1. Selecting Your Topic Eveline Tang May 8, 2006

2. Selecting Your Topic2 Overview General sources of topics General sources of topics Criteria to evaluate a potential topic Criteria to evaluate a potential topic

3. Selecting Your Topic3 General Sources of Topics Personal Experiences Personal Experiences Reference Materials Reference Materials

4. Selecting Your Topic4 Personal Experiences Family & Daily Life Family & Daily Life Profession Profession Interests Interests

5. Selecting Your Topic5 Family & Daily Life Ice-Breaker (C1) Ice-Breaker (C1) A Homeroom Teacher’s Joys and Sorrows (C5: Your Body Speaks) A Homeroom Teacher’s Joys and Sorrows (C5: Your Body Speaks)

6. Selecting Your Topic6 Profession What’s Your Language Learning IQ? (C2) What’s Your Language Learning IQ? (C2) Learning Languages at Any Age (C7: Research Your Topic) Learning Languages at Any Age (C7: Research Your Topic)

7. Selecting Your Topic7 Interests Going Organic (C10: Inspire Your Audience) Going Organic (C10: Inspire Your Audience) Rebuilding the Food Pyramid (A10: The Demonstration Talk) Rebuilding the Food Pyramid (A10: The Demonstration Talk)

8. Selecting Your Topic8 Reference Materials Books Books Magazines Magazines Newspapers Newspapers

9. Selecting Your Topic9 Books Write a Better Business Letter (C8: Get Comfortable with Visual Aids) Write a Better Business Letter (C8: Get Comfortable with Visual Aids) Unlock Writer’s Block (A6: Resources for Informing) Unlock Writer’s Block (A6: Resources for Informing)

10. Selecting Your Topic10 Magazines How to Live More Simply (C3) How to Live More Simply (C3) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (C6: Vocal Variety) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (C6: Vocal Variety)

11. Selecting Your Topic11 Newspapers Opportunities from the Tsunami in South Asia (C9: Persuade with Power) Opportunities from the Tsunami in South Asia (C9: Persuade with Power) Gossip Has Its Good Purposes (A8: The Abstract Concept) Gossip Has Its Good Purposes (A8: The Abstract Concept)

12. Selecting Your Topic12 Miscellaneous How to Cook a Husband (C4: How to Say It) How to Cook a Husband (C4: How to Say It) The Power of Hugging (A5: The Speech to Inform) The Power of Hugging (A5: The Speech to Inform)

13. Selecting Your Topic13 Reminders Make sure your idea is not lost before you have a chance to put it down on paper. Make sure your idea is not lost before you have a chance to put it down on paper. So many topics; so little time: criteria to evaluate a potential topic So many topics; so little time: criteria to evaluate a potential topic

14. Selecting Your Topic14 Consider the Situation What does your audience want to hear? What does your audience want to hear? What is the occasion? What is the occasion? What are your own abilities? What are your own abilities?

15. Selecting Your Topic15 Your Audience How many? How many? Their age range? Their age range? Similar education, interests, background and experience? Similar education, interests, background and experience?

16. Selecting Your Topic16 The Occasion Serve a specific purpose? Serve a specific purpose? Other events on the program? Other events on the program? What will happen after your speech? What will happen after your speech? What type of microphone? What type of microphone? A lectern? A lectern?

17. Selecting Your Topic17 Your Own Abilities Enough enthusiasm and interest in your topic? Enough enthusiasm and interest in your topic? Regarded as an authority? Regarded as an authority? Enough presentation time? Enough presentation time?

18. Selecting Your Topic18 Conclusion A subject of personal interest that fits your audience, the occasion, and your own speaking abilities a fine-tuned speech