DSST Principles of Public Speaking (CLEP) Practice Test

The correct answer is logical appeal, which refers specifically to the persuasive technique that relies on reasoning, facts, and evidence to convince the audience. This approach engages the listener's rational thinking process, encouraging them to evaluate the argument critically based on data, statistics, and logical deductions.

In public speaking and persuasion, logical appeal is fundamental because it provides the audience with clear, structured arguments that can be analyzed and confirmed, making them effective for serious debates and discussions where reason prevails. By focusing on this type of appeal, a speaker aims to build a strong case that is hard to refute, appealing to the audience's intellect and critical thinking faculties.

While emotional appeal targets feelings and ethics focuses on moral values, these do not center strictly on logical reasoning. Each of these other methods serves a different purpose in persuasion but does not primarily appeal to the sense of logic as effectively as logical appeal does.