The Art of Public Speaking

CHAPTER 4Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

Choosing a Topic

• Topics you know a lot about• Topics you want to know more about• Brainstorming for topics:- Make a quick inventory of your hobbies, skills,

interests, experiences.- Use the techniques of clustering- Look through a reference work for ideas- Use the Internet to scan possible topics

Determining the General Purpose

• To inform: to enhance the knowledge and the understanding of the listeners

• To persuade: to change or structure the attitudes or actions of your audience

Determining the Specific Purpose

• Topic:• General purpose:• Specific purpose:

Tips for Formulating the Specific Purpose Statement

• Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase, not as a fragment

• Express your purpose as a statement, not as a question

• Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement• Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea• Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or

general

Questions to ask

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 the Central Idea

Topic: Music therapyGeneral purpose: to informSpecific purpose: to explain the benefits of music therapy for people with

psychological or cognitive disabilitiesCentral idea: Music therapy developed as a formal mode of

treatment during the twentieth century, utilizes a number of methods, and is explained by several theories that account for its success.

Consolidation

Selecting a topic and a purpose1. Choosing a topic2. General purpose 3. A specific purpose4. The central ideas