3. SELECTING A SUBJECT
Once you clearly understand the general
purpose of your speech, you are ready to choose a
subject. There will undoubtedly be times when
you will be asked to deliver a speech on a topic
that has already been determined.
when doing so, your decision should be based
on a number of considerations :
4. Is the subject suited to my
purpose?
Suppose you are asked to deliver a speech
whose general purpose is to inform, the result
should be that everyone in the audience will
know to fillet a fish when you are done with
your speech.
5. Is my subject interesting to
me?
if you talk enthusiastically about something
this enthusiasm is bound to rub off on your
audience. With a little imagination and some
effort you can make what interests you interesting
for your audience.
6. Am I Qualified to speak on this
subject?
if your interest is recent, you might lack
sufficient knowledge or experience to prepare the
subject effectively. In some cases it might be
better to select a subject with which you are more
familiar.
7. Will My Audience Find this Subject
Interesting
Therefore you will hold the attentions of you
audience if your subject interesting to them. An
effective way to do this is to use attention factor
humor, novelty, suspense, and the like.
8. Will my Audience Find This
Subject Useful?
If the subject you choose will benefit your
audience in some way, it will quite likely hold
their attention.
9. Is my Subject Sufficiently
Restricted?
many beginning speakers try to cover too
much in the time available to them. It is far better
to deal with a restricted subject in detail than to
cover too many points.
10. SPECIFIC PURPOSE
Earlier I classified the general
purpose for speaking : to entertain, to
inform and to persuade. Specific
purposes tell more precisely what your
intent is.
11. THE CENTRAL IDEA
Central idea as a complete
sentence will help you plan your
communication more effectly.
Central-idea statement is a clear
statement of the way in which you
plan to develop your speech.
