Developing Speech Topic, Purpose, and MORE

There are really only two types of speech topics- a topic that are assigned to you and a topic that you get to choose.

If you get to choose a topic, choose wisely. If you don't get to choose, you get to make sure the audience will want to listen to you. Refer to the lesson on Understanding Who Your Audience Is.

Regardless of the topic you will also need to define a speech purpose. There are three GENERAL speech purposes.

1. Informative
2. Persuasive
3. Special Occasion

Informative. An informative speech does just what it says, it informs. Hopefully it will assist in increasing the audiences understanding and/or awareness of the topic. If you are to give an informative speech, make sure you don't try to be persuasive about the information provided. Let the "facts" do the talking. Think of it as walking up to a wall, painting some kind of picture, and then walking away without explaining why whoever is looking at it should like it.

Persuasive. Yes this kind of speech does what it says, it is meant to persuade the listener. The goal is to change the audience attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior on a given topic. Referring back to the painting example above, now you are telling why this is a masterpiece and why such a piece of artwork should be enshrined.

Special Occasion. This type of speech is associated with a specific event like acceptance speech, funeral (eulogy), or some kind of celebratory event. These speeches are usually narrowly defined with what is expected. They usually are long in length.

Selecting A Topic (if you get to)

For many, selecting a topic to speak on is a difficult process because they feel there are so many things to talk on or they don't feel like they have anything to talk on.

IMPORTANT!!! Whatever side you are on, you must first take into consideration who your audience is. Refer to Understanding Who Your Audience Is

Once you are clear on who your audience is and you understand what you're GENERAL speech purpose is (inform, persuade, or special occasion), you can begin the process (and yes it is a process) of selecting a topic.

Here are some helpful hints on selecting your topic:

• Rely on your own interests and what you feel passionate about (again, remember audience).
• Consider something you can do better than others or something that not a lot of others know that is interesting.
• Consider issues/events going on around you locally or globally.
• Consider controversial issues (You will need to prepare for this. I highly suggest that those new to public speaking stay away from controversial issues until they gain confidence and better skills).
• Avoid boring or overused topics.

Brainstorm to Create Ideas

The one thing that will help you with brainstorming is to realize that there is no right or wrong way of brainstorming. There are no right or wrong words you can write down while brainstorming.

The key to brainstorming is getting anything and everything out on paper. 

Here are some ideas that you may want to try. If you don't like these suggestions then do something else.

• Write out lists
• Use word associations
• Diagram your ideas by using a topic map.
• Use the Internet to search for ideas.
• Ask others.
• Write down every thought (crazy or random as it is) and see where it leads you.

Define Your Topic and Purpose

Once you have an idea of the topic you want to speak on, start to narrow it down.

Begin by looking at:

• what time constraints you will have
• what the audience expects
• what does the audience already know about the topic
• what are the audience's values, beliefs, and attitudes (YOU MUST CONSIDER THESE!!!)

Next come up with a SPECIFIC speech purpose. This is like the GENERAL speech purpose but it is written out in a sentence and explains what you are going to accomplish.

Example: To persuade the audience to only purchase TOMS shoes in order to help third world children with no shoes.

Now you are ready to outline you speech. There are 5 main parts to any speech. Yes there are exceptions, but generally speaking, you will want to make sure you have clearly defined these 5 components.

The BIG 5

1. Get your audience's ATTENTION (aka Attention-Getter)
2. Introduction/Thesis (Tell them what you are going to tell them)
3. Main Body (Now tell them what you said you were going to tell them)
4. Conclusion (Tell them what you just told them, or sum up a main point or highlight)
5. Memorable statement (leave them with something memorable)

1. Attention-Getter: An attention-getter is just what it says it is, it gets the audience's attention. You may feel like you need to start out a speech with a "Hello, my name is...., and I'm glad to be speaking to you today." THIS IS STUPID AND BORING AND DOES NOT GET ANYONE'S ATTENTION!!! An attention-getter is related to you topic and can be stated in the form of a:

• Fact (unknown, startling, or interesting)
• Question (usually rhetorical and gets the audience to think about something that connects with them.
• Joke (must be clean and appropriate. NEVER SWEAR, DEGRADE, BE RACIAL, SEXIST, ETC. Be careful in using someone else's jokes).
• Quote (a thought provoking quote that will enhance your speech)
• Story (make sure it keeps the audience's attention throughout the length of the story. Story length is based on how long your overall speech is. Best rule of thumb- KEEP IT SHORT AND TO THE POINT!
• Referring to the occasion or a historic event.
• Using an audio/visual/prop opener (this includes a YouTube video, an audio clip, some kind of prop, etc. 
• Other (you decide what's best to get the audience's attention)

MAKE SURE THE ATTENTION-GETTER ENHANCES THE SPEECH AND DOESN'T DISTRACT FROM THE SPEECH!!!

2. Introduction/Thesis: Now you need to tell the audience what you are going to talk about. This statement will usually be a single, declarative statement that possesses the central idea of your speech. It goes along with SPECIFIC purpose statement.

3. Main Body: After the Introduction/Thesis you will need to transition into the main body of your speech. Now you get to tell the audience what you said you were going to tell them. More on this later (see Developing Supporting Material for Your Speech). The Main Body consists of Main Points with Supporting Points for each Main Point. In an outline format this would look like:

1. Main Point #1
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
3. Supporting Point
2. Main Point #2
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
3. Supporting Point
3. Main Pont #3
1. Supporting Point
2. Supporting Point
3. Supporting Point

*The number of Main Points and Supporting Points are established by length of speech and what you are trying to accomplish. You may only have one main point with 10 supporting points.

Your Supporting Points are those resources (information) you have gathered/researched that "support" the main points.

IMPORTANT!!! Make sure you are adding relevant information. Use words that will enhance your speech and are appropriate for the audience (understanding).

4. Conclusion: The concluding statement sums up what you just said (tell them what you just told them). It may go over a number of important points or it may sum up one main point/idea. Your audience MUST KNOW that you are finishing up. People like to know they are getting close to the end and they like to be reminded what you just told them.

5. Memorable statement: This an important aspect of the conclusion. It is your last statement that ends your speech and lets you and your speech be memorable. It may be a thought, a picture (mentally or visually), a call to action, or something for the audience to ponder about or want to do.

DO NOT LEAVE ON A "DOWNER" OR A NEGATIVE STATEMENT!!!