Fundamentals of Public Speaking - Chapter 5

What is the first step in speechmaking?

Choosing a topic.

What can shape a topic outside the classroom?

The occasion, audience, and speaker’s qualifications.

Where can classroom speech topics come from?

What you already know, what you want to learn, or issues about which you have strong opinions.

Why should you choose a topic early?

To allow enough time for research, organization, and practice.

What is a personal inventory?

A brainstorming method that involves listing your experiences, interests, skills, beliefs, activities, and areas of knowledge.

What is clustering?

A brainstorming method in which you write broad categories and generate related subtopics around each one.

What is a reference search?

Browsing an encyclopedia, database, directory, or other reference source for possible subjects.

What is an Internet search as a brainstorming method?

Exploring reliable online sources, current issues, and focused search terms for possible topics.

What is the purpose of brainstorming methods?

To generate possible topics.

Does brainstorming replace checking a topic?

No. The final topic must still fit the assignment, audience, and time limit.

What are the four brainstorming methods?

Personal inventory, clustering, reference search, and Internet search.

What is the general purpose of a speech?

The broad goal of the speech that identifies whether the speaker is informing or persuading.

What are the two general purposes of public speaking?

To inform and to persuade.

What is the goal of an informative speech?

To increase the audience’s knowledge or understanding.

What is the speaker’s role when informing?

Teacher.

What is the goal of a persuasive speech?

To change or reinforce the audience’s attitudes, beliefs, values, or actions.

What is the speaker’s role when persuading?

Advocate.

What is the difference between the general purpose and specific purpose?

The general purpose is broad and identifies the overall goal, while the specific purpose states exactly what the speaker wants the audience to know or believe.

What is a specific purpose?

A statement of exactly what the speaker wants the audience to know or believe after the speech.

What should a specific

purpose statement begin with?

What are the five rules for a strong specific

purpose statement?

What does it mean to use a full infinitive phrase in a specific purpose?

Begin with “To inform my audience…” or “To persuade my audience…”

Why should a specific purpose be stated rather than asked?

It should be a statement, not a question.

Why should figurative language be avoided in a specific purpose?

Clear, literal wording makes the purpose precise and understandable.

Why should a specific purpose contain only one idea?

Combining unrelated goals makes the speech too broad or unfocused.

Why should a specific purpose be specific?

A broad or vague subject needs to be narrowed to a manageable focus.

What five questions should you ask when testing a specific purpose?

Does it meet the assignment, can it be accomplished in the allotted time, is it relevant to the audience, is it too trivial, and is it too technical?

What does it mean for a specific purpose to meet the assignment?

The purpose must follow the requirements of the speech assignment.

Why should a specific purpose be achievable within the allotted time?

The topic must be manageable enough to cover effectively in the available time.

Why should a specific purpose be relevant to the audience?

The topic should matter or be useful to the specific audience.

Why should you ask if a specific purpose is too trivial?

The topic should be significant enough to interest the audience.

Why should you ask if a specific purpose is too technical?

The audience must be able to understand the material.

What is a central idea?

A concise statement of what the speaker expects to say in the speech.

What is another name for the central idea?

The thesis statement.

What does the central idea summarize?

The main points developed in the body of the speech.

When does the central idea usually become clear?

Later in preparation, after the purpose and main points have been developed.

What are the four rules for a strong central idea?

Use a full sentence, do not phrase it as a question, avoid figurative language, and be clear and specific.

Why should a central idea use a full sentence?

It should express a complete thought.

Why should a central idea not be phrased as a question?

It should state the main message directly.

Why should figurative language be avoided in a central idea?

Precise, literal wording makes the main message clear.

Why should a central idea be clear and specific?

It should not be vague or overly general.

What is a topic?

The broad subject of a speech.

What question does the topic answer?

“What is the broad subject?”

What is an example of a topic?

Police dogs.

What question does the general purpose answer?

“Am I informing or persuading?”

What is an example of a general purpose?

To inform.

What question does the specific purpose answer?

“What should this audience know or believe?”

What is an example of a specific purpose?

To inform my audience how police dogs assist officers.

What question does the central idea answer?

“What is the speech’s main message?”

What is an example of a central idea?

Police dogs assist law enforcement through tracking and detection.

What does the specific purpose state?

The speaker’s goal.

What does the central idea state?

The main message the speaker will develop to accomplish the goal.

What is the difference among topic, general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea?

The topic is the broad subject, the general purpose identifies whether you inform or persuade, the specific purpose states what the audience should know or believe, and the central idea states the main message of the speech.

What are three sources of classroom speech topics?

What you already know, what you want to learn, and issues about which you have strong opinions.

Is “To persuade” a general purpose or a specific purpose?

General purpose.

What is wrong with “To inform my audience about climate change”?

It is too broad and needs to be narrowed to a specific focus.

What is wrong with “Should students exercise more?” as a specific

purpose statement?

Which is usually written later, the specific purpose or the central idea?

The central idea.

What is an example of a strong specific purpose about sleep?

To inform my audience about three habits that improve sleep quality.

What is an example of a matching central idea about sleep?

A regular schedule, limited evening screen time, and a calming routine can improve sleep quality.

What is the main study goal of Chapter 5?

To select and narrow a topic, distinguish the general purpose from the specific purpose, and write an effective specific