Chapter 5 Selecting Topic Purpose and Central Idea

Chapter 5 Selecting Topic, Purpose, and Central Idea

Outline n Selecting a Topic n The General Purpose n The Specific Purpose n The Central Idea n Overview of Speech Design

Selecting a Topic n Select a Topic You Care About n Select a Topic You Can Master n Choose a Topic That Will Interest the Audience n Narrow the Topic

How to Be The Master of a Topic n Personal Experience n Exploring Interests n Brainstorming n Surfing The Net

The General Purpose n To Inform n To Persuade n To Entertain

The Specific Purpose n Begin with an Infinitive n n n Make Your Statement as Precise as Possible Include a Reference to Your Audience n Be Time Smart with Your Topic Limit the Statement to One Major Idea n Don’t Be Too Technical

The Central Idea n Devise the Central Idea n Guidelines for the Central Idea 1. Every speech should have only one. 2. Put it on paper. 3. Limit the central idea to a single sentence. 4. Make an assertion rather than an announcement. 5. Let the central idea determine the content of the entire speech.

Overview of Speech Design Title Objectives • General Purpose • Specific Purpose • Central Idea Introduction Transition Body Transition Conclusion Documentation • Bibliography • Visual Aids

Chapter 4 in a Nutshell n Selecting a Topic n The General Purpose n The Specific Purpose n The Central Idea n Overview of Speech Design

What’s it going to be about? Why should I spend my time hearing about this topic? Why should I listen to this speaker? What are the main ideas I should listen for?