A decorous speech conforms to audience expectations. What five elements are associated with these expectations? What are the key features of each that distinguish them from the others?

What will be an ideal response?

- Audiences expect six elements in a decorous speech: (1) formality, (2) length, (3) emotion, (4) intensity, (5) supporting material, and (6) identification.
- Formality defines the level of style of the speech, ranging from formal to informal.
- Some situations demand length and others encourage brevity.
- To be effective, rhetoric must engage the emotions of the audience. This must be appropriate and balanced.
- The amount of intensity or emphasis can be difficult to gauge but as speakers gain experience, they develop an almost-intuitive sense of what an occasion calls for.
- Some situations demand different amounts and types of support than other speaking situations.
- Different speech situations demand a different emphasis on shared connection, or identification. Most speakers try to evoke a sense of common bonds among listeners and between the audience and themselves.