OSAT Speech/Drama/Debate (116) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Ethos

The persuasive appeal based on the speaker's credibility, character, and trustworthiness. Established through credentials, fair tone, and demonstrated goodwill toward the audience.

Pathos

The persuasive appeal to the audience's emotions and values. Achieved through vivid narrative, connotative language, and appeals to shared beliefs or fears.

Logos

The persuasive appeal to reason and evidence. Built from clear claims, valid reasoning, statistics, testimony, and logical structure the audience can follow.

Rhetorical triangle

A model of persuasion showing interaction among speaker, audience, and occasion. Each element shapes tone, evidence choice, and organizational pattern.

Monroe's Motivated Sequence

A five-step persuasive pattern: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. Commonly used for speeches urging a specific policy or behavior change.

Diaphragmatic breathing

Breathing from the diaphragm rather than shallow chest breathing. Provides steady airflow for vocal projection and reduces vocal strain during long speeches.

Inflection

Variation in pitch within speech. Purposeful inflection conveys meaning and emotion and prevents the monotone delivery that judges penalize.

Attention device

An opening technique such as a question, anecdote, statistic, or quotation that gains audience interest. It precedes the thesis and preview in a speech introduction.

Thesis statement

A single declarative sentence stating the central claim of a speech. It guides organization and should be previewed in the introduction.

Transition

A phrase or sentence connecting one main point to the next. Signals movement, maintains coherence, and helps listeners track the speech structure.

Clincher

The final line of a conclusion that reinforces the central message. Often returns to the opening attention device for a sense of closure.

Extemporaneous delivery

Speaking from a prepared outline using conversational phrasing rather than a full manuscript. Balances spontaneity with organized, rehearsed content.

Impromptu speaking

Delivery with minimal or no preparation time. Relies on a quick structure such as past-present-future or point-reason-example.

Lincoln-Douglas debate

A one-on-one values debate format. Affirmative and negative debaters clash over a resolution using value and criterion frameworks with evidence and analysis.

Policy debate

A two-on-two format centered on whether a proposed plan should be adopted. Affirmative must establish stock issues; negative attacks with disadvantages and counterplans.

Public Forum debate

A two-on-two format debating current-events resolutions in accessible language. Emphasizes evidence, crossfire questioning, and persuasive delivery for lay judges.

Stock issues

Core burdens in policy debate: significance, inherency, harms, solvency, and topicality. An affirmative case must address them to be prima facie.

Topicality

A debate argument that the affirmative case falls outside the resolution's wording. Decided by interpreting key terms and showing the plan does not fit.

Counterplan

A negative proposal competing with the affirmative plan. Must be non-topical, competitive, and solve the harms better to be a viable negative strategy.

Cross-examination

A question-and-answer period in debate allowing direct scrutiny of an opponent's evidence and reasoning. Effective questioning exposes contradictions and unclear warrants.

Flow sheet

A structured notesheet tracking arguments across speeches in debate rounds. Uses columns for each speech and arrows linking responses to original claims.

Value and criterion

The framework in Lincoln-Douglas debate. The value states the ethical goal; the criterion is the standard by which the round is judged.

Aristotle's six elements

Plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and music. These are the components of drama described in the Poetics, with plot ranked most important.

Dramatic conflict

The struggle between opposing forces that drives plot forward. May be internal (person versus self) or external (person versus person, nature, or society).

Protagonist

The central character whose goals and choices organize the dramatic action. Need not be heroic or morally good.

Antagonist

The force or character opposing the protagonist. Creates the conflict that produces rising action and dramatic tension.

Soliloquy

A speech delivered alone on stage revealing a character's inner thoughts. Distinguished from a monologue addressed to other characters.

Dramatic irony

A situation where the audience knows information a character does not. Creates tension and often foreshadows consequences the character cannot anticipate.

Cheating out

A stage technique of angling the body toward the audience. Keeps the face and gestures visible during scenes involving multiple actors.

Blocking

Planned stage movement and positioning of actors. Communicates relationships, focus, and status without relying on dialogue.

Upstaging

Drawing attention away from the focal character or moment. Caused by inappropriate movement, gesture, or positioning by another actor.

Cold reading

Performing from a script with little or no rehearsal. Requires quick text analysis, eye contact, and confident vocal choices.