Test your basic knowledge |

Persuasion

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. To treat one cause among many as if it is the single cause






2. The study of persuasion and its ways and means - the science of discourse - well-crafted communication that helps your achieve your persona - social - and/or political goals






3. Telling only positive things about something or someone - without giving evidence or facts






4. Assumes because one thing is allowed - worse things will occur after






5. The side that will argue the proposition






6. The ability to make a 'rational' link between your claim and evidence - which helps the audience consent to your argument






7. Ordinary people sell a message. You are to believe that because these people are like you - they can be trusted.






8. Statements claiming that some proposition is untrue or incorrect






9. control the frame: how we see and understand the argument - good use of language: be aware of the language - be aware of the question and answer: try to be on offense instead of defense - think about your presentation style






10. The generally held opinion held prior to the debate






11. A discussion adhering to parliamentary rules of proposition between two opposing sides






12. An argument whose conclusion does not follow from its premise






13. What is the best or most accurate definition?






14. The affirmative or positive side is proposing a (new) position or resolution. Therefore it falls to this side to show evidence for that position






15. An ethical appeal that establishes the speaker's or writer's credibility and trustworthiness






16. The feelings or emotions that are evoked from a word






17. The dictionary definition of a word






18. The process of selecting - organizing - and interpreting our experiences






19. Words or images that appeal to the audience's emotions are used. The appeal may be to positive emotions - such as desire for success - or to negative ones - such as fear.






20. Dissimilarities between two things are so much greater than their similarities - that their connection is unjustified






21. What is the best or most accurate interpretation?






22. Sequential relationship is misinterpreted as causal (this caused that)






23. To reduce complex matters to an either/or logic






24. Tries to persuade the reader to do - think - or buy something because it is popular or everyone is doing it - The famous McDonald's billboards displaying how many hamburgers the restaurants have sold. Mocked by Jerry Seinfeld: 'How insecure is this c






25. A suggestion that is offered for consideration or acceptance






26. A statement that cannot be proved true. It is something that someone/author thinks - believes - feels. Some clue words associated with opinions are; think. appears - feel - believes. seems.






27. An expressed opinion - statement - or point of view






28. Appeal to an unqualified expert






29. Assumes that the premise is not ideal - but a wiser choice than the opponent's






30. Advertisers sometimes use words or phrases that seem significant - but on closer inspection they are actually meaningless - e.g. 'Leaves dishes virtually spotless.' We have seen so many ad claims that we have learned to tune out weasels. You are sup






31. Narrative (story) - anecdotal (brieft tale or story that lends itself to but does not prove a conclusion) - participation - demonstation - performance - testimonial (eyewitness - expert - authority - celebrity)






32. What's my message? - Who's my audience? - How should I adapt my message to my specific audience? - What's my rhetorical strategy? - What's my goal?






33. Improve our ability to argue for our views and perspectives - Improve our ability to provide counter-arguments to other people's arguments - Improve our ability to assess the legitimacy of arguments in general.






34. A false argument; an argument that appears to be logical - but in fact is not logical






35. Facts - conditions - statements - beliefs or views that others can observe and potentially agree with






36. Inducement to act by argument or reasoning or entreaty






37. Propaganda is a systematic way of spreading beliefs through a combination of facts - opinions disguised as facts - and repetition. Sometimes there is also some stretching of the truth. When you read - decide whether the author is trying to persuade y






38. A fact that may be used to infer another fact






39. An emotional appeal that stirs the feelings of the audience/reader/listener






40. To misrepresent your opponents argument; to seemingly refute your opponent's argument when in fact you have not accurately described his/her position






41. Is it moral - right - wrong - ethical - pretty - ugly?






42. Advertisers ask rhetorical questions or make statments so that consumers associate certain ideas and emotions with their products - on't you want the best protection you can get with your deoderant? - Wouldn't you love a Sunway Airlines Vacation?






43. This technique wants you to associate the good feelings created in the ad with the product - Because you deserve it - We want you to have the best.






44. Facts - figures - numbers - graphs - charts - polls - surveys






45. An author may write with bias - an unfair fondness or dislike for something. For example - suppose an author believes that the government should be tougher on teen crime. If the author wrote an article about teenage crime - his/her bias would most li






46. The side that will oppose the proposition






47. Evidence supporting the team's position or used to denigrate or defeat the opposing view






48. A logical appeal or an appeal to reason (facts - statistics - and expert testimony)






49. Questioning or proving the existence or actuality of some event - action - thing - person






50. Claims attack the person and not the issue