Planning a Speech
Instructor: Kerry-Ann Brown
-SPC1017 – Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Date: July 10, 2023
General Purposes of Speaking
 Inform – to teach, educate,
instruct, guide, explain,
elaborate.
 Persuade – To convince
listeners to accept, adopt, or
oppose a particular point of
view or action.
 Entertain – to amuse, inspire,
or engage listeners using
humor, stories, experiences.
Examples of General Purposes
 Process Speech
 Inform – How to start their own
garden at home
 Inform – How to make a vegan
sandwich
 Persuade – to convince listeners of
the benefits of starting their own
garden
 Persuade – Starting their own
garden is beneficial for health
 Title: Starting Your Own Garden
 General Purpose: To persuade
 Specific Purpose: To convince
listeners of the health benefits of
starting their own garden at home
 Thesis/Central idea: Starting your
own garden has physical, mental,
and spiritual health benefits.
General Purpose: To Inform
 Specific Purpose: How to
start their own garden at
home

Body
I.
Main Point I: Gather your supplies
A.
1.
B.
 Thesis/Central Idea: Starting
your own flower garden is
easy, engaging, and fun
Subpoint 1: Tools
Subpoint 2: Plants
1.
II.
III.
Gloves, spade, pots
Flowers, dirt/earth
Main Point II: Plan your garden
A.
Shape of the garden
B.
Types of plants
1.
Indoor vs. outdoor
2.
Biennial vs. annual
Main Point III: Plant your flowers
A.
First, scoop dirt into the pot
B.
Next, create a small hole in the center
C.
Finally, place your cut flowers in the
center
Speech Structure
 Introduction
 Grab the listener’s / Hook
 Make a joke, tell a story
 Ask a question, share a fun fact
 Start with an unusual sound
 Give topic background/origin
story
 State the central idea / thesis
 Preview the main points
 Conclusion
 Restate your thesis/central
idea
 Briefly summarize key facts or
points – takeaway
 Closing – Drive home the main
point with a quote or final
statement. Avoid dropped
endings.
Starting Your Own Garden
Body
I.
 Thesis/Central idea: Starting
your own garden has physical,
mental, and spiritual health
benefits.
II.
III.
Main Point I: Physical health
A.
Supporting details: Research
B.
Supporting details: Cases, examples
C.
Supporting details: Explanation
Main Point II: Mental health
A.
Supporting details: Research
B.
Supporting details: Cases, examples
C.
Supporting details: Explanation
Main Point III: Spiritual health
A.
Supporting details: Research
B.
Supporting details: Cases, examples
C.
Supporting details: Explanation