Chapter 9 Getting Ready

How to Prepare for a Speech The key to a successful speech is to ________________. The key to a successful speech is to ________________. You must think about the following: You must think about the following: Choosing a topic Choosing a topic Writing your thesis statement Writing your thesis statement Knowing your purpose, audience, and occasion Knowing your purpose, audience, and occasion Supporting your thesis statement Supporting your thesis statement

Choosing Your Topic When choosing your topic, there are two steps you must go through: When choosing your topic, there are two steps you must go through: Generating Topic Ideas Generating Topic Ideas Limiting Your Topic Limiting Your Topic

Choosing Your Topic – Generating Topic Ideas You can begin to find a topic for your speech by thinking about subject areas. You can begin to find a topic for your speech by thinking about subject areas. Look at page Look at page You can generate topic ideas from these subject areas. You can generate topic ideas from these subject areas. Brainstorming is a way to quickly list topic possibilities without stopping to evaluate them. Brainstorming is a way to quickly list topic possibilities without stopping to evaluate them.

Brainstorming Activity

Choosing Your Topic – Limiting Your Topic Your topic needs to be limited so that you can cover it effectively in one speech. Your topic needs to be limited so that you can cover it effectively in one speech. However, you don’t want to limit it so much that you don’t have enough to talk about. However, you don’t want to limit it so much that you don’t have enough to talk about. Ex: You may talk about Basic Chords for Guitar in a speech. You’ll have enough information. However, if you only talk about The D Chord for Guitar you will be struggling to get enough information. Ex: You may talk about Basic Chords for Guitar in a speech. You’ll have enough information. However, if you only talk about The D Chord for Guitar you will be struggling to get enough information.

Knowing Your Purpose Your purpose is what you intend to achieve in your speech. Your purpose is what you intend to achieve in your speech. There are 2 purposes in a speech: There are 2 purposes in a speech: General General Specific Specific

Knowing Your Purpose – General Purpose Your general purpose is the overall intent of your speech. Your general purpose is the overall intent of your speech. Primarily, speeches are intended to Primarily, speeches are intended to Inform Inform Persuade Persuade Entertain Entertain Suit a special occasion Suit a special occasion

Knowing your Purpose – Specific Purpose The specific purpose of a speech is its goal, stated in a complete sentence. The specific purpose of a speech is its goal, stated in a complete sentence. Example: Example: General Purpose: To inform General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: I want to show you 3 basic chords for playing guitar. Specific Purpose: I want to show you 3 basic chords for playing guitar.

Writing a Thesis Statement A thesis statement is a complete sentence that expresses the speaker’s most important idea(s) about a topic. A thesis statement is a complete sentence that expresses the speaker’s most important idea(s) about a topic. The whole speech is guided by the thesis statement. The whole speech is guided by the thesis statement. Example: Some of the basic chords for playing guitar are the D chord, the G chord, and the C chord. Example: Some of the basic chords for playing guitar are the D chord, the G chord, and the C chord.

Writing a Thesis Statement Here is the process you go through to get your thesis… Here is the process you go through to get your thesis… General Purpose Specific Purpose Thesis

Writing a Thesis Statement General Purpose: To inform General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: I want to show you 3 basic chords for playing guitar. Specific Purpose: I want to show you 3 basic chords for playing guitar. Thesis Statement: Three of the basic chords for playing guitar are the D chord, the C chord, and the G chord. Thesis Statement: Three of the basic chords for playing guitar are the D chord, the C chord, and the G chord.

Thesis Statement Activity Identify each sentence as either a specific purpose or a thesis statement: Identify each sentence as either a specific purpose or a thesis statement: 1. The four main components of a computer are the CPU, the disc drive(s), the keyboard, and the monitor. 2. I want to explain the three major causes of juvenile delinquency. 3. I want to convince the class of the value of vocational education. 4. You should give to United Appeal because one gift helps many charities. 5. The powers of the presidency are held in check by the legislative and judicial branches of government.

Review: Knowing your Audience When you give a speech, who is the audience? When you give a speech, who is the audience? Before you give your speech, you may want to know some demographic data about the audience. Before you give your speech, you may want to know some demographic data about the audience. What are some examples of demographic data? What are some examples of demographic data?

Knowing Your Occasion Every speech that you prepare will be given for some occasion. Every speech that you prepare will be given for some occasion. What is an occasion? What is an occasion?

Knowing your Occasion Questions you should ask… Questions you should ask… When will the speech be given? When will the speech be given? Date and time of day Date and time of day Where will your speech be given? Where will your speech be given? Size of room, seating, presence of speaker’s stand Size of room, seating, presence of speaker’s stand What are the restrictions for your speech? What are the restrictions for your speech? Time limit and ability to use notes Time limit and ability to use notes

Supporting your Thesis Statement Finally, you need to find information to support your main idea as expressed in your thesis statement. Finally, you need to find information to support your main idea as expressed in your thesis statement. Facts & Opinions Facts & Opinions Examples & Illustrations Examples & Illustrations Anecdotes Anecdotes Statistics Statistics Comparisons Comparisons Definitions Definitions Descriptions Descriptions Quotations Quotations

Supporting your Thesis – Facts & Opinions What’s the difference between a fact and an opinion? What’s the difference between a fact and an opinion? In some speeches, you may want to get an expert opinion. In some speeches, you may want to get an expert opinion. The opinion of your great great grandma about rap music is not a reliable source… The opinion of your great great grandma about rap music is not a reliable source…

Supporting your Thesis – Examples & Illustrations An example is a single instance that supports or develops a statement. An example is a single instance that supports or develops a statement. An illustration is a detailed example. An illustration is a detailed example. An illustration basically “paints a picture” with words. An illustration basically “paints a picture” with words.

Supporting your Thesis - Anecdotes Review: What are anecdotes? Review: What are anecdotes?

Supporting your Thesis - Statistics What are statistics? What are statistics? Example: “Only six out of every ten registered voters voted in the last election.” Example: “Only six out of every ten registered voters voted in the last election.”

Supporting your Thesis - Comparisons A comparison is a statement that shows the similarities between people, places, things, events, or ideas. A comparison is a statement that shows the similarities between people, places, things, events, or ideas. Sometimes people can better understand an idea if it’s compared to something that they’re familiar with. Sometimes people can better understand an idea if it’s compared to something that they’re familiar with. Example: If you didn’t know what a scalpel was, I could compare it to a knife. Example: If you didn’t know what a scalpel was, I could compare it to a knife.

Supporting your Thesis – Definitions, Descriptions, & Quotations Review: Use a definition of a word to support your thesis. Review: Use a definition of a word to support your thesis. Review: Use a description of a person, place, thing, or event to support your thesis. Review: Use a description of a person, place, thing, or event to support your thesis. Review: Use a quotation of someone’s exact words to support your thesis. Review: Use a quotation of someone’s exact words to support your thesis.

Chapter 9 Review Answer the following Review Questions: Answer the following Review Questions: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 Answer the following Discussion Questions: Answer the following Discussion Questions:1