Speechwriting Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which technique repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis?
- Anaphora (Correct answer)
- Epistrophe
- Chiasmus
- Litotes
Correct answer: Anaphora
Anaphora repeats the opening words of successive clauses, as in 'We shall fight on the beaches...'.
Question 2: The 'rule of three' in speechwriting works mainly because it:
- Creates a memorable, satisfying rhythm (Correct answer)
- Reduces the speech length
- Avoids the need for evidence
- Eliminates transitions
Correct answer: Creates a memorable, satisfying rhythm
Grouping ideas in threes produces a rhythm that audiences find satisfying and easy to remember.
Question 3: Using a rhetorical question in a speech is most effective when the speaker wants to:
- Provoke the audience to reflect without expecting an answer (Correct answer)
- Collect verbal responses from listeners
- Fill time when unprepared
- Avoid stating any position
Correct answer: Provoke the audience to reflect without expecting an answer
Rhetorical questions engage listeners by prompting internal reflection rather than spoken replies.
Question 4: Which device reverses the order of words in two parallel phrases, as in 'Ask not what your country can do for you...'?
- Chiasmus (Correct answer)
- Anaphora
- Alliteration
- Hyperbole
Correct answer: Chiasmus
Chiasmus inverts the structure of parallel clauses to create a memorable balance.
Question 5: An effective use of the pause in delivery is to:
- Let a key point land and build anticipation (Correct answer)
- Signal that the speaker forgot the next line
- Shorten the overall speech
- Replace transitions entirely
Correct answer: Let a key point land and build anticipation
A deliberate pause emphasizes important points and lets the audience absorb them.
Question 6: Alliteration is best used in a speech to:
- Make a phrase catchy and memorable (Correct answer)
- Prove a statistical claim
- Lengthen the introduction
- Confuse opposing arguments
Correct answer: Make a phrase catchy and memorable
Repeating initial consonant sounds makes phrases stick in the audience's memory.
Question 7: A 'callback' technique in a speech refers to:
- Referencing an earlier point or phrase later for cohesion (Correct answer)
- Asking the audience to phone in
- Repeating the entire introduction
- Reading from notes verbatim
Correct answer: Referencing an earlier point or phrase later for cohesion
A callback reintroduces an earlier idea or phrase to create unity and a satisfying payoff.
Speechwriting Techniques 2
Which technique repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis?