Public speaking

choosing a topic

TOPIC
The subject of a speech

Two categories:
1. Topics you know a lot about

Two categories:
1. Topics you know a lot about
2. Topics you want to know more about

brainstorming

BRAINSTORMING
A method of generating ideas for speech topics by free association of words and ideas

1. Personal Inventory

2. Clustering

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2. Internet Search

general purpose

GENERAL PURPOSE
The broad goal of a speech

GENERAL PURPOSE
1. To inform
2. To persuade

specific purpose

SPECIFIC PURPOSE
A single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech

Topic: Music therapy
General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the benefits of music therapy for people with psychological or cognitive disabilities

TIPS FOR FORMULATING THE
SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT

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specific purpose

Questions about specific purpose

• 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?

Central idea

CENTRAL IDEA
A one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech

RESIDUAL IDEA
What a speaker wants the audience to remember after it has forgotten everything else in a speech.

GENERAL PURPOSE
1. To inform
2. To persuade

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the benefits of music therapy for people with psychological or cognitive disabilities

Central Idea: Music therapy developed as a formal mode of treatment during the 20th century, utilizes a number of methods, and is explained by several theories that account for its success.

Central idea

Guidelines for the Central idea

• Expressed as a full sentence
• Not in the form of a question
• Avoid figurative language
• Not vague or overly general