SELECTING A TOPIC & PURPOSE

LCCC ENG 111KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

Instructor 1

SELECTING A TOPIC & PURPOSE

STEP # 1Choosing A

Topic


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Pick Subjects About Which You About Which You Know A Great DealKnow A Great Deal


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Pick Topics In Which You Are

InterestedInterested & About Which

You Want To Want To Learn MoreLearn More


Instructor 4


Pick Issues On Which You Hold

Strong Strong Opinions & Opinions &

BeliefsBeliefs

LCCC ENG 111 5KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

Instructor


BrainstormCreate Inventory Lists:

InterestsSkillsExperiencesHobbies


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To Brainstorm:To Brainstorm:Free association of words & ideas

CategoriesCategories People Places Events Processes Plans &

PoliciesLCCC ENG 111

KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC Instructor 7


Browse EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

DictionariesDictionariesOther Other

Reference Reference MaterialsMaterials

LCCC ENG 111 8KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

Instructor


While these are not considered sources for scholarly research, they are fine for assistance in finding topics.


Use A Subject-based Subject-based Search EngineSearch Engine


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STEP #2

Determine The Determine The General PurposeGeneral Purpose


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Two Types Of General Purpose For

Most Classroom Speeches:

To InformTo InformTo PersuadeTo Persuade


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STEP #3

Formulate The Formulate The Specific PurposeSpecific Purpose


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Specific PurposeSpecific PurposeShould Indicate What The What The

Speaker Wants The Speaker Wants The Audience To Know Or Audience To Know Or

Believe Believe After The Speech


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FIVE TIPS FOR FIVE TIPS FOR FORMULATINFORMULATING A GOOD G A GOOD SPECIFIC SPECIFIC PURPOSE PURPOSE STATEMENTSTATEMENT


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State specific Purpose As A A Full Full Infinitive Infinitive PhrasePhrase, Not A Fragment


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“To inform my audience how to bake an apple pie.”

EXAMPLE:

Phrase Specific Purpose As a StatementStatement, Not As A Question.

AvoidAvoid Figurative Figurative

Language Language In The Specific Purpose


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Ineffective: Ineffective: “To inform my audience that baseball stinks.”More More Effective:Effective:“To inform my audience that baseball is not a great spectator sport for 3 reasons.”

EXAMPLES

Specific Purpose Should NotNot contain Two Or More Two Or More

Unrelated IdeasUnrelated Ideas

Specific Purpose Should Should Not Be Too Vague Or Not Be Too Vague Or GeneralGeneral


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Questions To Ask About The Specific Purpose:


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Does My Specific Purpose Meet The Meet The

AssignmentAssignment?

Can This Specific Purpose Be Be

Accomplished Accomplished EffectivelyEffectively In The

TimeTime AllottedAllotted?


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Is My Specific Purpose Relevant To Relevant To

The AudienceThe Audience?

Is My Specific Purpose Too Too

TechnicalTechnical Or Too Too TrivialTrivial?


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Central IdeaCentral IdeaSharpensSharpens &

RefinesRefines The Specific Purpose


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Central Idea Central Idea Is A Concise Statement Of What The What The Speaker Speaker Plans To SayPlans To Say


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Central Idea Central Idea MoreMore precise precise than

topic or Specific PurposeSums up the speech in

a single statementsingle statement


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Central IdeaCentral IdeaOften Called The Thesis StatementThesis Statement

EncapsulatesEncapsulates TheThe MainMain Points Points To Be

Presented What the Speaker What the Speaker

Wants The Audience Wants The Audience To RememberTo Remember


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Four Criteria For Four Criteria For The Central Idea:The Central Idea:


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C.I. Should Be Expressed In A Full Full Declarative Declarative SentenceSentence.

C.I. Should NotNot Be In The

Form Of A Question.


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Ineffective:Uses of digital photography.More Effective:Digital photography is highly versatile with important uses in medicine, industry, art, and communications.

EXAMPLES

C.I. Should Avoid Avoid Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

C.I. Should NotNot Be Too Too Vague Vague Or Too GeneralToo General


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Central Idea Crystallizes Late Crystallizes Late In Speech In Speech PreparationPreparation, While Specific Purpose Must Be Must Be Conceived Of Conceived Of ImmediatelyImmediately


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After Main Points are developed.

General Purpose:General Purpose:To InformTo Inform

Specific Purpose: Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the steps To inform my audience of the steps to be a Leader in any phase of life.to be a Leader in any phase of life.

Central Idea:Central Idea:There are four key components of There are four key components of personal & professional leadership: personal & professional leadership: responsibility, authority, responsibility, authority, resources, & accountability.resources, & accountability.


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Main Points:Main Points:I. The first key component in being

a true leader is Responsibility.II. The second key component in

being a true leader is Authority.III.The third key component in being

a true leader is Resources.IV. The fourth & final key component

in being a true leader is Accountability.


Instructor 30


Documents

SELECTING A TOPIC & PURPOSE