Writing an Effective SPS & Thesis
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This document discusses how to write effective specific purpose statements and thesis statements for speeches. It provides examples of ineffective statements and more effective improvements. An effective specific purpose statement should be a single infinitive phrase that states what the speaker hopes to accomplish, while an effective thesis should be a declarative sentence that encapsulates the major idea of the speech without listing points. The document also provides guidelines for writing specific purpose statements and thesis statements, such as being specific rather than vague.
Writing an Effective SPS & Thesis
- 1. Oral/Interpersonal Communication Online Kelly Soczka Steidinger
- 2. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Is the broad goal of a speech. Goals include: To inform To inspire To entertain To persuade © ersler/iStock/360/Getty Images RF Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
- 3. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Single infinitive phrase States what speaker hopes to accomplish
- 4. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Follow these rules to write an effective SPS: Write full infinitive phrase/sentence Write a statement, not question Avoid figurative language Limit to one distinct idea Be specific, not vague
- 5. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Ineffective: Avalanches More effective: To inform my audience about the three major kinds of avalanches.
- 6. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Ineffective: What is Día de los Muertos? More effective: To inform my audience about the history of Mexico’s Día de los Muertos celebration.
- 7. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. 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. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Ineffective: To persuade my audience to become literacy tutors and to donate time to Meals on Wheels. More effective: To persuade my audience to become literacy tutors. More effective: To persuade my audience to donate time to Meals on Wheels.
- 9. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. 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 the United States.
- 10. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. One-sentence statement Encapsulates major idea of speech, without listing them© Chris Jackson/Pool/Reuters/Corbis Images Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
- 11. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Follow these rules to write an effective thesis: Express as a full declarative sentence Don’t express as question (see previous example) Avoid figurative language (see previous example) Don’t be vague Include the topic of your speech in
- 12. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Ineffective: Problems of fad diets. More effective: Although fad diets produce quick weight loss, they can lead to serious health problems by creating deficiencies in vitamins and minerals and by breaking down muscle tissue as well as fat.
- 13. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Ineffective: Paying college athletes a monthly salary is a good idea. More effective: Because college athletes in revenue-producing sports such as football and basketball generate millions of dollars in revenue for their schools, the NCAA should allow such athletes to receive a $300 monthly salary as part of their speeches as they move scholarships.
- 14. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose Statement: To inform my audience of the three major races in alpine skiing. Thesis: The three major races in alpine skiing are the downhill, slalom, and giant slalom.
- 15. McGraw-Hill Education ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 12th Edition © 2015 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved. Main Points: I. The first major race in alpine skiing is the downhill. II. The second major race in alpine skiing is the slalom. III . The third major race in alpine skiing is the giant slalom.