Preparation Manual

Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
TX PACT: Speech: Grades 7–12 (729)

Exam Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.

Exam Name	TX PACT: Speech: Grades 7–12
Exam Code	729
Time	3 hours and 15 minutes total appointment time 15 minutes for CAT tutorial and compliance agreement 3 hours testing time
Number of Questions	80 selected-response questions and 1 constructed-response question
Format	Computer-administered test (CAT)

The TX PACT: Speech: Grades 7–12 (729) exam is designed to assess whether a test taker has demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills for admission to an educator preparation program. The 80 selected-response questions and 1 constructed-response question are based on the TX PACT: Speech: Grades 7–12 exam framework. Questions on this exam range from grades 7–12. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.

Domains and Competencies

Table outlining test content subject weighting by domain.

Domain	Domain Title	Approx. Percentage of Exam*
I	Elements of Communication	33%
II	Interpersonal and Public Communication	11%
III	Group Communication	19%
IV	Debate	19%
V	Mass Communication	19%

*Percentages do not add up to 100 due to rounding.

The content covered by this exam is organized into broad areas of content called domains. Each domain covers one or more of the standards for this field. Within each domain, the content is further defined by a set of competencies. Each competency is composed of two major parts:

• The competency statement, which broadly defines what an individual should know and be able to do in order to perform effectively in a Texas-approved educator preparation program.
• The descriptive statements, which describe in greater detail the knowledge and skills eligible for testing.

Domain I—Elements of Communication

Competency 001—Understand the characteristics and functions of the human communication process.

For example:

1. Analyze elements of communication (e.g., source, encoding/decoding, channel, feedback).
2. Recognize the roles and analyze characteristics of senders, receivers, and messages in various contexts.
3. Evaluate the use of denotation and connotation in the communication of messages.
4. Analyze the influence of internal and external variables on messages and the contextual importance of cultural, social, economic, and historical factors.

Competency 002—Understand the principles of listening to, comprehending, and interpreting messages.

For example:

1. Analyze characteristics of listening skills for different purposes.
2. Apply appropriate listening strategies for comprehension and interpretation of messages.
3. Analyze characteristics of listening barriers, and develop strategies for overcoming them.

Competency 003—Understand the similarities and differences between speech communication and the other language arts.

For example:

1. Compare and contrast the language arts of speaking, listening, viewing, reading, and writing.
2. Analyze ways in which the language arts influence one another.
3. Integrate speech into reading, writing, viewing, and listening activities.

Competency 004—Understand the elements, functions, and relationships of verbal and nonverbal communication.

For example:

1. Identify types, characteristics, and functions of verbal cues (e.g., word choice, vividness of expression, clarity) and nonverbal cues (e.g., space, body language, gestures, vocal tone, emphasis).
2. Analyze cultural factors that may affect message delivery and comprehension.
3. Recognize and interpret discrepancies between verbal and nonverbal cues.

Competency 005—Analyze principles of ethical communication.

For example:

1. Identify examples of unethical behavior in communication.
2. Apply ethical standards in the selection of evidence and evaluation of public communication (e.g., advertisement analysis, response to political speakers, the decision-making process in business meetings).
3. Apply questioning principles or other devices of communication inquiry to help discover fallacies.
4. Analyze factors that may reveal potential bias in the presentation of information.

Competency 006—Understand the principles of vocal production.

For example:

1. Analyze the functions of anatomical structures used in the production of speech.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the effects of vocal characteristics (e.g., volume, pitch, rate, vocal tone and emphasis) in the communication of messages.
3. Evaluate the effects of pronunciation and articulation on message communication.
4. Apply strategies for improving vocal style.

 

Domain II—Interpersonal and Public Communication

Competency 007—Understand theories and principles of interpersonal communication.

For example:

1. Analyze the role of interpersonal communication.
2. Apply strategies for establishing and sustaining interpersonal communication (e.g., receptivity, empathetic listening).
3. Demonstrate a knowledge of various forms of feedback (e.g., understanding, supportive, probing).
4. Apply methods of conflict resolution (e.g., considering point of view, using confirming techniques, delaying response, reaching compromise).

Competency 008—Understand the characteristics and processes of one-to-one communication.

For example:

1. Identify elements and purposes of one-to-one communication (e.g., relationship building, companionship, persuasion).
2. Apply strategies for the expression of agreement and disagreement in various situations.
3. Analyze the effectiveness of messages delivered in different styles.

Competency 009—Analyze factors that influence interpersonal communication.

For example:

1. Analyze how socioeconomics, culture, religion, race, gender, and disabilities may affect interpersonal communication.
2. Evaluate ways in which these factors may influence communication (e.g., proximity, eye contact, touch).
3. Interpret behaviors that express agreement and disagreement in various conversational situations.

Competency 010—Understand interviewing strategies and skills.

For example:

1. Identify types and characteristics of interviews (e.g., employment, research, media).
2. Analyze the interpersonal relationship between the interviewer and interviewee in various contexts.
3. Apply strategies for participating in interviews as interviewer and interviewee (e.g., role playing, preparing questions in advance, directing conversation, controlling nervousness, using appropriate listening skills).

Competency 011—Apply audience analysis to public communication.

For example:

1. Apply principles of demographic analysis to specific audiences.
2. Apply principles of situational analysis to specific audiences.
3. Apply strategies to adapt language, structure, and evidence to hostile or critical audiences.

Competency 012—Understand the planning, preparation, and organization of speeches.

For example:

1. Identify and analyze characteristics of speech types (e.g., informative, persuasive, entertaining).
2. Apply techniques for adapting speech strategies and topics to intended audiences.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of procedures for gathering relevant subject information and supporting evidence (e.g., statistics, examples, testimony) and for selecting appropriate visual aids (e.g., charts, slides, multimedia).
4. Evaluate different types of organizational patterns (e.g., chronological order, compare-contrast, problem-solution).

Competency 013—Apply skills in speech delivery and critique.

For example:

1. Identify and analyze characteristics of speech delivery methods (e.g., manuscript, memorized, impromptu, extemporaneous).
2. Analyze the effects of verbal and nonverbal cues on speech delivery (e.g., gestures, vocal variety).
3. Apply various strategies for overcoming speech anxiety.
4. Identify elements of constructive feedback (e.g., citing specific examples, using objective language, offering concrete suggestions for improvement).
5. Demonstrate knowledge of audiovisual communication aids (e.g., transparencies, projectors, video equipment, computer-generated visuals).

 

Domain III—Group Communication

Competency 014—Understand the principles of group communication.

For example:

1. Identify types, characteristics, and purposes of group communication.
2. Analyze positive and negative factors that affect group communication (e.g., cohesiveness, subgroups, individual agendas).
3. Analyze the effects of physical factors (e.g., seating arrangements) on group communication.
4. Apply the principles of parliamentary procedure.

Competency 015—Understand the participation roles and functions of the individual in group communication.

For example:

1. Analyze the roles and responsibilities of the individual in group communication (e.g., energizer, gatekeeper).
2. Recognize positive and negative behaviors of individuals in groups (e.g., active listening, paraphrasing for comprehension, forcing false consensus, creating distractions).
3. Apply strategies for responding to various behaviors in group settings.

Competency 016—Understand the roles and responsibilities of leadership in group communication.

For example:

1. Recognize the importance of leadership roles in various settings (e.g., informal social group, formal service organization).
2. Apply knowledge of the responsibilities of group leaders.
3. Identify types of leadership style, and analyze their characteristics.
4. Analyze the effects of various leadership approaches.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of procedures for developing agendas and conducting meetings.

Competency 017—Understand the processes of group decision making, consensus building, conflict resolution, and complementary techniques of group communication.

For example:

1. Apply communication strategies (e.g., empathetic listening, objective feedback) that promote consensus building and group decision making.
2. Apply methods of conflict resolution within groups.
3. Apply techniques of problem solving within groups.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of group decision-making techniques (e.g., brainstorming, role playing).
5. Identify formats of group presentation (e.g., panel, symposium, forum).

 

Domain IV—Debate

Competency 018—Understand the principles of argumentation.

For example:

1. Understand the importance of individual decision making in a democratic society.
2. Analyze various types of arguments.
3. Apply knowledge of various research strategies for argumentation (e.g., critical thinking skills).

Competency 019—Understand the characteristics of policy debate.

For example:

1. Recognize the roles of policy debate in a democratic society.
2. Recognize the steps in analyzing a policy debate proposition (e.g., stock issues, burden of proof).
3. Apply standards for research evidence.
4. Apply guidelines for effective refutation and cross-examination.
5. Identify elements of debate format (e.g., speaker order, speaker responsibilities).
6. Apply strategies for case construction (e.g., affirmative and negative).
7. Apply strategies of policy debate in a competitive setting.

Competency 020—Understand the characteristics of Lincoln-Douglas debate.

For example:

1. Recognize the role of values in decision making.
2. Recognize the steps in analyzing a value debate proposition (e.g., philosophical issues, burden of proof).
3. Apply standards for research evidence.
4. Apply guidelines for effective refutation and cross-examination.
5. Identify elements of debate format (e.g., speaker order, speaker responsibilities).
6. Apply strategies for case construction (e.g., affirmative and negative).
7. Apply strategies of Lincoln-Douglas debate in a competitive setting.

Competency 021—Understand the characteristics of legislative debate.

For example:

1. Recognize the roles of legislative debate in a democratic society.
2. Apply principles of writing a legislative bill.
3. Apply standards for research evidence.
4. Apply knowledge of format for presentation.
5. Apply knowledge of strategies for presentation.

 

Domain V—Mass Communication

Competency 022—Understand the elements of mass communication, including audience, method, feedback, regulation, and the influence of mass media on society.

For example:

1. Identify and analyze characteristics of mass communication (e.g., intended audience, method of message delivery, feedback process).
2. Compare the uses of various types of mass media (e.g., Internet, print media, radio, television/film).
3. Recognize the role of government in regulating mass media.
4. Analyze laws that affect mass media (e.g., the First Amendment, libel and slander, truth in advertising).

Competency 023—Understand strategies for evaluating mass media messages.

For example:

1. Analyze purposes of mass media messages (e.g., entertain, persuade, inform).
2. Identify types of appeals used in advertising (e.g., testimonial, bandwagon, glittering generality).
3. Apply strategies for analyzing media messages based on various factors (e.g., content, nonverbal cues, objectivity).
4. Demonstrate understanding of ethical issues related to mass media.

Competency 024—Understand the principles of radio and television broadcasting.

For example:

1. Identify types and analyze characteristics of radio and television broadcasts (e.g., drama, news, advertising).
2. Analyze the effects of presentation style on a message.
3. Select appropriate methods of presenting information on radio or television.
4. Apply strategies for effective verbal and nonverbal communication via radio and television broadcasting.
5. Analyze the ways in which technical aspects of production (e.g., sound, camera angles, staging) affect communication.

Competency 025—Understand the uses of mass communication, including the influence of mass media on society.

For example:

1. Recognize the role of mass media in the shaping of norms (e.g., role models).
2. Analyze the influence of mass media on society.
3. Analyze the effects of mass communication on public attitudes and expectations.
4. Analyze the influence of mass media on the social and educational development of children and adolescents.

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