22 Read: Unit 3, Persuasive Speaking, Related Reading Materials
Read Unit 3 Assigned Chapters (6, 10, 16)

This chapter organizes the related chapter readings for Unit 3: Persuasive Speaking. You can find chapter links, summaries of the chapters, chapter outlines, key study guide questions/terms, and links the textbook suggested resources as well as additional materials. Remember to also look to the online textbook’s glossary, activities, and terms in a bold or italic font as you prepare for class discussion, homework, and quizzes.
Associated Chapter Readings
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 16
Critical Thinking and Reasoning
Chapter 6 Summary
Shouts or even a calm, “No, that is fake news,” seems to, in effect, extinguish a conversation, but also, commits the fallacy will you know which one? Chapter 6 will help you learn more about effective critical thinking to determine what is “fake” and what is credible news.
Chapter 6 helps apply centuries-old rhetorical strategies of logos or, as we call it today, logic. While dense in the materials, this may very well be one of the most important chapters to help develop your sense of critical thinking. The chapter assists in evaluating persuasive message as well as creating sound logical arguments. As you read, think of the speech you are constructing and if you are unintentionally falling into fallacies.
Whether you have formal exams, online quizzes or no book assessment, reading and committing these fallacies to memory will help you as you navigate the “fake news” claims in your future career and, sadly, personal lives. And, it is important to keep in mind that if you have a familiarity or command of critical thinking/fallacies, it will enhance your ability to learn and understand any college course at a fundamental level. Nice!
Chapter 6 Outline
These are the key areas outlined by The Public Speaking Project.Org’s Chapter _ (Terri Russ, 2011, p.6-1) :
- What is reasoning
- What is critical thinking
- Logic and the role of arguments
- Understanding fallacies
- Types of fallacies – formal and informal.
Chapter 6 Study Guide and Review Terms
Study Guide
- What is the difference between the terms: critical thinking, reasoning, arguments, fallacies?
- What are the core skills of critical thinking?
- How is critical thinking “active?”
- Review the traits of Critical Thinkers: Open Mindedness; Analytic Nature; Systematic by Method; Inquisitive; Judicious; Confident in Reasoning
- What is the difference between listening and hearing? Which refers to the “physiological process of receiving sounds” and which refers to the ”psychological process of interpreting or making sense of those sounds?”
- Discuss the difference between analysis and evaluation.
- Define and distinguish: inference, interpretation, and explanation.
- Why is self-regulation considered the last step of critical thinking?
- What is a deductive argument?
- What is an inductive argument?
- Be prepared to explain the formal and informal fallacies.
Also, see the textbook’s glossary on pages 6-18 to 6-19.
Related Online Chapter 6 Resources from The Public Speaking Project.org
Chapter 6 Videos & PowerPoints from the Textbook
The textbook offers professionally narrated PowerPoint presentations on their YouTube Channel: (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmICWAfi4k_-OpZeJf69qiQ )
- Reasoning Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XPGT2u6KiQ)
- Reasoning Part 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5yxxk4YwWY)
- Reasoning Fallacies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Mq9CMDAbA&t=161s)
Additional Chapter 6 Online Related Materials
- Thomas Damp’s Tutorial on Critical Thinking using the PublicSpeakingProject (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkbXKuZJIwY)
Using Language Well
Chapter 10 Summary
As you read chapter 10, think about how you can be persuasive with your own language choices in your next speech while maintaining an Aristotelian ethical, community-minded foundation — but also, to make your message effective, how you can even “just liven things up” with using the stylized language choices you can make.
Chapter 10 Outline
Chapter 10 Outline by E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D. (2012, p. 10-1)
- The Power of Language
- Communication vs. Language
- Language Creates Social Reality
- The Differences Language Choices Can Make
- Constructing Clear and Vivid Messages: Use Simple Language; Use Concrete and Precise Language.
- Using Stylized Language: Metaphors and Similes; Alliteration; Antithesis; Parallel Structure and Language; Personalized Language
- The Importance of Ethical and Accurate Language: Language and Ethics; Sexist and Heterosexist Language
- Avoiding Language Pitfalls: Profanity; Exaggeration; Powerless Language; Incorrect Grammar; Clichés; Language that is Central to Popular Culture
Chapter 10 Study Guide and Review Terms
Chapter 10 Outline by E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D. (2012, p. 10-1)
- Understand the power of language to define our world and our relationship to the world
- Choose language that positively impacts the ability to inform and persuade
- Choose language that creates a clear and vivid message
- Use language that is ethical and accurate
- Use language to enhance his or her speaker credibility
( Ramsey, 2012, p. 10-1)
Also, see the chapter’s Glossary on page 16-16.
Related Online Chapter 10 Resources from The Public Speaking Project.or
Chapter 10 Videos & PowerPoints from the Textbook
The textbook offers professionally narrated PowerPoint presentations on their YouTube Channel: (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmICWAfi4k_-OpZeJf69qiQ )
- There are no Public Speaking Project powerpoints on Chapter 10 that we found.
Additional Chapter 10 Online Related Materials
- Thomas Damp’s Tutorial on Using Language Well using the PublicSpeakingProject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV4OW_KoJUI
Persuasive Speaking
Chapter 16 Summary
“The devil made me do it!” That age-old expression runs short of a full explanation of what persuasive includes. Chapter 16 explains the goals of a persuasive speech as well as the functions of and types of persuasive speeches. Explain what a persuasive speech is — describe the functions of persuasive speeches. Understanding the persuasive process will help you organize your speech to better target and adapt to your audience. Further, better understanding the ethical requirements of persuasive speakers will help you do just that: become an ethical persuader so folks won’t say, “Hmm, I am not sure why I chose that, I guess the Devil made me do it!”
Chapter 16 Outline
These are the key areas outlined by The Public Speaking Project’s Chapter 16 author, E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D. (2012, p.16-1).
- What is Persuasive Speaking?
- Functions of Persuasive Speeches: Speeches to Convince, Speeches to Actuate
- Types of Persuasive Speeches: Propositions of Fact; Propositions of Value; Propositions of Policy
- Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic
- Approaching Audiences: Receptive Audiences; Neutral Audiences; Hostile Audiences Persuasive Strategies: Ethos; Logos; Pathos
- Organizing Persuasive Messages: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence; Direct Method Pattern; Causal Pattern; Refutation Pattern
Chapter 16 Study Guide and Review Terms
The authors of Chapter 16, Sarah Stone Watt, Ph.D. & Joshua Trey Barnett (2011), suggest you understand the following as quoted:
1. Explain what a persuasive speech is.
2. Describe the functions of persuasive speeches.
3. List the different types of persuasive speeches.
4. Identify persuasive strategies that make a speech more effective.
5. Apply the appropriate organizational pattern based on your persuasive goals.
6. Distinguish between ethical and unethical forms of persuasion.
7. Apply module concepts in final questions
(p. 16-1)
Related Online Chapter 16 Resources from The Public Speaking Project.org
Chapter 16 Videos & PowerPoints from the Textbook
There are no Chapter 16 specific videos or PowerPoints from the publisher. See the link below to Thomas Damp’s tutorial.
The textbook offers related professionally narrated PowerPoint presentations on their YouTube Channel: (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmICWAfi4k_-OpZeJf69qiQ ).
Additional Chapter 16 Online Related Materials
- Thomas Damp’s Tutorial on Chapter 16 using the PublicSpeakingProject: