Corporals Course Communication Exam Questions with Correct Answers

Corporals Course Communication Exam Questions with Correct Answers Communication Defined - Answer-•Speaker/Writer: Consider who you are or your position, what you feel, and your experiences. •Subject/Message: Consider what you already know about a subject, what you need to know, and determine the kind of evidence or proof that is most useful. •Audience: Consider the listener's or reader's expectations, prior knowledge, and disposition with regards to the subject. COMMUNICATION PROCESS - Answer-The communication process is the act of sending messages and receiving feedback on those messages. How a speaker or writer presents information can influence audience understanding and retention of the material conveyed. Effective communicators should have an understanding of the five basic elements involved in the communication process. BETTER PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE - Answer- Professional speaker and author Lenny Laskowski feels that improving your speaking skills will improve every area of your life. The following are examples of how public speaking can positively influence your everyday life, your career, your relationships, and much more. •Build success in your professional life - Most presidents and CEOs of companies possess strong speaking skills. Often, their success and their companies' success have been related to their ability to communicate effectively. •Communicate with others more clearly - Many mistakes or misinterpretations are a result of not properly communicating your ideas. Great public speaking skills help you articulate ideas and make them come alive for the listener. •Build overall confidence - As you become better at organizing and communicating your ideas effectively, you will start to exhibit more confidence. •Increase your comfort level in social situations - Social situations are, in fact, the perfect opportunity to practice your public speaking skills. •Speak more confidently on the telephone - Whether you call to request information, make a cold call at work, communicate with a client, or just leave a phone message, others can hear your confidence level in the tone of your voice. •Establish trust and respect from others with greater ease - The ability to convince people with words is vital to establishing trust and respect. This can include not only what you say, but how you say it. STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR A PRESENTATION - Answer-When tasked with making a presentation, follow the three basic steps of plan, prepare, and deliver. The steps will be described further in this lesson. •Plan - Determine the purpose. - Select the topic. - Determine the main point or central idea. - Conduct research. •Prepare - Prepare a written outline. - Prepare speaker notes. - Rehearse the presentation . •Deliver - Use effective communication techniques. - Understand the principles of effective communication. Planning Considerations - Answer-Audience The speaker should consider a number of factors about the audience so they can relate to them during the presentation. •Demographics: Get to know your audience. Analyzing the audience helps the speaker adapt their message to the listeners more effectively. If possible, determine their age range, gender, group membership, education, and cultural and ethnic background. •Values: Get to know the values and interests of your audience since audiences pay closer attention to messages that are tailored to their values, beliefs, and interests. •Audience Needs: Know the needs of your audience. Audiences value their time and cease to listen when they feel their time is not being used wisely. •Audience Knowledge: Get to know the current knowledge and experience level of your audience. Audiences hear and evaluate what a speaker says on the basis of what they already know and believe, so it is easier to build a presentation that reinforces rather than convinces. Planning considerations cont. - Answer-Situation The speaker should consider a number of factors when analyzing the situation surrounding a planned presentation. •Time: How long does the speaker have to speak? •Size: What is the expected size of the audience? •Facilities: What is the capacity of the room/space and the seating arrangements? •Equipment: What equipment is available and needed? •Physical conditions: What are the environmental factors of the location such as temperature, ventilation, noise distractions, and lighting? DETERMINE THE PURPOSE - Answer-Once tasked with making a presentation, the speaker will need to determine the purpose for giving the presentation. The most common purposes for public speaking include: •To persuade: This approach is used to sell the audience on a new idea, or a change in operations. The goal is to influence audience beliefs or actions. •To inform: Use this approach when you need to pass on new or additional information. The goal is to expand audience knowledge. The emphasis is clear, direct communication with accurate and adequate information tailored to audience education and skill levels. Audience feedback may be needed in some situations to make sure the message is received. •To entertain: The goal of entertaining speeches is to amuse the audience and provide enjoyment. This method is used on special occasions but is rarely used alone. The purpose of entertaining is often secondary to either the purpose of informing or persuasion. The focus of this method of communication is delivery. People will likely be more interested in what the speaker has to say when the presentation provides enjoyment. SELECT THE TOPIC - Answer-A well-chosen topic is the first step to a successful presentation. In the military, often, the topic of the presentation is directed from higher authority. If you can choose the topic, begin by asking yourself several questions. Your answers will help you select a topic. •What topics are you experienced with? •What are you interested in talking about? •Does the occasion or situation suggest a topic? The following questions will help you narrow your subject. •What does your audience already know about the topic, and what do they expect to learn? •Which topics will interest the audience the most? •How much time do you have to research the topic? •How much time do you have to deliver the presentation? DETERMINE THE MAIN POINT OR CENTRAL IDEA - Answer-The central idea, or thesis statement, includes one or more declarative sentences that sum up the major ideas that you will present to your audience. It provides focus and clearly indicates direction. It is often considered the most difficult to write; however, it should not be. Remember that the central idea for the informative speech is objective and forecasts the direction of the speech, and the central idea of the persuasive speech provides insight into the speaker's position on the topic. The central idea you develop will guide your research and ultimately the preparation of your presentation. CONDUCT RESEARCH - Answer-Start your research by using the information you already know about the topic. If you need more information, only use reliable resources that will provide information that is credible, accurate, and relevant to your audience. Keep in mind that the goal of gathering information is to find information that supports your main point or central idea. The types of evidence you could use as support may include definitions, examples, testimony, statistics, facts, or explanations. Types of evidence - Answer-Definition A definition is the precise meaning or significance of a word or phrase. In an argument, it can be helpful to establish a common frame of reference for important or ambiguous words, so don't underestimate the importance of definitions. Example An example is a specific instance chosen to represent a larger fact to clarify an abstract idea or support a claim. Good examples must be appropriate, brief, and attention arresting. Quite often, they are presented in groups of two or three for impact. Testimony Testimony uses the comments of recognized authorities to support the claim. These comments can be direct quotations or paraphrases, but direct quotations tend to carry more weight with listeners or readers. When using testimony as support, make sure the individuals being quoted are both generally credible and knowledgeable in the field under discussion.