Selecting

5 Topic &
Purpose
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 Brainstorming
Generating ideas by free
association

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 Interesting Topics

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 General Purpose
Broad goal of
speech

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 Specific Purpose
• Single infinitive
phrase
• States what
speaker hopes to
accomplish
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 Specific Purpose Guidelines
• Full infinitive phrase
• Statement, not question
• Avoid figurative language
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• Limit to one distinct idea
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• Avoid being vague
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 Full Infinitive Phrase
Ineffective:
Avalanches
More effective:
To inform my audience about
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the three major kinds of
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avalanches.
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 Statement, Not Question
Ineffective:
What is Día de los Muertos?
More effective:
To inform my audience about
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the history of Mexico’s Día de
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los Muertos celebration.
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 Avoid Figurative Language
Ineffective:
To persuade my audience that the
campus policy on student parking really
stinks.
More effective:

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To persuade my audience that the
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be revised to provide more spaces for
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students before 5 p.m.
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 One Distinct Idea: Ineffective
Ineffective:
To persuade my audience to
become literacy tutors and to
donate time to Meals on Wheels.

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 One Distinct Idea: More Effective
More effective:
To persuade my audience to
become literacy tutors.
More effective:
CHAPTER 5 To persuade my audience to
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Thirteenth Edition donate time to Meals on Wheels.
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 Avoid Being Vague: Ineffective
Ineffective:
To persuade my audience that
something should be done about
gerrymandering.

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 Avoid Being Vague: More Effective
More effective:
To persuade my audience that
each state should create a
nonpartisan commission to
establish criteria for
CHAPTER 5 congressional redistricting.
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 Specific Purpose Questions
• Meet assignment?
• Accomplish in time allotted?
• Relevant to audience?
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• Too trivial for audience?
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Too technical for audience?

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 Central Idea
• One-sentence
statement
• Encapsulates
major idea of
speech
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 Phrasing Central Idea

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 Central Idea Guidelines
• Express as full sentence
• Don’t express as question
• Avoid figurative language
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• Don’t be vague
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 Complete Sentence
Ineffective:
Benefits of parkour.
More effective:
The benefits of parkour include
working all muscle groups,
CHAPTER 5 developing cardiovascular
The Art of Public Speaking
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endurance, and boosting self-
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confidence.
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 Central Idea: Statement, Not Question
Ineffective:
What are nano robots?
More effective:
Microscopic in size, nano robots
CHAPTER 5
are being developed for use in
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medicine, weaponry, and daily life.
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Education.
 Central Idea: Avoid Figurative Language
Ineffective:
Costa Rica is an awesome place for
a vacation.
More effective:
Costa Rica has many attractions for
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The Art of Public Speaking
vacationers, including spectacular
Thirteenth Edition
beaches, lush rainforests, and
stunning mountains.
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 Central Idea: Avoid Being Vague
Ineffective:
Studying abroad while in college
is a good idea.
More effective:

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Studying abroad helps students
The Art of Public Speaking expand their cultural horizons,
Thirteenth Edition
develop their language skills, and
enhance their employability.
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Education.
 Example Outline
General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the

three major races in alpine
skiing.

Central Idea: The three major races in

CHAPTER 5 alpine skiing are the
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slalom.
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 Example Outline Main Points
Main Points: I. The first major race in
alpine skiing is the downhill.
II.The second major race in
alpine skiing is the slalom.

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III. The third major race in
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alpine skiing is the giant
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slalom.
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Education.