Selecting a Topic and Purpose

7/21/2019 Selecting a Topic and Purpose

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Zig Ziglar

SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE



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 about2) 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

Brainstorming – a method of generating idea for speech topics by freeassociation of words and ideas

Brainstorming procedures:-

Personal Inventory

- Anything that relate with ourselves such experiences, interests, hobbies and

so forth.

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 until you come across what might be a

good topic.




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 andinterestingly

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 resultof 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




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 benefitsof 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 technologyMore 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 mores aces for students before 5 .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 theimportant 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 generalE.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 assignment2. 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 themajor ideas of a speech

Is a concise statement of what you expect to say

Your main points are highlighted in this statement

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 (words or expressions that have a different

meaning than the literal interpretation)

1) Ex: “The sun played hide and seek with the clouds” vs “The sun was

periodically covered by clouds throughout the morning” 4) Should not be vague or overly general



END OF CHAPTER

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