1. CHAPTER 10 CHOOSING & DEVELOPING A TOPIC

2. I. CHOOSING A TOPIC  A. Start Early!  B. Choose a topic that is interesting to you and it will probably be interesting to your audience.

3. II. DEFINING A PURPOSE  A. GENERAL PURPOSE –1. To entertain –2. To inform –3. To persuade

4. II. DEFINING A PURPOSE  B. Specific purpose –1. A “purpose statement” should be receiver oriented (audience focused “e.g. children”) a. You should tell your audience what they will know after listening to your speech b. “After listening to my speech, you will know more about small claims court procedures.”

5. II. CONTINUED –2. A purpose statement should be specific. “After listening to my speech, my audience will know how to win a case in small claims court.”

6. II. CONTINUED –3. A purpose statement should be realistic a. You must be capable to accomplish your purpose as stated (evidence/footwork) b. “After listening to my speech, my audience will be able to list the five steps for preparing for small claims court” 4.“Thesis Statement”: Tells you that one/central idea that you want your audience to remember. E.g. “Arguing a case on your own in small claims court is a simple, five-step process that can give you the same results you would achieve w/ a lawyer.”

7. III. ANALYZING THE SPEAKING SITUATION  A. Audience analysis –1. Def: An examination of certain pertinent characteristics of your listeners. –2. Audience adaptation: Changing the way you say something so that it will be more meaningful or effective for a particular group of listeners. (# of people, gender, age, group membership) –3. ACTIVITY!!!

8. III. CONTINUED A. Audience analysis 1. Attitude: is a predisposition to respond to something in a favorable or unfavorable position (outside layer). “It is an important right to vote” 2. Belief: is an underlying conviction about the truth of something, which is often based on cultural training (middle layer). “We should be free to choose our political leaders” 3. Value: is a deeply rooted belief about a concept’s inherent worth or worthiness (inside layer). “Freedom is a good thing”

9. IIIV. GATHERING INFO.  A. Evaluating research (E.g. political analysis) –1. Credibility –2. Objectivity –3. Currency

10. IV. CONTINUED  B. Library research –Library catalog –Reference works –Periodicals –Non-print materials –Survey research –Internet –Databases –Librarians –Interview –Personal observation

11. THE END