Free Practice Test: DSST Principles of Public Speaking

Communication is more than just talking. The classic model: a sender encodes a message, sends it through a channel to a receiver, who decodes it and provides feedback. Noise can interfere at any stage. Know the difference between intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, public, and mass communication.

Audience analysis is half the work of a good speech. Know the demographic factors (age, education, occupation, cultural background) and psychographic factors (values, beliefs, attitudes) that influence how an audience receives a message. A good speaker tailors content, language, and delivery to the specific audience in the room.

Be familiar with the key terms: ethos (speaker credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical reasoning). These three Aristotelian appeals show up directly on the exam.

Every speech has a general purpose (to inform, to persuade, or to entertain) and a specific purpose (a one-sentence statement of exactly what you want the audience to know, do, or feel). The thesis statement is what the speech is actually arguing.

Structurally, speeches have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Introductions need to grab attention, establish the speaker’s credibility, preview the main points, and give the audience a reason to listen. Conclusions summarize and provide a memorable close.

The body of the speech is organized into main points, typically two to five. Common organizational patterns include chronological (events in time order), spatial (geographic or physical layout), topical (by subtopic), causal (cause-effect), and problem-solution. Pick the pattern that fits your content.

Solid speeches are built on solid evidence. Know the main types of supporting material: examples (real or hypothetical), statistics (numerical evidence), testimony (expert or peer), and definitions or explanations. Each type has strengths and weaknesses; the best speeches blend several.

Research is part of content development. Know the difference between primary sources (interviews, original surveys) and secondary sources (books, articles), and understand the basics of evaluating source credibility (authority, accuracy, currency, relevance).

Plagiarism and proper attribution come up too – you’re expected to cite your sources verbally during a speech, not just in your notes.

Language choices affect how a speech lands. Know the difference between denotative meaning (the dictionary definition of a word) and connotative meaning (the emotional or cultural associations). Use concrete, vivid, inclusive language; avoid jargon and unfamiliar abstractions for general audiences.

Common stylistic devices to recognize: metaphor (an implicit comparison), simile (an explicit comparison using “like” or “as”), parallelism (repeated grammatical structure), antithesis (contrast), and alliteration (repeated initial sounds).

Delivery covers vocal elements (pitch, rate, volume, articulation, pronunciation, pauses) and physical elements (eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, movement). The four delivery methods are impromptu (no preparation), extemporaneous (prepared but not read word-for-word), manuscript (read verbatim), and memorized. Extemporaneous is generally considered the most effective for most speaking situations.

Communication apprehension – what most people call stage fright – is the fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated speaking situations. The exam may distinguish between trait (situational anxiety some people have across all communication settings) and state (anxiety triggered by a specific situation) apprehension. Common coping techniques include preparation, visualization, deep breathing, and cognitive restructuring (reframing anxious thoughts).

Speech criticism is the systematic evaluation of a speech – both your own and others’. Standard criteria include the speech’s purpose, audience adaptation, organization, content quality, language use, and delivery. Effective listening is its companion skill: active listening, taking notes, and avoiding common listening pitfalls (prejudice, distraction, focusing on delivery instead of content).