Test your basic knowledge |

Public Debating

Subject : soft-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. An argument that follows proper logical form






2. Does the argument effectively appeal to audience values and priorities? Does the argument accurately capture the values at play in this situation?






3. Assuming as a premise some form of the very point that is at issue - the very conclusion we intend to prove. Also called circular reasoning.






4. What is 'at issue' in a controversy; the place where two sides of an argument come into conflict; the clash between arguments.






5. Using information from mercenary scientists is committing what fallacy?






6. Literally - 'wise one' ; taught rhetoric to citizenry






7. An explicit metaphor that overtly compares two things - often using the words 'like' or 'as'






8. These are commonplaces for argument drawn from the specific set of values shared by a particular community of experience and interest






9. Incorrectly assuming that what is true of the whole is true of the parts






10. Repetition of the same idea - changing either its words - its delivery - or the general treatment it is given.






11. A or B Not A Therefore - B






12. 'X causes Y' is a warrant for what argument






13. Draws a conclusion about an entire entity based on knowledge about all of its parts






14. Puritan morality - change and progress - equality of opportunity - rejection of authority - achievement and success






15. Involves a large number of people; from Ill stock issue - Produces a large amount of harm; from Ill stock issue






16. After this - therefore on account of this






17. A syllogism suppressing the Major Premise - and only contains a Minor Premise and the Conclusion. People speak in these more often than syllogisms.






18. Reasoning from case to case






19. Accepting a token gesture for something more substantive






20. Opposite of Hyperbole






21. If A then B Not A Therefore not B






22. _____ rejected rhetoric as flattery - not truth - a 'knack' on par with 'cookery' and 'cosmetics'






23. All A are B -X is A - therefore - X is B OR All A are B - all B are C - therefore - all A are C OR All A are B - all C are A - therefore - all C are B






24. Are the two things really alike - or are there significant differences that might make them unalike in this respect? Are the negative consequences to comparing these two things? Is the analogy clear or confusing?






25. Bases inferences on what we know of how people act in a rational/predictable way - in order to determine the truth






26. Anticipatory refutation - in which you preempt an opposition argument before it is even offered.






27. The inference moves from cause to effect or effect to cause - arguing that something is the direct result of something else. The warrant to this argument is usually formatted as: 'X is a form of Y'






28. What places do procedural stasis usually occupy in an argument?






29. Understatement






30. Are the terms of the metaphor coherent - or does it tell a story or paint a picure that fails to make sense internally?






31. Whitewashes the effect of your topic to downplay it; less emotional than appropriate






32. The inference moves from specific to general or from general to specific. The warrant to this argument usually reads 'what is true in this case is true in general' or 'what is true in general is true in this case'






33. Does the moral really follow from the story? Is the narrative plausible and coherent? Are the characterizations consistent?






34. Term with higher (positive) value






35. A metaphor with a vehicle that draws upon experience that is specific to a particular culture






36. Appeals from the character of the speaker






37. Agreeing to some of the arguments made by your opponents so that you can focus on others






38. Originality - explanatory power - quantitative precision - simplicity - scope






39. Values what is at the core or essence of a group (or class) rather than what is at the margins






40. Ending repeated






41. ______ are hired to create manufactroversy






42. All A are B - all C are B - therefore all A are C






43. _____ thought that rhetoric is the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion






44. Based on the setting - which dictates the ____ ____ used to determine who has won the debate - E.g. Academic Policy Debate: stock issues Criminal Court Case: beyond a reasonable doubt Civil Courtroom: preponderance of evidence This Classroom: were yo






45. Conjectural - Procedural - Definitional - and Qualitative Points are all ____


46. Deliberate correction






47. Are there associated commonplaces for this metaphor that can be turned against the arguer?






48. Accepting an argument that you should believe something is true just because the majority believes it is true.






49. Is a variety of Hasty Generalization; it is when you draw conclusions about a population on the basis of a sample that is too small to be a reliable measure of that population






50. Uses emotional appeal instead of evidence to argue