Question

8 - establishing credibility: topic, thesis, and main points

learning objective: discuss how to establish credibility and authority with your audience.

what impact does credibility have on the effectiveness of a speech?

a.) if the speaker knows the audience is not credible, then they should explain the details of their evidence very clearly.

b.) if the audience does not think the speaker is credible, they will be more likely to be persuaded by the speakers argument.

c.) if the speaker knows the audience is credible, then they can include much more technical and complex information in their speech.

d.) if the audience perceives the speaker as credible, they will trust the information the speaker presents to them.

Explanation:

Analyze the impact of credibility on speech effectiveness

Credibility (ethos) represents the audience's perception of a speaker's trustworthiness, expertise, and goodwill. When an audience perceives a speaker as highly credible, they are far more likely to trust the accuracy of the information presented and accept the speaker's message.

Evaluate the given options

• Option (a) incorrectly focuses on the audience being "not credible" rather than the speaker.
• Option (b) suggests a lack of credibility increases persuasion, which is logically reversed.
• Option (c) incorrectly links the audience's credibility to the inclusion of complex technical details.
• Option (d) correctly states that audience perception of speaker credibility leads directly to trust in the presented information.

Answer:

• a.) If the speaker knows the audience is not credible, then they should explain the details of their evidence very clearly.
• b.) If the audience does not think the speaker is credible, they will be more likely to be persuaded by the speaker's argument.
• c.) If the speaker knows the audience is credible, then they can include much more technical and complex information in their speech.
• d.) If the audience perceives the speaker as credible, they will trust the information the speaker presents to them. (Correct answer)