selecting topic and purpose for public speaking
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This document discusses selecting a topic and purpose for a speech. It recommends choosing a topic you are familiar with or want to learn more about. Topics can be generated through brainstorming methods like personal inventory or clustering. The general purpose is to inform or persuade, while the specific purpose precisely states what the speaker hopes to accomplish. Guidelines are provided for writing an effective specific purpose statement in one sentence. Finally, the central idea should encapsulate the major speech ideas in a concise sentence.
selecting topic and purpose for public speaking
- 1. Zig Ziglar SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE
- 2. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose CHOOSING A TOPIC Topic – the subject of a speech First step in speechmaking Two broad categories of potential topics for classroom speeches 1)Topic you know a lot about 2) Topic you want to know more about
- 3. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose TOPIC YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT Most people speak best about subjects with which they are most familiar Either relate to ourselves, relate to our experiences and with something that familiar with TOPIC YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT Topic which you already have some knowledge or expertise but not enough to prepare a speech without doing additional research.
- 4. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose BRAINSTORMING FOR TOPICS Brainstorming – a method of generating idea for speech topics by free association of words and ideas Brainstorming procedures:- Personal Inventory - Anything that relate with ourselves such experiences, interests, hobbies and so forth. Clustering - Divide the general topic into several categories Internet Search -Find the topic through a subject-based Web site, an online encyclopedia or some other reference portal until you come across what might be a good topic.
- 5. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose DETERMINING THE GENERAL PURPOSE General purpose – the broad goal of a speech Two categories To inform – act as a teacher or lecture - your goal is to convey information clearly, accurately and interestingly To persuade – act as an advocate - go beyond giving information to espousing a cause - change or structure the attitudes or action of your audience - primary goal is to win over your listeners to your point of view >> to get them to believe something or do something as a result of your speech
- 6. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose DETERMINING THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE Once have chosen a topic and a general purpose, then need to narrow the topic to determine the specific purpose of the speech. Specific purpose – a single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech E.g. : Topic : Blood Donation General Purpose : To inform Specific Purpose : To inform my audience about the benefits of blood donation for our health
- 7. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose TIPS FOR FORMULATING THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT 1.Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase, not as a fragment E.g. : Ineffective: 3-D technology More Effective: To inform my audience about three major kinds of current 3-D technology. 2.Express your purpose as a statement, not as a question E.g. : Ineffective: What is the benefits of reading? More Effective: To inform my audience about the benefits of reading among the students 3.Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement E.g.: Ineffective : To persuade my audience that the campus policy on student parking really stinks More Effective: To persuade my audience that the campus policy on student parking should be revised to provide more spaces for students before 5 p.m
- 8. TIPS FOR FORMULATING THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT 4.Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea E.g.: Ineffective: To persuade my audience to stop smoking and the important of having a healthy lifestyle. More effective: To persuade my audience to stop smoking OR : To persuade my audience the important of having a healthy lifestyle. 5.Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general E.g.: Ineffective: To persuade my audience that something should be done about unsafe school buses. More effective: To persuade my audience that the federal government should impose stronger safety standards for school buses in Malaysia
- 9. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC PURPOSE 1.Does my purpose meet the assignment 2.Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted 3.Is the purpose relevant to my audience 4.Is the purpose too trivial for my audience 5.Is the purpose too technical for my audience
- 10. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose PHARSING THE CENTRAL IDEA Central idea – a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech Is a concise statement of what you expect to say Residual message – what a speaker wants the audience to remember after it has forgotten everything else in a speech
- 11. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose GUIDELINE FOR THE CENTRAL IDEA The central idea should : - 1) be expressed in a full sentence 2)Should not be in the form of a question 3)Should avoid figurative language 4)Should not be vague or overly general
- 12. END OF CHAPTER