1. Format
2. Review Terms
3. Sample Test Questions
4. Answers to the Sample Questions
5. Sample Short Answer Questions

Format is 54 Multiple choice questions worth 1.5 points each and 19 points worth of short answer questions. The short answer questions are grounded in chapters 1, 4, 8, and 9.

The midterm covers all of the chapters we have covered so far and questions are based in both the textbook and in lecture about those subjects.  Here is a breakdown of approximately how many of the multiple choice questions come out of which chapters: ch. 1 and first week lecture (7 questions), ch. 3 (3 question), ch. 4 (4 questions), 14 (4 questions), 5 (3 question), 8 (10 questions), 9 (4 questions), 10 (5 questions), 11 (1 question from lecture on language use) 12 (6 questions), and 13 (7 questions).

• definitions of the classical canons of rhetoric: inventio, dispositio, pronunciatio, elocutio, and memoria
• tips for dealing with nervousness from ch. 1
• communication model--be able to draw and label the model as presented in lecture and recognize examples of the 8 parts we discussed in lecture
• frame of reference
• egocentric and ethnocentric
• listening tips: what are the causes of poor listening? what does your textbook recommend as the best way to take notes during a speech?
• audience adaptation: the only things you need to know from ch. 5 are things such as; at what point in the speech development process should you consider your audience?  how would you use situational and demographic information to assess a situation?  For example, when giving a speech on social security what is the most important demographic factor you would want to know about your audience? (age)
• specific purpose statements and central idea (recognize an example of each, know the guidelines or be able to notices why one is flawed, be able to compose one; be able to list main points using proper form from a sample Central Idea)
• patterns of organization (topical, spatial, problem-solution, causal, chronological; know what they are, be able to recognize an example, and what kinds of topics lend themselves to each)
• why is attention to good structure important, especially in informative speaking?
• What are the three main purposes or goals of public speaking according to chapter 1?
• connectives--recognize each type (transition, signpost, internal summary, internal preview); be able to create one.
• guidelines for informative speaking from ch. 14 (how do you relate a subject directly to an audience?  what does it mean to "personalize your ideas?") What are the other guidelines for informative speaking?
• what are the five tasks you need to accomplish in an introduction?  In what kind of situations does one of the goals become more important than another goal? [ie. when is credibility especially needed? when is a preview especially important? what step should you always take to help gain attention?]
• what are the ways you can gain attention and relate to the audience according to the discussion in ch. 8?  Be able to create an example of three attention gaining strategies
• functions of a conclusion; strategies for reinforcing the central idea: when do you use a call to action? what is the benefit of referring back to the introduction in your conclusion?
• language issues:  accuracy, clarity, appropriateness (from lecture)
• tips for using visual aids from the textbook and from examples viewed or discussed in lecture (when should you show the visual aid?  should you pass it around the class? should you let a video substitute for your speech? should you look more at the visual aid or the audience? if you want the audience to take something home from the speech, when should you pass it out?)
• preparation outline vs. speaking outline
• rules of outlining (proper symbols, use full sentences etc.)
• What is extemporaneous delivery according to the textbook?
• tips for practicing delivery; what should you do when you first approach the lectern? what does the textbook say characterizes good delivery?
• textbook info about delivery such as: what does research teach us about eye contact expectations in the U.S.?  What does research tell us about the relationship between speaking rate and listening rates?
• terms of delivery such as: rate, pitch, inflection, vocal variety, pauses, conversational style etc.

1. The Roman rhetorical canon focused on the development of ideas or the content of a speech is called

A. inventio B. dispositio C. elocutio D. pronunciatio E. memoria

2. Someone coughing in the audience or walking in late during a presentation are examples of what part of the communication model?

A. channel B. message C. feedback D. interference E. extraneous behaviors

3. Gestures and visual aids are examples of what part of the communication model?

A. channel B. message C. feedback D. interference E. extraneous behaviors

4. I. The first step in making a cake is to gather all of the ingredients.
    II. Next you mix the ingredients.
    III.  The third step in making a cake is to bake until it is done.
    IV. Then ice it.

A speech with the above main points is following which pattern of organization?

A. topical
B. causal
C.spatial
D. process
E. chronological

[*Bonus:  A speech with the above main points ignores which piece of advice for stating main points?]

5. Which of the following is a strong specific purpose statement for an Informative speech?

A. To inform my audience about dogs.
B. To persuade my audience to take action to protect themselves from vicious dogs.
C. To inform my audience about the different breeds of dogs and about how to train dogs.
D. To inform my audience about the different breeds of dogs.
E. All of the above

6. Which is not a guideline for writing specific purpose statements?

A. limit the purpose to one idea.
B. make it broad and general
C. avoid figurative language
D. write the statement as an infinitive phrase
E. write your purpose as a statement, not a question

7. According to our textbook, ___________ are used to emphasize movement from one point to another.

A. channels
B. internal summaries
C. transitions
D. point connectors
E. visual aids

8. While working on the body of the speech you see the need to let the audience know what the upcoming subpoints will be. You decide to include a(n) ____________.

A. pattern of organization
B. internal preview
C. transition
D. list
E. internal summary

9. According to the text, speeches should contain _______ main points.

A. three
B. two to three
C. two to five
D. one to five
E. none of the above

10. When using a visual aid, always make sure

A. it is passed to every member of the audience
B. it is visible throughout the speech
C. it incorporates motion
D. it is clearly explained
E. it uses as many colors as possible

11. The textbook suggests that when delivering a speech to an audience in the United States you should

A. Look at your instructor most of the time.
B. Keep your eyes focused on a spot on the back of the wall.
C. Look at the audience 80 to 90 percent of the time.
D. Look at your notes only about half the time.
E. Pretend you are speaking in an empty room.

12. "I am currently studying veterinary medicine, and I am working part-time at an animal clinic." This statement in the introduction of the speech could best be described as

A. gaining attention
B. revealing the topic
C. establishing credibility
D. bragging
E. previewing the body of the speech

13. "You now know that the three steps in making a cake are gathering the materials, mixing the batter, and baking the cake."
This statement in the conclusion of a speech could best be described as

A. signaling the end of the speech
B. a dissolve ending
C a crescendo ending
D. reinforcement of the central idea
E. a speech preview

14. A speaker who frequently says "um," "er," or "uh" is failing to make effective use of

A. speaking rate.
B. inflection
C. vocabulary
D. vocal pitch
E. pauses

15. According to your textbook, the belief that ones' own group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures is termed

A. egocentrism
B. ethnocentrism
C. limited world view
D. ethnicity
E. ecumenism

16. The following statement is what part of an outline?

                b. In the summer of 1993, Jordan's father was killed.

A. a supporting fact
B. a main point
C. a subpoint
D. a sub-subpoint
E. a sub-sub-subpoint

17. Below in random order are a main point, two subpoints, and two sub-subpoints from a speech. Which is the second subpoint? [this would be the point signaled on an outline as "B."]

A. King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech following the march.
B. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s greatest triumphs came during the early 1960's.
C. Later that year he participated in the famous march on Washington, D.C.
D. More than 200,000 people took part in that march.
E. In 1963 he campaigned against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama.

18. Which of the following need to be included on your preparation outline?

A. a specific purpose statement
B. pattern of organization
C. bibliography
D. all of the above
E. A and C only

19. Which of the following is not one of the five steps the text suggests you follow in order to practice your speech delivery?

A. go through the preparation outline aloud
B. prepare the speaking outline
C. preview the main points
D. polish and refine your delivery
E. do a dress rehearsal under conditions as similar to your classroom as you can

20. A speech about the steps in the process of hooking up your computer to AOL (America On Line) would probably best be organized according to what pattern of organization?

A. topical
B. chronological
C. causal
D. problem-solution
E. spatial

21. The central goal of the informative speaker is to

A. make sure the audience likes the speaker
B. make sure the audience likes the topic
C. make sure the audience retains the information
D. make sure the audience does what the speaker asks them to do
E. make sure the audience is inspired by the speaker

22.  The topical pattern of organization

A. is used more often than any other method of speech organization.
B. makes it easy for a speaker to decide in what order to present their information
C. is a less strategic method of organizing a speech than the chronological pattern.
D. all of the above
E. A and C only

23. One of the best ways for a speaker to communicate especially exciting information like explaining how ISU came back to beat Iowa is

A. to yell at the audience
B. to increase the rate of speech
C. to stand very still
D. to look at your notes
E. none of the above.

24. "The history of the buildings on ISU's campus" is a poorly worded specific purpose statement because

A. it is not appropriate for this audience
B. it is too technical
C. it has more than one idea
D. it is not a complete sentence
E. it is written as a fragment rather than a full infinitive phrase.

25. According to your textbook "next" and "finally" are examples of what kind of connective?

A. brief
B. transitions
C. linking words
D. signposts
E. internal previews

Among the things you might be asked to do in the short answer section of the exam would be to take a set of main points such as:

I. Handwriting analysts try to determine personality traits by examining the consistency of  a person's handwriting.
II. Handwriting analysts try to determine personality traits by examining the angularity of  a person's handwriting.
III. Handwriting analysts try to determine personality traits by examining the size of  a person's handwriting.

And then answer several questions.

1. Following textbook guidelines, state a specific purpose statement for the above set of main points.
2. Following textbook guidelines, state a central idea for the above set of main points.
3. What pattern of organization is reflected in the above set of main points?
4. Create an attention getter for a speech introduction on this topic.  Identify which attention gaining strategy discussed in the textbook you are using in your example.
5.  Create a connective that a speaker might use to connect points II. and III.
6. What might you do to relate the topic to the audience during your discussion of the last main point?

Or you might be given a Central Idea:

and then be asked to:

1. Following the guidelines in the textbook state the main points indicated by the above central idea.
2. What pattern of organization is signaled by the above central idea?
3. Create an internal summary linked with a transition that could be used between the second and the third main points.
4. The sub-point below would most likely be included under which of the main points in this speech?

Or you might need to identify the organizational patter of a set of main points.

Or create example attention getters for a speech.

Or draw the speech communication model as we discussed it in lecture.
 

1. A. inventio
2. D. interference
3. B. message
4. E. Chronological [process is not a pattern of organization it is a type of informative speech]
[*Bonus--it does not use parallel wording consistently.]
5. D. To inform my audience about the different breeds of dogs.
6. B. make it broad and general
7. C. transitions
8. B. internal preview
9. C. two to five main points
10. D. it is clearly explained
11. C. Look at the audience 80- to 90 percent of the time.
12. C. establishing credibility
13. D. reinforcement of the central idea [using a strategy we call summary]
14. E. People should acquire some knowledge of the facts surrounding an issue before they offer an opinion.
15. B. ethnocentrism
16. E. a sub-sub-subpoint
17. C. later that year he participated in the famous march on Washington, D.C.

[if you arrange the whole outline fragment you would get:

I. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s greatest triumphs came during the early 1960's.

A. In 1963 he campaigned against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama.
B. Later that year he participated in the famous march on Washington, D.C.

1.  More than 200,000 people took part in that march.
2.  King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech following the march.   ]

Answers to Short Answer Questions:
Most of these you need to work out on your own.  We talked about the handwriting set of main points in lecture and you will find them discussed in the lecture notes.