Pages 101-102. ### 10. Motivated Sequence **Steps:** 1. **Attention:** Gain the audience's attention. 2. **Need:** Establish the problem or need. 3. **Satisfaction:** Offer a solution. 4. **Visualization:** Show benefits of solving the problem. 5. **Action:** Encourage the audience to act. ### 11. Logical Fallacies **Eight Fallacies:** 1. **Ad Hominem:** Attacking the person instead of the argument. 2. **Straw Man:** Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack. 3. **Red Herring:** Distracting from the main issue. 4. **Appeal to Ignorance:** Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false. 5. **False Dichotomy:** Presenting two options as the only possibilities. 6. **Hasty Generalization:** Drawing conclusions from insufficient evidence. 7. **Circular Reasoning:** The conclusion is included in the premise. 8. **Slippery Slope:** Claiming one event will lead to a chain of events. **Reference:** Pages 244-245. ### 12. Ethos, Pathos, Logos **Definitions:** * **Ethos:** Credibility and ethics of the speaker. * **Pathos:** Emotional appeal to the audience. * **Logos:** Logical argument and evidence. **Reference:** Pages 239-252. ### 13. Extemporaneous Speaking **Definition:** Speaking with limited preparation, using notes for reference but not reading verbatim. **Reference:** Pages 189-199. ### 14. Rules of Visual Aids **Three Key Rules:** * Keep them simple and clear. * Ensure they are relevant to your message. * Make them visible to the entire audience. **Reference:** Pages 155-170.