1. The Art of Public Speaking
CHAPTER 4
Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

2. Choosing a Topic Topics you know a lot about
Topics you want to know more about
Brainstorming for topics:
Make a quick inventory of your hobbies, skills, interests, experiences.
Use the techniques of clustering
Look through a reference work for ideas
Use the Internet to scan possible topics

3. Determining the General Purpose
To inform: to enhance the knowledge and the understanding of the listeners
To persuade: to change or structure the attitudes or actions of your audience

4. Determining the Specific Purpose
Topic:
General purpose:
Specific purpose:

5. Tips for Formulating the Specific Purpose Statement
Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase, not as a fragment
Express your purpose as a statement, not as a question
Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement
Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea
Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general

6. Questions to ask
Does my purpose meet the assignment? Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted? Is the purpose relevant to my audience? Is the purpose too trivial for my audience? Is the purpose too technical for my audience?

7. Phrasing the Central Idea
Topic: Music therapy
General purpose: to inform
Specific purpose:
to explain the benefits of music therapy for people with psychological or cognitive disabilities
Central idea:
Music therapy developed as a formal mode of treatment during the twentieth century, utilizes a number of methods, and is explained by several theories that account for its success.

8. Consolidation Selecting a topic and a purpose Choosing a topic
General purpose
A specific purpose
The central ideas