A GUIDE TO SELECTING YOUR

TOPIC, PURPOSE, & CENTRAL IDEA

Selecting a Topic

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

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.

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

BRAINSTORMING FOR TOPICS

Brainstorming a method of generating speech topic ideas for your speech
through free association of words and ideas
Brainstorming procedures: Personal Inventory
Anything that relates to yourself.
experiences, interests, hobbies, etc
Clustering
Divide your ideas into groups
See how things might fit together & then decide on your topic
Internet Search
Find your topic through a subject-based search
surf the web using search terms that interest you, recent events,
etc.

If you are having trouble coming up with topic and main point ideas, try this
clustering list activity.

WRITE YOUR
TOPIC IN THE
CENTER OF THE
PAGE.

FOR 6
MINUTES
WRITE DOWN
ANY IDEA,
WORD, PHRASE
THAT COMES
TO MIND
AROUND YOUR
TOPIC.

USE DIFFERENT
COLORED PENS
AND CLUSTER
YOUR LIST
BASED ON
WHAT YOU
THINK GOES
TOGETHER

TITLE EACH
GROUP BASED
ON ITS

THEME. The
theme of each
group serves as
a potential
main point.

Selecting a General & Specific

Purpose

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

DETERMINING THE GENERAL PURPOSE
General purpose the broad goal of a speech
Three 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
To entertain act as a friend
- Your goal is to help audience escape from reality for a bit.
Encourage them to relax and sincerely enjoy themselves

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

DETERMINING THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE

Once you have chosen a topic and a general purpose, then you 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
General Purpose
Specific Purpose

:
:
:

Blood Donation
To inform
To inform my audience about the benefits
of blood donation for our health

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

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
importance of having a healthy lifestyle.
More effective: To persuade my audience to stop smoking
OR
: To persuade my audience the importance of having
a healthy lifestyle.
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

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC PURPOSE

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Does my purpose meet the assignment

Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted
Is the purpose relevant to my audience
Is the purpose too trivial for my audience
Is the purpose too technical for my audience

Phrasing Your Central Idea

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

PHARSING THE CENTRAL IDEA

A central idea, or thesis statement:

Is one sentence that directly states the main points of your speech/topic
in the order you intend to talk about them
serves as the agenda of your speech
Is stated at the end of the introduction, before you transition to the body
of your speech
helps the audience follow along
Is a residual message what a speaker wants the audience to remember
after it has forgotten everything else in a speech