Learning Objectives
The general purpose of most speeches will fall into one of four categories: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, and to commemorate or celebrate. The first step of defining the purpose of your speech is to think about which category best describes your overall goal with the speech. What do you want your audience to think, feel, or do as a consequence of hearing you speak? Often, the general purpose of your speech will be defined by the speaking situation. If you’re asked to run a training session at work, your purpose isn’t to entertain but rather to inform. Likewise, if you are invited to introduce the winner of an award, you’re not trying to change the audience’s mind about something; you’re honoring the recipient of the award. In a public speaking class, your general purpose may be included in the assignment: for instance, “Give a persuasive speech about . . . .” When you’re assigned a speech project, you should always make sure you know whether the general purpose is included in the assignment or whether you need to decide on the general purpose yourself. Show Specific PurposeNow that you know your general purpose (to inform, to persuade, or to entertain), you can start to move in the direction of the specific purpose. A specific purpose statement builds on your general purpose and makes it more specific (as the name suggests). So if your first speech is an informative speech, your general purpose will be to inform your audience about a very specific realm of knowledge. In writing your specific purpose statement, you will take three contributing elements and bring them together to help you determine your specific purpose:
There are three elements that combine to create a specific purpose statements: your own interests and knowledge, the interests and needs of your audience, and the context or setting in which you will be speaking. Keeping these three inputs in mind, you can begin to write a specific purpose statement, which will be the foundation for everything you say in the speech and a guide for what you do not say. This formula will help you in putting together your specific purpose statement: To _______________ [Specific Communication Word (inform, explain, demonstrate, describe, define, persuade, convince, prove, argue)] _______________ [Target Audience (my classmates, the members of the Social Work Club, my coworkers] __________________. [The Content (how to bake brownies, that Macs are better than PCs]. Example: The purpose of my presentation is to demonstrate to my coworkers the value of informed intercultural communication. Formulating a Central Idea StatementWhile you will not actually say your specific purpose statement during your speech, you will need to clearly state what your focus and main points are going to be. The statement that reveals your main points is commonly known as the central idea statement (or just the central idea). Just as you would create a thesis statement for an essay or research paper, the central idea statement helps focus your presentation by defining your topic, purpose, direction, angle, and/or point of view. Here are two examples:
Please note that your central idea will emerge and evolve as you research and write your speech, so be open to where your research takes you and anticipate that formulating your central idea will be an ongoing process. Below are four guidelines for writing a strong central idea.
Using the topic “Benefits of Yoga for College Students’ Stress,” here are some correct and incorrect ways to write a central idea.
A strong central idea shows that your speech is focused around a clear and concise topic and that you have a strong sense of what you want your audience to know and understand as a result of your speech. Again, it is unlikely that you will have a final central idea before you begin your research. Instead, it will come together as you research your topic and develop your main points. After choosing a topicthe next step in speech preparation is determining your general purpose. After choosing a topicthe next step in speech preparation is determining your specific purpose. The difference between informing and persuading is like the difference between explaining and entertaining. What is the third step in preparing a speech ?, How Do You Prepare for a Presentation? The Third and Final Step is REHEARSAL. Furthermore, What is the most important early step in the process of developing a successful speech ?, According to your textbook, what is the most important early step in the process of developing a successful speech? formulating the specific purpose statement. Finally, What are the three main things you should consider when selecting a topic for a speech presentation ?, Key Takeaway Choosing a speech topic involves knowing yourself and your audience; using efficient strategies; and understanding appeal, appropriateness, and ability. When you have accomplished these steps, you will be able to write a good thesis statement. Frequently Asked Question:
See also What is the meaning of the word gloss within the text? The first thing you should do in the introduction of a speech is to reveal the topic. When you use a rhetorical question to gain attention in a speech introduction, you should state the question, pause a moment, and then give the answer.
Under normal circumstances, the introduction should constitute about 10 to 20 percent of a speech. As your textbook explains, you should usually work out the exact wording of your introduction before you prepare the body of your speech. A good way to begin the speech is by stating the specific purpose. According to the author, your speaking notes should be constructed so that you can see them in one fried glance.
Speeches are organized into three main parts: introduction, bodyand conclusion. There are three general purposes that all speeches fall into: to informto persuadeand to entertain. The introduction should get the audience’s attention, describe the topic, state the thesis or purpose, and give an overview of the speech and its main points. Open with a detailed map of your speech–Giving good directions in the beginning will save your audience from getting lost along the way. The first step is selecting your topic. Second, determine your purpose. Third, develop your central idea. Fourth, generate and preview your main ideas. Once, you start to get an idea on your topic or purpose, then other things can follow like doing a little research on past work of others… Therefore, determining a specific purpose should be accomplished prior to drafting a speech outline. Rehearsal is important because you can apply your knowledge of public speaking to test out what works for you and learn from the experience in a safe environment. Rehearsal is important because it allows you to practice different parts before you actually deliver the total speech to an audience. Your central idea should be one, full sentence. Your central idea should be a statement, not a question. Your central idea should be specific and use concrete language. Each element of your central idea should be related to the others.
The Six Steps of Speech Preparation. § Inform, Persuade, Motivate, Celebrate? pdf version Tweet Share. Real speech preparation means digging something out of yourself. You have to gather facts and arrange your thoughts. As you collect the ideas, you have to nurture your ideas and think about a unique way to express them in an organized manner. (Visited 9 times, 1 visits today) |