PREFACE

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, I pray gratitude for the presence
of Him, who has mercy and His guidance to me, so that I can finish this paper with limited
knowledge and skills I have. And I also thanks to Ms. Monika Putri A, SS,S. Pd subjects as
Lecturer English V, which has given this task to me.
I really hope this paper can be useful in order to increase our insight and knowledge about
selecting a topic and purpose in public speaking. I am also fully aware that in this task there are
deficiencies and far from what I expected.
Hopefully this paper can be simple to understand for anyone who read and can be useful both for
personal, friends, and others in addition to adding existing reference.

Sragen, November 3, 2014

Anis Trisnawati
compiler

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

TABLE OF CONTENS

TITLE PAGE

PREFACE

TABEL OF CONTENS

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background

B. Problem Formulation

C. Objectives

CHAPTER II DISCUSSION
A. Definition Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

B. Selecting a Topic

C. Determine The Purpose

CHAPTER III CLOSING

A. Conclusion

B. Advice

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND
Speaking is the needs of all people. Either the you realize it or not, you can not, if
you do not communicate. Starting the demands of your profession to public speaking and
presentation, as well as our daily activities as a social man. Because the written word is
not strong enough to speak, the speech is very important, because it can enhance the
meaning of a simple inscription.
Therefore one of the most important choices you will make in preparing and
delivering any speech is a topic that you want to talk about. but choose a subject is not all
there is to it. effective public speech requires you to decide what you will accomplish by
presenting your topic in front of a specific audience or purpose for your speech. these two
elements, the topic and your goal, this is the starting point for your relationship with the
audience and for the choices you have to make to achieve your goal the best in the
speech.
Based on this background, then drafted a paper entitled, "SELECTING A TOPIC AND A
PURPOSE"
B. PROBLEM FORMULATION
1. What is the sense of selecting a topic and purpose in public speaking ?
2. What are the steps in choosing a topic of public speaking ?
3. Determine the purpose is an important step in the preparation of a speech, how to
determine that purpose ?
4. after selecting the topic and purpose, how to sharpen your specific purpose ?

C. OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the preparation of this paper are :
1. To fulfill one task subjects English V.
2. To provide an explanation of the definition, the steps and ways selecting a topic and a
purpose.
3. As well as to provide an explanation of how to sharpen a specific purpose that the
audience can receive and respond topic submitted.
Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. Definition Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
Choosing a topic for a speech or presentation is often limited: in schools, speakers
are limited by the nature of the task, while outside of school, speakers are limited by the
nature of the lecture. Even within the limitations of, the speakers generally have
sufficient flexibility to generate their own unique angle on the topic of the speech.
Therefore the understanding of choosing a topic and purpose is Developing the speech
topic and identify goals that will help the overall performance of public speaking.

B. Selecting a Topic
1. Choosing a topic
The first step in speechmaking is choosing a topic, there are two broad
categories of potential topics for your classroom speeches :
o
Topic you know a lot about
The category is usually generated, from life phenomena,
experience, a specific mayor etc.
o

Topic you want to know more about

The category departing from your willingness and desire to learn
something new. You can even choose a new topic which you have not
touched before, but you want to explore, it wil be agreat opportunity for
you to expand your knowledge and turn it into an interesting and inspiring
speech.

For classroom speeches, you can choose a subject you know well or one
you research especially for the speech.

2. Brainstorming for Topics

Brainstorming is a plan or device that is used to accommodate the
creativity, and is usually use to make the tool as well as to capture of ideas. There
are a number of brainstorming procedure :
o

Personal inventory

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

o
o

Make an inventory of your hobbies, interests, skills, beliefs, and so

forth.
Clustering
Use clustering to list the first topic that come to mind in several
categories.
Reference search
Check a reference work for ideas.
Internet search
Us an internet subject directory to help you scan possible topics.

If you have trouble picking a topic, you can use one of four brainstorming
procedures.

C. Determine The Purpose

1. Determining the general purpose
Along with choosing a topic, you need to determine the general purpose of
your speech. Usually it will fall into one of two overlapping categories :
o

To inform
You act as a teacher or lecturer. Your goal is to communicate
information cleary, accurately, and interestingly.

To persuade
When your general purpose is to persuade, your goal is to win
listeners over to your point of view.

2. Determining the specific purpose

Once you know your topic and general purpose, you must focus on an
specific purpose statement that indicates precisely what your speech seeks to
achieve.
o

Tips for formulating the specific purpose statement

a. Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase, not as a
fragment
Ineffective

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

Calendars.

More effective

To inform my audience about three

major kinds of calendars used in the
word today.

b. Express your purpose as a statement, not as a question

Ineffective

What is Da de los Muertos?

More effective

To inform my audience about the

history of Mexicos Da de los
Muertos celebration.

c. Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement

Ineffective

More effective

to persuade my audience that the

campus policy on student parking
really stinks.
to persuade my audience that the
campus policy on student parking
should be revised to provide more
spaces for students before 5 p.m .

d. Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea

Ineffective

To persuade my audience to become

literacy tutors and to donate time to
the Special Olympics.

This purpose statement expresses two unrelated ideas,

either of which could be the subject of a speech. The easiest
remedy is to select on or the other as a focus for your
presentation.
More effective

More effective

To persuade my audience to become

literacy tutors or :
To persuade my audience to donate
time to the
Special Olympics.

e. Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general

Ineffective

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

To persuade my audience that

something should be done about
medical care.
6

More effective

To persuade my audience that the

federal government should adopt a
system of national health insurance
for all people in the United States.

3. Question to ask about your specific purpose

Sometimes you will arrive your specific purpose almost immediately after
choosing your topic. At ather times you may do quite a bit or research before
deciding on a specific purpose. Much will depend on how familiar you are with
the topic, as well as on any special demand imposed by the assignment, the
audience, or the occasion. But whenever you settle on your specific purpose, ask
yourself the following questions about it.
o
o
o
o
o

Does my purpose meet the assignment?

Can I accomplish purpose in time allotted?
Is the purpose relevant to audience?
Is the purpose too trivial for audience?
Is the purpose too technical for audience?

D. Phrasing The Central Idea

What is central idea ? Central idea is a one-sentence statement that sums up or
encapsulates the major ideas of a speech. another way to think of the central idea is as
your residual message - what you wants your audience to remember after they have
forgotten everything else in a speech.
1. Guidelines for the central idea
The central idea :
o
Should be expressed in a full sentence

Ineffective

Paying college athletes a salary is a good idea.

More effective

Because college athletes in revenue-producing

sports such as football and basketball generate
millions of dollars in revenue for their schools,
the NCAA should allow such athletes to
receive a$300 monthly salary as part of their
scholarships.

Should not be in the form of a question

Ineffective

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

Problems of fad diets.

7

More effective

Although Fad diets produce quick weight loss,

they can can lead to serious health problems by
creating deficiencies in vitamins and minerals
and by breaking down muscle tissue as well as
fat.

Should avoid figurative language

Ineffective

What are nanorobots?

More effective

Microscopic in size, nanorobots are being

developed for use in medicine, weaponry, and
daily life.

o
Microscopic in size, nanorobots are being developed for use in medicine,
weaponry, and daily life.
Ineffective

Mexicos Yucatan peninsula is an awesome

place for a vacation.

More effective

Mexicos Yucatan peninsula has many

attractions, including a warm climate,
excellent food, and extensive Mayan ruins.

2. Example outline
General purpose

To inform

Specific purpose

To inform my audience of the three major races in

alpine skiing.

Central idea

The three major races in alpine skiing are the downhill,

slalom, and giant slalom.

Main points

I.

The first major race in alpine skiing is the

downhill.

II.

The second major race in alpine skiing is the

slalom.

III.

The third major race in alpine skiing is the giant

slalom.

The central idea usually encapsulates the main point to be develoved in the
body of your speech.

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

CHAPTER III
CLOSING

A. Conclusion
Based on the formulation of the problem that has been addressed in the previous
chapter, the chapter discussion, I conclude :
The first step in speechmaking is choosing a topic, For classroom speeches, you
can choose a subject you know well or one you research especially for the speech. Topic
you know a lot about or topic you want to know more about. If you have trouble
picking a topic, you can use one of four brainstorming procedures ; Personal inventory,
clustering, reference search, or internet search.
The general purpose of your speech will usually be to inform or to persuade.
Once you know your topic and general purpose, you must focus on an specific purpose
statement that indicates precisely what your speech seeks to achieve. The specific
purpose statement should :
o
o
o
o
o

Be a full infinitive phrase

Be worded as a statement, not a question
Avoid figurative language
Concentrate on one distinct idea
Not be vague or general

Keep several question in mind as your formulation your specific purpose

statement :
o
o
o
o
o

Does my purpose meet the assignment?

Can I accomplish purpose in time allotted?
Is the purpose relevant to audience?
Is the purpose too trivial for audience?
Is the purpose too technical for audience?

The central idea refines and sharpens your specific purpose. It is concise
statement of what you will say in your speech, and it usually crystallizes in your
thingking after you have done your research and deciding on the main point of your
speech. The central idea usually encapsulates the main point to be develoved in the body
of your speech.

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

B. Advice
Selecting a topic and a purpose is a very important part in public speaking, which
is why we need to make selecting a topic and a purpose in order that what we deliver to
the audience, the audience can understand and provide a response back to us.

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

10

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Art of Public Speaking 10th Edition, page 74 - 93

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

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