THE SPEECH PURPOSE
Controversial Topics (Fay)
Speech
Topics (TCNJ)
Topic Selection
and Research
Speakers should know specifically what they want to communicate. Thus, before they even start to develop their presentations, many public speakers write a purpose statement in which they define their subject and develop the criteria by which they will evaluate material that may be included in the speech.
6.1 THE PURPOSE STATEMENT
Speakers who have difficulty writing a purpose statement that states exactly what the expected outcome of the speech will be often do not have a clear idea of what they are trying to say.
The purpose statement typically consists of three parts: the goal of the speech, the statement of the topic, and the method or process to be used to develop the speech.
6.2 THE SPEECH GOAL
6.3 THE SPEECH TOPIC
If you are not specific in your topic choice, your listeners may never grasp your point.
http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/assess/topic.html
Time Allotted
Structure of the Speech
Analyze your audience and satisfy its needs.
Narrow your topic from broad to specific by deciding how to best approach your listeners.
The more complex your subject, and the less experience or knowledge your audience has, the more specific you have to be.
6.4 THE METHOD OF DEVELOPING THE SPEECH
Here are some examples of informative purpose statements using these key words:
To inform the audience why competency testing is being used as a determination for high school graduation by discussing the three major reasons for its use.
To inform the audience how to make a cut-glass sun hanger by listing the supplies needed and the step-by-step construction procedure.
To inform the audience that vitamin C protects against the common cold by examining four scientific studies that provide evidence for this viewpoint.
In a persuasive speech, you can use these key words in your purpose statements:
"To accept that"
"To attend"
"To join"
"To participate in"
"To support"
"To agree with"
"To contribute to"
"To lend"
"To serve"
"To volunteer to"
"To aid in"
"To defend"
"To offer to"
"To share"
"To vote for"
6.5 ESTABLISHING LISTENING GOALS
What will I be expected to do when I have finished listening?
Listening comprehension is most familiar to listeners.
Therapeutic listening asks the listener to serve as a sounding board,
Critical listening is appropriate to persuasive messages.
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
Explain the importance of having a purpose for a speech.
Write a purpose statement by stating the goal and topic for a speech and specifying the method to be used in developing the speech.
Explain the importance of establish goals for listening to a public speech.
This chapter investigated the importance of having a purpose for a speech. The concepts developed were:
In developing a message, speakers should know specifically what they want to communicate.
A purpose statement defines the subject of a speech and develops the criteria by which material will be evaluated for inclusion in the speech.
Though developing a clear purpose statement may take time, in the long run it usually saves time by making the speaker select a narrow, specific topic and stick to it.
The purpose statement typically consists of three parts: the goal of the speech, the statement of the topic, and the method or process to be used to develop the speech.
The goal of a speech is expressed in terms of the expected outcome.
The topic is the subject of a speech and should be stated as specifically as possible.
Make sure the topic can be adequately covered in the time allowed.
In vertical speech development the speaker presents a single issue in great detail.
In horizontal speech development the speaker presents a survey of general ideas.
Narrow your topic from broad to specific by deciding how best to approach your listeners.
The method is the process employed in developing the speech's goal.
purpose statement
goal
to inform
to persuade
topic
narrow development
broad development
method