PUBLIC SPEAKING

CHAPTER 4
SELECTING A TOPIC & A PURPOSE

CHOOSING A TOPIC
Topic the subject of a speech
First step in speechmaking
Two categories of potential topics
1. Topic you know a lot about
2. Topic you want to know more about

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.

BRAINSTORMING FOR TOPICS

A method of generating idea for speech topics
Brainstorming procedures: Personal Inventory
Anything that relate with ourselves such
experiences, interests, hobbies and etc.
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

DETERMINING THE GENERAL PURPOSE

General purpose the broad goal of a speech
Two categories
To inform - as a teacher or lecture
Goal is to convey information clearly, accurately and
interestingly
To persuade - 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

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

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 5p.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 important of having a healthy
lifestyle.
More effective: To persuade my audience to stop smoking
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

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

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

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

End Of
Chapter