{"id":24,"date":"2022-11-25T15:22:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T20:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/speaking\/chapter\/chapter-4-developing-topics-for-your-speech\/"},"modified":"2023-08-10T23:30:57","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T03:30:57","slug":"chapter-5","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/speaking\/chapter\/chapter-5\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 5: Developing Topics for Your Speech","rendered":"Chapter 5: Developing Topics for Your Speech"},"content":{"raw":"
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5.1 \u2013 Getting Started with Your Topic and Purpose<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\nWhen we start preparing for a speech, we often think about topics. That is understandable, but before we go any further, let\u2019s recalibrate our minds to think also, or even more, about \u201cpurpose.\u201d There are some benefits to considering purpose and topic simultaneously. Doing so will help you focus your speech to a manageable amount of content and become more audience-centered. Also, you will be able to make strategic decisions about other aspects of the speech, such as organization, supporting evidence, and visual aids.\r\n\r\nSpeeches have traditionally been seen to have one of three broad purposes: to inform, to persuade, and to inspire\/entertain. This author contends that two of those three purposes are disingenuous.\r\n\r\nRemember rule number two of communication: all communication is persuasive.\r\n\r\nAnytime a person says they are speaking merely to inform, one must wonder what they want the listener to do with the information. If an action is to be taken or an opinion is to be changed, that would mean it was persuasive, not merely informative. If no action was to be taken and no opinions were to be changed, what was the purpose of the speech?\r\n\r\nThe more important planning need for public speaking is to know who you want to persuade to do what. The speaker must have a clear understanding of this question for every speech.\r\n\r\nNow, to be clear, there's nothing wrong with communication being persuasive. Some students are nonplussed at the idea of all communication being persuasive, but they're probably conflating\u00a0persuasive<\/em> with\u00a0manipulative<\/em>; manipulation is persuasion through dishonesty, which is unethical. This author recommends being honest in communication at all times.\r\n\r\nHowever, when thinking about the traditional notions of speech purposes, one could note that these three purposes are not necessarily exclusive of the others. A speech designed to be persuasive can also be informative and entertaining, even if neither of those is the main purpose.\r\n\r\nAs you begin crafting your speech, consider these two basic questions:\r\n
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  1. What value, connection, or interest does my purpose\/topic have for the audience? What audience needs do they meet?<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Why would the audience consider me, the speaker, a credible source on this purpose\/topic?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nAs you develop your speech, you should answer these questions, directly or indirectly, for your audience. If your audience is unfamiliar with your topic, for instance, you would want to address the first one early in the speech. If your audience does not know anything about you, you should mention (in an appropriate way) your background in the subject area.\r\n\r\nOne question that is embedded in the mind of anybody listening to the speech is \u201cWIIFM\u201d: \u201cWhat\u2019s In It For Me?\u201d Keep the WIIFM acronym in mind as you start to think about your speeches more and more from your audience\u2019s perspective and make sure that your audience can find something in your speech that is, indeed, in it for them.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    5.2 \u2013 Formulating a Specific Purpose Statement<\/h2>\r\nNow that you know your general purpose, you can start to move in the direction of the specific purpose. A specific purpose statement<\/strong> builds on your general purpose (to persuade) and makes it more specific (as the name suggests).\r\n\r\nIn writing your specific purpose statement, you will take three contributing elements that will come together. These three elements are you<\/strong>, the audience<\/strong>, and the context<\/strong>.\r\n
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    You<\/h3>\r\nAn old adage states, \u201cWrite about what you know.\u201d In many ways, that is a great place to start with creating a speech, although you will need to consult other sources, as well. If you start with ideas that reflect your interests, goals, and passions, that passion and commitment will come across in your speech, give you more credibility in the eyes of your audience, and make your speech more interesting.\r\n\r\nThis would be a good place for you to do an inventory. Ask yourself about your connection to a wide variety of topics:\r\n