Selecting a Topic and Determine a Purpose Explain four methods used to brainstorm for a speech topic Identify difference between a general and specific purpose Distinguish between the specific purpose and the central idea of a speech Formulate a specific purpose statement and a central idea in accordance with the guidelines presented in the text

Choosing a Topic---- First Step in Speech Making 1.Several sources for topics for speeches Topics come from subjects 1) that students already know a great deal 2) that students are interested and wants to learn more 3) that students hold strong opinions and beliefs

2. brainstorming for topics 1) Personal inventory make an inventory of interests, experiences, skills, and beliefs 2) clustering make a concept mapping ----exploring connections between a topic and related ideas; cluster possible topics into categories such as people, objects, places, process, events, plans and policies 3) reference search browse through encyclopedias, dictionaries, or other reference materials in search of a topic. 4) internet search

3. Tips for you 1) be specific 2) Choose a specific perspective or topic you are familiar with comfortable with 3) Be unique and interesting if you can

Determining general purpose---- Second step in speech making Two general purposes for speech making---- inform and persuade 1). When inform, speakers act as teachers 1) The goal is to communicate information accurately, clearly and interestingly. 2) They seek to enhance the knowledge and understanding of their listeners. 2). When persuade, speakers act as advocators. 1) To impress 2) To convince 3) To activate

Narrowing to the specific purpose 1. Three important tips for forming a good specific purpose statement 1) should be limited to one distinct idea 2) should not be too vague or general 3) begin with a simple purpose

Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general to inform my audience about the American civil war Effective: to inform my audience about the role of African American soldiers in the Civil war

2. Once you have a specific purpose statement, ask the following questions: 1) Can the specific purpose be accomplished effectively in the time allotted? 2) Is the specific purpose meaningful to the audience? 3) Is the specific purpose relevant to the audience? 4) Is the specific purpose too technical for the audience? To inform my audience about the role of technology in human history To inform my audience about the rise and fall of ancient Rome. To persuade my audience to convert to Buddhism. To inform my audience about the quantum mechanics. To inform my audience about the principles of neutrino physics. To inform my audience about the methods of encryption technology.

Topic area: Hobbies Sports Music Science Cultural customs Education Technology Media Health choose one of topic areas and prepare a specific purpose statement of different types (object, process, event, concept)

Types of informative speeches About objects About processes Speeches about events About concepts (Video 14.1 view an excerpt from Elizabeth Elegant, “ Feng Shui. ” )

About objects Objects include anything visible, tangible, stable in form. May have moving parts or be alive May include places, structures, animals, even people Comic strips, Grand Canyon, digital cameras

To inform my audience about the social functions of comic strips To inform my audience about the geological features of the Grand Canyon To inform my audience what to look for when buying a digital camera

Speeches about processes A systematic series of actions that leads to a specific result or product Explain how something is made, done or works

To inform my audience how hurricanes develop. To inform my audience how to write an effective resume. To inform my audience how to save people from drowning.

Speeches about events Anything that happens or is regarded as happening Figure skatingJob interviews Attention deficit disorderA/H1N1 flu Mountain climbingParalympics

To inform my audience about the equipment used in mountain climbing To inform my audience about the history of the disability rights movement. To inform my audience why so many lives were lost when the “unsinkable” ocean liner Titanic sank.

Speeches about concepts Concepts include beliefs, theories, ideas, principles, and the like. More abstract ConfucianismFilm theory Religious beliefsPrinciples of feminism Theories of psychologyConcepts of science (Video 14.1 view an excerpt from Elizabeth Elegant, “Feng Shui.”)

To inform my audience about the different philosophies of family in China and the United States. To inform my audience about the major principles of film theory. To inform my audience about the concept of patriarchy in feminist thought.

Guidelines for informative speaking Don ’ t overestimate what the audience knows Relate the subject directly to the audience Video 14.2 Mei Chu “ Mother of Love ” Don ’ t be too technical Video 14.3 Jayne Richter “ Cryonics ” Avoid abstractions Personalized your ideas Video 14.4 Jennifer Breuer “ Dying to Be Thin ”

Don ’ t overestimate what the audience knows Lead your listeners step by step, without any shortcuts. Protective tariff A protective tariff is a form of customs duty. It is a tax on imported goods, but it differs from other taxes in that its primary purpose is not financial but economic---not to increase a nation ’ s revenue but to protect its domestic industry from foreign competition.

Relate the subject directly to the audience What is fascinating to them may not be fascinating to everybody Stress Do you get butterflies in your stomach when you have to give a speech? Can you feel your blood pressure rising when you have an argument with somebody? Are you worried sick about finishing the paper you’ve been putting off all week? If so, you have experienced the symptoms of stress. Video 14.2 Mei Chu “ Mother Teresa

Don ’ t be too technical Too specialized, too many jargons Cryonics Options for cryonic include freezing the subject’s head or complete body. In either case, the process entails complex scientific procedures that, for maximum functionality, must be implemented immediately upon the cessation of biological functioning. Measures must be taken to minimize tissue decomposition so as to ensure that the subject can be successfully resuscitated at some undetermined future period. Video 14.3 Jayne Richter “ Cryonics ”

Avoid abstractions Description, comparison, contrast If a comet or large asteroid struck the earth, the impact would be devastating. To give you an idea how devastating the impact would be, it would be like all the nuclear bombs in the world going off at one spot.

Personalized your ideas People are interested in people. They react to stories, not statistics. Anorexia The eating disorder affects millions of young women in the US. 1 in every 100 teenage females in the US suffers from it, and college-age women make up 45% of all cases. The effects of anorexia include extreme weight loss, brittle bones, decreased pulse rate and brain damage. Video 14.4 Jennifer Breuer “ Dying to Be Thin ” back