Chapter 6
Selecting Your
Topic
Selecting Your Topic: An Overview
• Finding a speech topic requires:
– Developing a list of options
– Choosing the most promising one
– Narrowing the topic to meet objectives and
time constraints
Developing a Set of Potential
Topics
•
•
•
•
Research
Brainstorming
Word Association
Mind Mapping
Develop a Set of Potential Topics:
Research
• Research may help you find an effective
topic.
• Sources of information include:
– General newsmagazines or newspapers
– Web sites
• Keep track of sources to avoid plagiarism.
Developing a Set of Potential Topics:
Brainstorming
• List every
idea that
comes to
mind without
evaluating its
merits.
Developing a Set of Potential Topics:
Word Association
• One idea leads
to another that
leads to
another until a
speaker finds
an appropriate
topic.
Developing a Set of Potential
Topics: Mind Mapping
• Write down an initial word or phrase, then
surround it with additional words, pictures, and
symbols.
• Use colors, arrows, or visual aids to link ideas.
• Be creative and enjoy the process.
Selecting the Best Topic
•
•
•
•
•
Consider the assignment
Consider your audience
Consider your own knowledge and interest
Consider the speech context
Choose a topic and stick to it
Selecting the Best Topic:
Consider the Assignment
• Your topic must meet
the instructor’s
criteria, which may
include:
– Topics to avoid
– Type of speech
– Research
requirements
Selecting the Best Topic:
Consider Your Audience
• Your topic should meet at least one of the
following criteria:
– It will interest your audience.
– It benefits the audience or the larger society.
– It will move the audience in some way.
Selecting the Best Topic:
Consider Your Own Knowledge and
Interests
• Pick a topic you are excited about to connect
with listeners.
• Pick a topic you are knowledgeable about.
– Establishes your credibility
– Streamlines research process
Selecting the Best Topic:
Consider the Speech Context
• Context is the overall situation of your
presentation and is affected by:
– Formality: Classroom speeches are less
formal than workplace speeches
– Situational characteristics: Such as audience
size, mobility issues, time of day, and physical
setting
Selecting the Best Topic:
Choose a Topic and Stick to It
• Changing topics will increase your
preparation time.
• Wavering back and forth on a topic
weakens your speech.
Tips for Selecting the Best
Topic
• Tip: If you are not excited about your topic,
no one else will be.
• Tip: Boring your teacher will not help you
get a good grade.
Refining Your Topic:
Decide Your Rhetorical Purpose
• To inform: Increasing listeners’
understanding or awareness
• To persuade: Convincing listeners to
consider a new position, strengthen or
weaken a belief, or take action
• To mark a special occasion: Honoring an
occasion by entertaining, inspiring, or
moving listeners
General Tips for Refining Your
Topic
• Tip: If you have a strong opinion about
your topic, consider using it for a
persuasive speech.
• Tip: If you are going to commemorate a
death, be sure you are ready to speak
about it in public—you may get caught off
guard by your emotions.
Refining Your Topic:
Narrow Your Topic
• Why is this important?
– Speech needs to fit time limit
– Gives you focus
Broad topic 
Spring Break
Fun
Narrower topic 
Spring Break in
Miami
Narrowed topic 
Use Caution with
Spring Break Tattoos
Narrowing Your Topic: Remember
Your Audience
• Make listeners care.
• If they are asking “Why should I care?”
your speech will not be as effective.
Narrowing Your Topic: Draw on
Your Interests and Expertise
• It is easier to speak extemporaneously on
a topic that is:
– Familiar
– Important to you
– Exciting to you
Narrowing Your Topic: Review
Your Rhetorical Purpose
• Does your
narrowed topic
match the
rhetorical
purpose?
Narrowing Your Topic: Evaluate the
Situation
• Will situational factors get in the way of
your topic?
– Time of day
– Occasion
– Overall speech context
Drafting Your Specific Purpose
Statement
• Specific purpose: The speech objective
presented as a single sentence—should
focus speech development
• Sentence should begin with rhetorical
purpose:
– “To inform my audience…”
– “To persuade my audience…”
– “To commemorate…”
Tips for Drafting Your Specific
Purpose Statement
• Tip: Focus on what you want your
audience to walk away with.
• Tip: If you spend the time to develop a
well-constructed specific purpose, the
speech will write itself (mostly). More on
this when we talk about organization!
Drafting Your Thesis Statement
• Single sentence
• Expresses the speaker’s intentions
• Consistent with specific purpose
Thesis Statement Examples
– Informative: “Hmong New Year includes many
culturally distinctive features.”
– Persuasive: “You should sign up for a servicelearning course.”
– Special Occasion: “The Duke University
women’s basketball team has much to
celebrate at this year’s awards banquet.”