Describe the difference between a voluntary and a captive audience. How does this affect the way the audience perceives a speaker's message?
What will be an ideal response?
- The circumstances related to why an audience is assembled can affect how a message is received.
- People who have chosen to hear a speech (voluntary) are more likely to be interested and receptive than those who have been coerced (captive) into attending a speech.
- A captive audience might resent having to hear a speech and this will have a negative effect on the speaker's ethos.
- A speaker should not assume that captive audience members have any interest in the event or speech, so the speaker must work even harder to create interest and motivate audience members.
- Also assuming that an audience is voluntary can also create problems for a speaker.
- If the speaker does not know the status of the audience, it is best to assume they are captive and must be motivated.
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Evaluating the quality of information, ideas, and arguments presented by a speaker is
a. critical listening b. ethical listening. c. fact finding. d. inference evaluation.
Answer the following statements true (T) or false (F)
1. To fully evaluate an argument, a listener should apply as many tests of support as possible. 2. When listening to arguments, a good rule of thumb is to comprehend before questioning. 3. If you have prepared sufficiently prior to engaging in argument, your best strategy is to stick to your script. 4. Argument style should meet the constraints posed by the topic. 5. Pointing out another advocate’s bias is an irresponsible ad hominem attack.