This document discusses selecting a topic and purpose for a speech. It recommends choosing a topic you are familiar with or want to learn more about. Topics can be generated through brainstorming methods like personal inventory or clustering. The general purpose is to inform or persuade, while the specific purpose precisely states what the speaker hopes to accomplish. Guidelines are provided for writing an effective specific purpose statement in one sentence. Finally, the central idea should encapsulate the major speech ideas in a concise sentence.

1. Zig Ziglar
SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE

2. 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 about
2) Topic you want to know more about

3. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
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.

4. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
BRAINSTORMING FOR TOPICS
 Brainstorming – a method of generating idea for speech topics by free
association 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.

5. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
DETERMINING THE GENERAL PURPOSE
General purpose – the broad goal of a speech
Two categories
To inform – act as a teacher or lecture
- your goal is to convey information clearly, accurately and
interestingly
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 result
of your speech

6. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
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 benefits
of blood donation for our health

7. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
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 technology
More 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 more
spaces for students before 5 p.m

8. 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 the
important of having a healthy lifestyle.
More effective: To persuade my audience to stop smoking
OR
: To persuade my audience the important of having
a
healthy lifestyle.
5.Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general
E.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

9. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
QUESTION 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

10. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
PHARSING THE CENTRAL IDEA
Central idea – a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the
major ideas of a speech
Is a concise statement of what you expect to say
Residual message – what a speaker wants the audience to remember after it
has forgotten everything else in a speech

11. Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
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
4)Should not be vague or overly general

12. END OF CHAPTER