COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
FA L L 2 0 2 0 2 7
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY · COMS 101 CHAPTER 15
COMS 101
Quiz Chapter 15 - Persuasive
Speaking Complete Solutions
50 5 100%
T O TA L QUIZ SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS SECTIONS VERIFIED
QUIZ EDITION
Liberty University COMS 101 - Fall 2026/2027
COGNITIVE MIX
35% Recall · 45% Application · 20% Analysis
QUESTION STYLE
70% Scenario-Based · 30% Direct Recall
L I B E RT Y U N I V E R S I T Y · S P E E C H C O M M U N I C AT I O N COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
,COMS 101 - Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking Complete Solutions
COMS 101
Chapter 15 Quiz: Persuasive Speaking
Liberty University - Complete Solutions
Speech Communication | Fall 2026/2027
50 Questions Across 5 Sections with Verified Rationales
Document COMS 101 Quiz Chapter 15 - Liberty University Answers Complete Solutions
Course COMS 101 Speech Communication - Liberty University
Chapter Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking
Standard Complete Solutions with Christian Integration
Total Questions 50 Multiple-Choice Questions
Question Format 4 options (A-D), one correct answer per question
Cognitive Mix 35% Recall | 45% Application | 20% Analysis
Question Style 70% Scenario-Based | 30% Direct Recall
Rationale Communication-specific reasoning with Liberty University Christian integration
Quiz Instructions: This practice quiz contains 50 multiple-choice questions aligned with Chapter 15 (Persuasive Speaking) of
the Liberty University COMS 101 Speech Communication textbook. Each question has four options (A-D) with exactly one
correct answer. Detailed rationales follow each question and integrate rhetorical principles, audience adaptation, evidence and
reasoning standards, ethical persuasion, and Liberty University's Christian communication perspective. The correct answer is
explicitly marked with [CORRECT] and a summary line reading Correct Answer: X. Rationales are designed to double as
study-guide content for quiz preparation.
COMS 101 Chapter 15 Quiz - Liberty University | Page 1
, COMS 101 - Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking Complete Solutions
COMS 101 - CHAPTER 15 QUIZ
Comprehensive 50-question practice quiz aligned with Chapter 15 of the Liberty University COMS 101 Speech
Communication curriculum. Questions span persuasive speaking foundations, proposition types, audience analysis, rhetorical
appeals, argumentation, organizational patterns, and Christian communication ethics.
Section 1: Persuasive Speaking Foundations (Definition, Purposes, & Persuasion vs.
Coercion)
Q1. In the COMS 101 framework, persuasion is best defined as which of the following?
A. The use of force to make someone change their behavior against their will
B. A symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or
behaviors regarding an issue through the transmission of a message in an atmosphere of free choice
[CORRECT]
C. The manipulation of audience emotions to produce a desired outcome without concern for truth
D. A one-way transmission of information designed to inform listeners about a topic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Persuasion is a symbolic (language-based) process in which communicators attempt to influence others' attitudes or
behaviors regarding an issue through message transmission, in an atmosphere of free choice. Force (coercion) violates free
choice; manipulation disregards truth; pure information transmission without persuasive intent describes informative rather than
persuasive speaking. Liberty University's communication ethic emphasizes free choice as foundational—genuine persuasion
respects the audience's ability to accept or reject the message, mirroring the biblical call to reason together (Isaiah 1:18).
Q2. Which characteristic most clearly distinguishes persuasion from coercion?
A. The use of emotional appeals in the message
B. The audience's freedom to accept or reject the message without threat of punishment [CORRECT]
C. The speaker's level of credibility and expertise
D. The use of statistical evidence in the speech
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The defining distinction between persuasion and coercion is free choice: persuasion preserves the audience's ability
to voluntarily accept or reject the message, while coercion uses threats, force, or penalties to compel compliance. Emotional
appeals, credibility, and evidence can all be used ethically in persuasion or unethically in manipulation. From a Christian
communication perspective, God honors human freedom to respond to truth (Joshua 24:15, 'choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve'); faithful persuasion invites rather than forces.
Q3. A speaker's goal is to convince audience members to change their belief that all social media platforms
are harmful to interpersonal relationships. Which purpose of persuasive speaking is being pursued?
A. To actuate
B. To convince [CORRECT]
C. To inspire
D. To entertain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To convince means to influence audience beliefs or attitudes—to change what listeners think or how they evaluate
an issue, without requiring immediate action. To actuate goes beyond changing beliefs to motivate specific behavior (signing a
petition, donating, voting). To inspire seeks to uplift or motivate emotionally without necessarily demanding action. The scenario
targets a belief change (about social media's effect), not an action step, so 'to convince' is correct.
COMS 101 Chapter 15 Quiz - Liberty University | Page 2
SOLUTIONS
FA L L 2 0 2 0 2 7
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY · COMS 101 CHAPTER 15
COMS 101
Quiz Chapter 15 - Persuasive
Speaking Complete Solutions
50 5 100%
T O TA L QUIZ SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS SECTIONS VERIFIED
QUIZ EDITION
Liberty University COMS 101 - Fall 2026/2027
COGNITIVE MIX
35% Recall · 45% Application · 20% Analysis
QUESTION STYLE
70% Scenario-Based · 30% Direct Recall
L I B E RT Y U N I V E R S I T Y · S P E E C H C O M M U N I C AT I O N COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
,COMS 101 - Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking Complete Solutions
COMS 101
Chapter 15 Quiz: Persuasive Speaking
Liberty University - Complete Solutions
Speech Communication | Fall 2026/2027
50 Questions Across 5 Sections with Verified Rationales
Document COMS 101 Quiz Chapter 15 - Liberty University Answers Complete Solutions
Course COMS 101 Speech Communication - Liberty University
Chapter Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking
Standard Complete Solutions with Christian Integration
Total Questions 50 Multiple-Choice Questions
Question Format 4 options (A-D), one correct answer per question
Cognitive Mix 35% Recall | 45% Application | 20% Analysis
Question Style 70% Scenario-Based | 30% Direct Recall
Rationale Communication-specific reasoning with Liberty University Christian integration
Quiz Instructions: This practice quiz contains 50 multiple-choice questions aligned with Chapter 15 (Persuasive Speaking) of
the Liberty University COMS 101 Speech Communication textbook. Each question has four options (A-D) with exactly one
correct answer. Detailed rationales follow each question and integrate rhetorical principles, audience adaptation, evidence and
reasoning standards, ethical persuasion, and Liberty University's Christian communication perspective. The correct answer is
explicitly marked with [CORRECT] and a summary line reading Correct Answer: X. Rationales are designed to double as
study-guide content for quiz preparation.
COMS 101 Chapter 15 Quiz - Liberty University | Page 1
, COMS 101 - Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking Complete Solutions
COMS 101 - CHAPTER 15 QUIZ
Comprehensive 50-question practice quiz aligned with Chapter 15 of the Liberty University COMS 101 Speech
Communication curriculum. Questions span persuasive speaking foundations, proposition types, audience analysis, rhetorical
appeals, argumentation, organizational patterns, and Christian communication ethics.
Section 1: Persuasive Speaking Foundations (Definition, Purposes, & Persuasion vs.
Coercion)
Q1. In the COMS 101 framework, persuasion is best defined as which of the following?
A. The use of force to make someone change their behavior against their will
B. A symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or
behaviors regarding an issue through the transmission of a message in an atmosphere of free choice
[CORRECT]
C. The manipulation of audience emotions to produce a desired outcome without concern for truth
D. A one-way transmission of information designed to inform listeners about a topic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Persuasion is a symbolic (language-based) process in which communicators attempt to influence others' attitudes or
behaviors regarding an issue through message transmission, in an atmosphere of free choice. Force (coercion) violates free
choice; manipulation disregards truth; pure information transmission without persuasive intent describes informative rather than
persuasive speaking. Liberty University's communication ethic emphasizes free choice as foundational—genuine persuasion
respects the audience's ability to accept or reject the message, mirroring the biblical call to reason together (Isaiah 1:18).
Q2. Which characteristic most clearly distinguishes persuasion from coercion?
A. The use of emotional appeals in the message
B. The audience's freedom to accept or reject the message without threat of punishment [CORRECT]
C. The speaker's level of credibility and expertise
D. The use of statistical evidence in the speech
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The defining distinction between persuasion and coercion is free choice: persuasion preserves the audience's ability
to voluntarily accept or reject the message, while coercion uses threats, force, or penalties to compel compliance. Emotional
appeals, credibility, and evidence can all be used ethically in persuasion or unethically in manipulation. From a Christian
communication perspective, God honors human freedom to respond to truth (Joshua 24:15, 'choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve'); faithful persuasion invites rather than forces.
Q3. A speaker's goal is to convince audience members to change their belief that all social media platforms
are harmful to interpersonal relationships. Which purpose of persuasive speaking is being pursued?
A. To actuate
B. To convince [CORRECT]
C. To inspire
D. To entertain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To convince means to influence audience beliefs or attitudes—to change what listeners think or how they evaluate
an issue, without requiring immediate action. To actuate goes beyond changing beliefs to motivate specific behavior (signing a
petition, donating, voting). To inspire seeks to uplift or motivate emotionally without necessarily demanding action. The scenario
targets a belief change (about social media's effect), not an action step, so 'to convince' is correct.
COMS 101 Chapter 15 Quiz - Liberty University | Page 2
