This document provides guidance on selecting a topic for a classroom speech. It suggests choosing a topic you already know well about or want to learn more about. Topics known well about usually make for better speeches. The document also describes brainstorming techniques like making lists of interests and experiences or searching references. It stresses determining a general purpose like to inform or persuade, and a specific purpose statement that is clear and focused. A central idea should then be formulated as a concise one sentence summary of the major speech points.

1. Topic Selection
SPE 108

2. Choosing a topic
• There
are, literally, endless
topics for speeches!
Two broad categories for
potential topics for
classroom speeches:
1. Stuff you already know
a lot about
2. Stuff you want to
know more about

3. Topics you know a lot about
• People usually speak
best on topics they
are already familiar
with
• What kind of
personal
experiences could
you speak about?

4. Topics you want to know more about
• Your speech can be a
learning experience, for
yourself and your
audience
• You may select a topic you
know a little about and
research more, choose
something interesting
you’ll be investigating for
the first time, think about
your values and beliefs.

5. Brainstorming
• Personal Inventory: Make a quick list
of your experiences, interests,
hobbies, skills, beliefs, etc.
• Clustering: Take a sheet of paper and
divide it into 9 columns: People,
Places, Things, Events, Processes,
Concepts, Natural Phenomena,
Problems & Plans. Then list the first 5
things that come to mind under each
heading
• Free Association: What is the first
thing that comes to mind when you
look at your lists?

6. Brainstorming
• Reference Search: Browse
through reference books
(dictionary, encyclopedia)
and see if any topics catch
your interest
• Internet Search: Google,
Wikipedia

7. Determining the general purpose &
specific purpose
• What is the broad goal of your speech?
General Purpose
Example: inform or persuade
• What do you precisely hope to accomplish?
Specific Purpose
Example: To inform my audience about the
benefits of music theory for people with
cognitive delays

8. Formulating a specific purpose
statement
• Write the purpose statement out as a full sentence
Forces you to fully articulate your purpose
• Express your purpose as a statement, not a question
A question doesn’t make you choose a direction for where
your speech will go
• Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement
Forces you to be specific, and avoid sweeping statements
• Limit your purpose to one distinct idea
Forces you to focus your direction

9. Formulating a specific purpose
statement
• Limit your purpose to one distinct idea
Forces you to focus your direction
• Make sure your specific purpose is not too
vague or general
If it is, it’s NOT a specific purpose statement

10. Questions to ask about your specific
purpose
1. Does my purpose meet the assignment?
2. 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?

11. The Central Idea
• Central idea: a one sentence
statement that sums up the major
ideas of a speech
• A concise statement about what you
expect to say
• Essentially the same as a thesis
statement in a written paper
• Your residual message – what you
expect the audience to remember
after you’re finished speaking
• The central idea usually emerges after
most of your research is complete, and
you have already decided on the three
main points of your speech.

12. Guidelines for the central idea
The central idea:
1. Should be expressed in a full
sentence
2. Should not be in the form of
a question
3. Should avoid figurative
language
4. Should not be vague or
overly general