Omygosh . . . . .

1. Omygosh . . . . . AM I GOING TOTALK ABOUT??? WHAT So, you wanna know how to choose a topic?

2. CHOOSING A TOPIC: BRAINSTORMING

3. BRAINSTORMING: FREE-ASSOCIATION • ABRAHAM LINCOLN • EARTHQUAKES • ICE CREAM • Slavery • Racism & hatred • Assassination • Prophetic dreams • ESP • Ghosts • Angels • Devils • Vampires • Cold • Winter • Snow • Skiing • Boreal • Traffic • Smog • Hybrid cars • Earthquake zones • San Francisco • Lombard Street • Crooked • Snake • Bite • Apples • Apple pie

4. ELEMENTS of a SPEECH TOPIC or SUBJECT THE BROAD SUBJECT OF YOUR SPEECH Example: Building a Backyard Pond GENERAL PURPOSE THE UNDERLYING GOAL OF YOUR SPEECH Example: To inform ( or: To persuade … To celebrate) SPECIFIC PURPOSE WHAT YOU WANT YOUR SPEECH TO ACCOMPLISH: WHAT YOU WANT YOUR AUDIENCE TO UNDERSTAND, THINK, FEEL, BELIEVE, OR DO AS A RESULT OF YOUR SPEECH Example: To inform my audience about anyone can build a simple backyard pond . CENTRAL IDEA SINGLE PHRASE THAT SUMMARIZES YOUR SPEECH Example: Building a simple backyard pond or water garden can be fun, easy, inexpensive, and will add a relaxing new element to your back yard

5. Express the Specific Purpose as a Not a QUESTION  STATEMENT, Ineffective: What is Día de los Muertos? More Effective: To inform my audience about the history of Mexico’s Día de los Muertos celebration Ineffective: Is the U.S. space program necessary? More Effective: To persuade my audience that the U.S. space program provides many important benefits to people here on earth

6. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Avoid in the Specific Purpose Statement Ineffective: To inform my audience that yoga is extremely cool More Effective: To inform my audience how yoga can improve their health Ineffective: To persuade my audience that the policy prohibiting dogs at Sierra is no good More Effective: To persuade my audience that the policy on prohibiting dogs at Sierra should allow well-behaved dogs on campus

7. Make sure the Specific Purpose is not too VAGUE or GENERAL Ineffective: To inform my audience about the Civil War More Effective: To inform my audience about the role of African-American soldiers in the Civil War Ineffective: To persuade my audience that something should be done about marijuana More Effective: To persuade my audience that the federal government should allow the cultivation of marijuana for personal or medical use

8. What’s WRONG with TheseSpecific Purpose Statements? • To inform my audience how to make great popcorn every time. • To inform my audience about the problem of identity theft and methods of sound financial planning. • What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? • To inform my audience about Europe. • Donate blood. • To persuade my audience that something has to be done about the problem of HIV-AIDS.

9. TOPIC REALITY CHECK  Check Number One: Is this a GIMMICK topic?  Check Number Two: Is this a topic that the audience already knows well?  Check Number Three: Is this topic something that you really about? Check Number Four: Is readily available on this topic? (If you’re having real trouble finding material, go back and find a different subject you can research.) INFORMATION