Chapter Six

Selecting a Topic and Purpose

Chapter Six

Table of ContentsWhat do I Speak AboutThe General Speech PurposeSelecting a TopicRefining the Topic and Purpose From Topic and Purpose to Thesis*

What Do I Speak About?

Public speakers are either given a topic, or asked to choose one of their own*

What Do I Speak About?

When Topics Are Assigned

When the topic of a speech is assigned, the speaker still has to adapt the speech to the audience, and the occasion

The speaker must also decide on a purpose or goal for the talk*

What Do I Speak About?

When Topics Are Self-Selected

Often, the speaker will be asked to select a topic that meets some or all of the following criteria: A specific purpose A time constraint A challenge*

The General Speech Purpose

There are three general speech purposes To inform To persuade To celebrate or commemorate a special

occasion*

The General Speech Purpose

Speaking to Inform

The general purpose of an informative speech is to increase the audience’s understanding or awareness of a topic

Try to gauge the audience’s knowledge of the subject to avoid boring, or confusing the audience*

The General Speech Purpose

Speaking to Persuade

The general purpose of a persuasive speech is to effect some change in the audience, by accepting the speaker’s alternate view *

The General Speech Purpose

The Special Occasion Speech

Special occasion speeches include, but are not limited to: acceptance speeches, toasts, after dinner speeches, and eulogies*

Selecting A Topic

Along with choosing a general speech purpose, the speaker must select a topic that is appropriate for the audience*

Selecting A Topic

Personal Interests

Select a topic with which you are familiar and enthusiastic This can help the audience to perceive

you as a knowledgeable and competent speaker

Personal interests can include: Hobbies or favorite activities Specific subject areas*

Selecting A Topic

Audience Concerns and Interests

Review your topic in light of the audience’s demographic and psychological profile

How does the topic fit with the audience’s: Age Gender Ethnicity Political or religious status Socioeconomic status*

Selecting A Topic

Current And Controversial Events

Current events Society is constantly barraged with

newsworthy topics, but few people have time to research all the facts

Controversial issues Issues such as abortion, gun control, and

drug abuse profoundly affect us as a society, and as a result, many people hunger for more information on the topic*

Selecting A Topic

Local Issues

Consider events that are specifically connected to school, community, and state The majority of

people react with interest to issues that affect them directly*

Selecting A Topic

Unusual Information

Another source for topics can be new or unusual information about a well-known subject

You might consider information that: Has recently been discovered Has been reinvestigated, resulting in new

conclusions Involves an influential person that has

reversed his or her opinion on a topic*

Selecting A Topic

Brainstorming

Brainstorming An individual or

group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous generation of ideas either by lists or word association*

Selecting A Topic

Brainstorming

Lists Create a list of interesting topics

that you could comfortably prepare to speak about.

Narrow the list to two or three topics Choose one of the remaining topics

based on your audience’s interests and demographics*

Selecting A Topic

Brainstorming

Word Association Begin by writing down one topic which would

be of interest to you and your audience Write down the first thing that comes to mind

when you read the words you have just written As soon as your words remind you of

something, write it down Once you have generated a list, review it and

pick two or three topics as possible final choices*

Refining The Topic and Purpose

Once you have selected a topic and general speech purpose, these must be refined or narrowed

This process helps develop a topic and purpose that will appeal to the greatest number of people in your audience*

Refining The Topic and Purpose

Narrowing the Topic

Narrowing the topic involves focusing on specific aspects of it and excluding others

Consider time and research constraints when focusing on a specific topic

Brainstorming can also be used to narrow your focus by categorizing different aspects of your topic*

Refining The Topic and Purpose Forming a Specific Speech Purpose

Specific Speech Purpose Expresses both the topic and general

purpose in action form and in terms of the speaker’s objectives

What is it that you want your audience to learn, do, reconsider, or agree with?*

From Topic and Purpose to Thesis

Thesis statement A single statement that expresses the

theme or central idea of the speech and serves to connect all parts of the speech

The thesis statement concisely identifies what the speech is about*

From Topic and Purpose to Thesis

Making a Claim

The thesis statement makes a statement, claim, or assumption about the topic

The nature of the thesis statement varies according to the speech purpose*

From Topic and Purpose to Thesis

Making it Relevant

The thesis statement needs to be expressed in a way that will motivate the audience to listen This can often be accomplished by

pointing out the relevance of the topicWith a well-worded phrase, the thesis

statement provokes enthusiasm from the audience because the topic’s relevance has been established*