Introduction to Persuasive Speaking Part 9: Using an Outline, Selecting Topic & Thesis John E. Clayton Nanjing University, Spring, 2005

Class Exercise Be prepared to present your new, “high-impact” introduction

Syllabus? 02/28 Introduction; 03/07 03/14 Speech 1 03/21 03/28 Movie: Remember the Titans 04/04 Overcoming Fear 04/11 Speech 2 04/18 Make-up speeches; Review speech 2 04/25 Using an outline; Selecting a topic 05/02 Holiday 05/09 Using visual aids; Topic outline card 05/16 Speech 3 (topic your choice, Visual aid, Outline card) 05/23 06/30 06/06 Speech 4 (no make-ups – all due this day) 06/08 Speech contest and party (evening)

Key Word Outline Provides “trigger” words, rather than complete sentences. A key word or phrase that the speaker can remember more easily.

Steps 1.Write your full-sentence planning outline. 2.Underline the most important words of each main point and sub-point. 3.Using the same numerals and letters, write down the key words on index cards 4.Write out any direct quotes, source citations, or important statistics that you need to remember.

Key Word Outline WRONG 1. Circumstances sometime force people to live alone. Grown children leave the nest - they go to college, move to other cities to get jobs, or marry and move away to start families of their own. RIGHT Thesis: Circumstances sometimes force people to live alone. A. Grown children leave the nest. 1. Go to college 2. Move to other cities to get jobs. 3. Marry and move away to start families of their own.

Selecting Topic & Thesis

What Do I Speak About? Generally, you are either... Given a topic Asked to choose one of your own

When Topics Are Assigned You still have to adapt the topic to the audience and the occasion You must still decide on a specific purpose for your speech

When Topics Are Self-Selected What criteria must you meet? How much time do I have to prepare? Do I have time to do adequate research? Does the situation require a particular type of topic?

Speech Purpose The general purpose of speeches is... to inform to persuade to celebrate or commerate Our specific focus is speeches that persuade.

Selecting a Topic Is it appropriate to my audience? Am I familiar with the topic? Am I enthusiastic about the topic? Consider your hobbies, interests or special activities.

Audience Concerns & Interests How does the topic fit with the audience's: Age Gender Ethnicity Political or religious status Socioeconomic status

Topic Ideas Current events What's in the news today? Controversial issues One child per family, Canteen food, etc. Local issues Items of interest to audience Unusual information New discoveries, opinions, conclusions

Brainstorming Problem solving technique Individual or group Generation of ideas either by lists or word association

Brainstorming: Lists Create a list of interesting topics that you could comfortably prepare to speak about. Narrow the list to two or three topics. Choose one of the topics, based on audience interests and demographics.

Brainstorming: Lists Lists exercise List five topics that you are interested in. Choose the most interesting two or three topics. Select the topic that you want to speak about.

Brainstorming: Word Association Write down one topic which would be of interest to you and your audience. Write down the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the topic. Continue writing until no more thoughts come to mind. Pick two or three topics as possible choices.

Brainstorming: Word Association Word Association Exercise Write down one topic of interest to you and your audience. Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the topic. Continue writing until no more thoughts come to mind. Pick two or three topics as possible choices.

Refining Once you have selected a topic and general purpose for your speech, they must be refined, or narrowed. Refining helps develop a topic and purpose that will appeal to the greatest number of people in your audience.  Sports  Football  University football  University football accidents

Thesis Statement Thesis statement A single statement that expresses the central idea of the speech, and serves to connect all parts of the speech The thesis statement concisely identifies what the speech is about.

Thesis: Making a Claim The thesis statement makes a claim or assumption about the topic.  Soccer is dangerous and should be removed from school athletics  Cigarettes are unhealthy and should not be sold on campus  Freshmen should be allowed to bring their own PC's to the university

Thesis: Make it Relevant The thesis statement should motivate the audience to listen. it should point out the relevance of the topic to them The audience should be enthusiastic about your speech, because you have established its relevance to them.

Mini-Quiz 1. When a topic is assigned... a. There is nothing you can do to adapt it to your audience b. You have no choice as to your specific purpose c. You can still adapt your talk to the circumstances 2. A good source of speech topics is... a. current events b. controversial issues c. new discoveries and viewpoints 3. Brainstorming is good for... a. your love life b. selecting a speech topic c. washing away brain cells

Helpers Please ask around and see if there would be a problem holding our speech contest and going away party on Wednesday evening, June 8 th, 6:30 – 8:30pm (will include all speech classes and all English Writing classes)

Homework Start thinking about speech 3, to be presented on May 16 th Argumentative topic: “The person I marry should have…” 3 minutes Effectively use a visual aid Use topic outline card