Chapter 3

Determining your PURPOSE and SUBJECT

General Purpose

• A Clear Goal established for your speech, with a desired response from the audience

• Informing• Persuading

– to Convince– to Reinforce– to Actuate

• Entertaining

Selecting a Subject

• Pass out CHECKLIST for Success– Personal Inventory, due next Friday, 10/15 (Part of

the Exam)

• Ask the Following Questions:– Is the subject suited to my purpose?– Is the subject interesting to me? Brainstorming– Am I qualified to speak on this subject?– Will my audience find this subject interesting?

Attention factors– Will my audience find this subject useful?– Is my subject sufficiently narrow?

Specific Purpose

• indicate in more detail, what you hope to accomplish

• General Purpose: to entertain – Specific Purposes: a. to amuse …. b. to hold … c. to amaze … d. to fascinate …

– Speeches to inform: explain, make clear, demonstrate, report

Central Idea

• Thesis, key statement or the controlling idea of the speech

• A one sentence statement around which the entire speech is developed– ex. Being a single parent is tough.

Complete Sentence

Must Explain or Defend

Specific – Single Topic Relate to Purpose

Audience Centered