About Me
- Brendan
- I am a professional educator by trade, but by my definition, I am much more than that. I wear many hats; including, but not limited to, Father, Husband, Son, Step-Father, Ex-Husband, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Super Geek (love technology), Trainer, Coach, Student, Writer, Dreamer, and Leader. For fun I am an avid golfer and consider myself a blessed individual because I have the greatest wife in the world that loves to golf with me.
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Thursday, September 1, 2011
Lesson 7 Selecting the Right Topic and Speech Purpose
There are really only two types of speech topics- ones that are assigned to you and ones that you get to choose.
Hopefully if the topic is assigned to you it will coincide with what the audience wants. If not, refer to the Guidelines for Appealing to Different Audiences in Lesson 6.
Regardless of the topic you will also need to define a speech purpose. There are three GENERAL speech purposes.
- Informative
- Persuasive
- Special Occasion
Informative. An informative speech does just what it says, it informs. Hopefully it will assist in increasing the audiences understanding and/or awareness of the topic. If you are to give an informative speech, make sure you don't try to be persuasive about the information provided. Let the "facts" do the talking.
Think of it as walking up to a wall, painting some kind of picture, and then walking away without explaining why whoever is looking at it should like it.
Persuasive. Yes this kind of speech does what it says, it is meant to persuade the listener. The goal is to change the audience attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior on a given topic.
Referring back to the painting example above, now you are telling why this is a masterpiece and why such a piece of artwork should be enshrined.
Special Occasion. This type of speech is associated with a specific event like acceptance speech, funeral (eulogy), or some kind of celebratory event. These speeches are usually narrowly defined with what is expected. They usually are long in length.
Selecting A Topic (if you get to)
For many, selecting a topic to speak on is a difficult process because they feel there is so many things to talk on or they don't feel like they have anything to talk on.
Whatever side you are on, you must first take into consideration your audience (Lesson 6).
Once you are clear on your audience and you have a GENERAL speech purpose (inform, persuade, or special occasion), you can begin the process (and yes it can be a process) of selecting a topic.
Some helpful hints are:
- Rely on your own interests and what you feel passionate about (again, remember audience).
- Consider something you can do better than others or something that not a lot of others know that is interesting.
- Consider issues/events going on around you locally or globally.
- Consider controversial issues (You will need to prepare for this. I highly suggest that those new to public speaking stay away from controversial issues until they gain confidence and better skills).
- Avoid boring or overused topics.
Brainstorm to Create Ideas
The one thing that will help you with brainstorming is to realize that there is no right or wrong way of brainstorming. There is no right or wrong word(s) you write down while brainstorming.
The key to brainstorming is getting anything and everything out on paper.
Here are some ideas that you may want to try (just do something):
- Write out lists
- Use word associations
- Diagram your ideas by using a topic map.
- Use the Internet to search for ideas.
- Ask others.
- Write down every thought (crazy or random as it is) and see where it leads you.
Define Your Topic and Purpose
Once you have an idea of the topic you want to speak on, start to narrow it down.
Begin by looking at:
- what time constraints you will have
- what the audience expects
- what does the audience already know about the topic
- what are the values, beliefs, and attitudes that you will need to take into consideration
(All Lesson 6 again)
Next come up with a SPECIFIC speech purpose. This is like the GENERAL speech purpose but it is written out in a sentence and explains what you are going to accomplish.
Example: To persuade the audience to only purchase TOMS shoes in order to help third world children with no shoes.
After you have a SPECIFIC speech purpose you can then develop a thesis statement. This statement will be a single, declarative statement that possesses the central idea of your speech. It goes along with SPECIFIC speech purpose statement.
Example: TOMS shoes is an organization that supplies thousands of new shoes to third world countries many children do not have shoes.
The thesis statement is your "grabber" or your "hook." A good thesis will set the tone for the speech. Worry about this later though, just get something down and come back and tweek it later.
After the thesis begin to develop main points of your speech. This is also known as developing the body of the speech.
Gather resources (information) you will need to add support to the main points. This is known as expanding the body of the speech.
Make sure you are adding relevant information. Use words that will enhance your speech and are appropriate for the audience (understanding).
Finally, add a closing statement that wraps up what you just said or reiterates a call to action. A good closing remark is memorable and creates something for the audience to ponder about or want to do. It leaves them on a positive, high note.
Questions
- Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable?
- What tips and tricks do you use to brainstorm? How does brainstorming help you?
- Is it easier to have a topic assigned to you, or would you rather have the choice of choosing a topic to speak on? Why? When would you want a topic assigned to you and when would you want to choose a topic?
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I think it's easier to have a chose of topic, however, it's nice to be given some perimeters on what I should be speaking about. Take church for example, I always hate being assigned a topic to speak on in church. But when given the option to chose my own topic, it's nice to know that although I have many, many topics to chose from, every topic is going to fall into the category of LDS Theology. It's also nice to be given a broad topic for a class assignment, say nutrition. Then it's up to me to brainstorm and decide upon a topic that allows either a very broad or very narrow inclusion of nutrition. I don't particularly enjoy being assigned a topic because I feel as though this often narrows what I can do with the topic. For example, if I'm speaking to a staunchly LDS audience about Gay Marriage, I won't be received well if my views are in favor of the topic. Although my audience may allow conflicting points to be versed, overall they will only be supportive of my points if they are in alignment with their own views. Conversely, if I already know I'm speaking to a staunchly LDS audience, but if I'm given the option to chose my topic, I can pick something I know will be much more favorably received and/or tolerated by my audience.
Hands down the best speech I ever attended was in Lake Las Vegas. Hundreds of millioinres came and only a hand full spoke. The best one was the main event, Art Willams (self made billionare)stood up in swets and a t-shirt. His speech was brilliat! He owned the entire audience. He shared personal experences, hope and frustratins experenced on his road to sucess. Then he told us how to overcome, push foreward, and succed in life and buiness. He had all 3,000 of us laughing one minute and in tears the next. He was one of us. He was a nobody, grew up in poverty, he had suffered loss, health problems, dishonist people had tried to break him. The best part was how he was just human. He had to use the bathroom so he just stopped and said "I got to pee" and walked off stage. He came back a few minutes later and picked right back up where he left off. His speech was informative, persuasive, and a special event all in one. It was great to see that some one with so much would come speek for free to a bunch of average people.
One of the best speeches I've ever heard came from a canadian journalist. He was originally from south africa. He absolutely LOVED what he was talking about. He was very well prepared. I don't remember him looking down once during his 25 min speech. This man was very confident and concise with his word choice. He is a funny guy so all the humor that he brought into it made everyone laugh. I felt like everyone in the room was listening intensely to every single word he spoke. He had a lot of dynamic in his voice. He would get very loud at some points and then go extremely quiet. During the quiet parts everyone seemed to lean forward in their seats just to make sure they heard what he was saying. What made it most memorable is partly his south african accent but also the fact that he NEVER stumbled with his words. It seemed to be a perfect speech.
“What tips and tricks do you use to brainstorm? How does brainstorming help you?” - When I brainstorm whether I was assigned a topic or the topic is of my choosing, I try to understand my audience. Most of the time my audience fits into the category of people who are seeking information. Generally this takes the pressure off me. All I have to do is present the information that I am familiar with in a meaningful and concise way. I really have never given a persuasive speech, and I think this is where the brainstorming and information gathering would be of most use. When I have used brainstorming it is when I am asked to use the information I know to address a specific issue. For example, I teach people about Navajo Culture all summer long in Page. Sometimes I am asked to address specific groups, like youth groups. Beforehand I am asked to tailor my remarks and speak to the topic, “why it is important to know your culture and how it will be beneficial in the future?” This is pretty simple because I know my information and all my sources already. All I have to do is decide the best way to distribute the information. Usually I use an outline on paper then decide what order I want to go in and how I’m going to relate the information to the needs of the audience.
I watched a speech by one of the General Authorities of the LDS church while I was in the MTC. It will be a speech I will never forget because Elder Holland was so passionate about the topic. He started his speech with a very interesting story and made some great points. What was interesting was the most memorable part of his speech came when he got off topic and was almost yelling because he was so passionate about the topic. I was on the edge of my seat the entire speech. I think that is one of the only talks that kept my attention nearly the entire time. It is very easy to let your mind run wild while listening to someone speak but the presence of Elder Holland was very powerful because of how he carried himself and how he was able to show how passionate he was about the topic. You couldn’t walk away and wonder if he believed in what he was saying.
Brainstorming is an important way to help think of speech topics and even main points in a speech. When I brainstorm, I try to not limit any of my thoughts and ideas. Even if it sounds crazy, I write it down anyway. You never know when a crazy idea can be the root of a really solid idea. I always use internet searches to help me come up with ideas. The internet is full of millions of peoples’ ideas. To ignore that as a resource would be foolish. Also, I like to do polls and questionnaires with my family and friends. They can be a huge help in coming up with new thoughts, or even helping me to finish formulating my existing ideas. When I brainstorm, I write everything that comes to my mind all over a blank sheet of paper. Then I put the paper away for at least a day. That way, when I come back to my ideas, I can look at them form a new perspective, and eliminate the ones that won’t work, and strengthen the ideas that have potential.
In my opinion in the beginning it is easier to have a topic assigned to you. You don't have to do all the guess work and can instantly start your research work. That means that you will also have more time to research because you won't be using as much time on trying to brainstorm and figure out your topic. On the flip side, although it might be easier to automatically start preparing for your speech when you are given the choice to choose your own topic in the beginning it will be harder. You will have to brainstorm and try to figure out what you are going to speak on. Which will most likely lead you to having less time to prepare. But when the speech actually comes you will know the topic! You are the one that choose it. You will be able to speak with more passion and give greater life experience on the matter. So in my views it's really whether you want the preparation to be easier or the speech itself.
During my sophomore year of high school, I went and participated in our state's leadership conference. At the conference, we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Josh Sundquist. He did such a great job. He used personal stories to get his point across. Some of his stories were very real and serious, but others were just hilarious. He kept us focused, interested, and most importantly laughing. The thing I remember most was when he ended with a song made up. Actually, it was already a song, but he changed the words to go with one of the funny stories he told about a date he went on. He didn't change the words of the chorus, and it was a song most of us knew, so we all were able to join in on the chorus. This was awesome and a great idea because it included the audience. He picked a song from our generation and had some audience participation.
Anytime I am preparing for a speech I brainstorm by searching the web. This usually gets my brain moving much faster then having a blank sheet of paper sitting in front of me. To me there is nothing worse than staring at a blank piece of paper while your trying to come up with some good material. So what I do it search the web, but I copy and paste things to a document. Once I have a few pages of material I print that out. Then I use those papers as a reference. As I’m writing my own thoughts, I incorporate the research that I gathered. I feel like my speech goes so much smoother. Plus, I think its much easier to write a speech this way. I also feel like I can write something quicker with this method. So don’t be intimidated by the white sheet of paper. Get your brain warmed up by searching the web!
3. On the contrary to most people, I would prefer to have a topic assigned. I am pretty indecisive, and allowing me to choose from endless possibilities is definitely going to make it harder to decide. I like to keep it simple: get it and do it well. Also, being assigned a topic gives me the opportunity to learn more about that certain topic, whether I already know something or nothing about it. The only exception to my decision for having a topic assigned would probably be for a demonstration. If I had to give a performance on a topic, I would prefer to choose my topic, something that is accessible and within my reach. Many people enjoy choosing their own topic, but that only allows one to expand on something they already know about. How are you going to pull something completely new out of your knowledge? There are ups and downs to both decisions, but from personal experiences, I enjoy the given assignments and creating an in-depth understanding for it in order to share that knowledge with the audience.
Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable? I think the most memorable speech I ever listened to was at a leadership camp I attended. The guy was talking about the importance of remembering people’s names. He talked about how important it was that we remember what people tell us, everything about them. We need to try so hard to always do that and we can go so much farther in life if we can do that. The reason I liked his talk so much is number one, he was really funny. It was not boring at all! Second the topic really appealed to me as a person. My personality is naturally a leader and I care deeply about others. So when he talked I was interested the second he started speaking. He also involved the audience. He asked questions and used examples from his own life. He was very motivational and after he was done I felt like I could change the world. I wanted to make a difference and be like the person he encouraged us to be.
When I was a junior in High School I had the opportunity to listen to a public speaker that really influenced me. He told personal experiences that related to me and the struggles I was going through. He did it with humor, he related the topic to the audience, and he was well prepared with the topic. I believe that this was a memorable speech because I laughed so hard at this personal experiences, that the laughter if forever ingrained in my soul. He thought that stress plus time equals humor, and no matter how bad you think your life is or how embarrassing the circumstances is find the humor in it.
I am responding to question #1: A very memorable speach that I listened to was made by Larry King. What happened was Dixie College was playing Butler County for the JC National Championship when I was a freshman at Dixie in 2003. A couple of nights before the game, we had a banquet for both teams where Larry King was the guest speaker. I think in my mind what made it good was it seemed like he was very well prepared but at the same time I didn't see him use a single note for a speach that probably lasted 20 - 30 minutes. He didn't studder or lose his train of thought the whole time which I thought was very impressive. What made it memorable for me was it was funny, he told of lot of stories that tied into his jokes and the way it all tied together was very funny and had some good points to it.
One of the more memorable speeches i have listened too lately. One speech came to my mind first, the inauguration speech of John F Kennedy, as the president of the United States. It was very famous for many different reason. First because of the time it took place, who Kennedy was, the youngest and first Catholic president. It was also memorable because of how powerful it was. There is the famous line that everyone remembers it by "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." The entire speech was great because he talked to the American people as a whole, and made himself apart of those people as there equal not someone above them, and as you listen to the speech, its apparent that the crowd is involved and supportive. That's why its still one of the best.
Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable?
I just recently went to a seminar for developing good habits and techniques in college. When the speaker came to the front and introduced himself and the topic... He captured you in the first sentence. Rather than being nervous and stuttering over his notes, and only looking down, He would make eye contact. I knew that when he was speaking he was passionate about the topic.
He had this way of talking that was not dull or monotone at all. Instead of it being a "speech" It was as if he was just talking to a friend about what different things he could do to be better in school. It came off as it wasn’t something he had to prepare for, he just new it by heart. He showed emotion in his words and held himself well in front of everyone... where i have seen other's go to the front to give speech and just look down or talk really quick like they are reading something over and over again. Then people get a glazed look over their face, and tune the speaker out.
He was a great speaker in presenting himself with confidence and speaking with flow to each paragraph and subject.
In answer to question three, I think it really depends on the situation. At times, it is hard for me to be able to think of an acceptable topic, if I am given a genre though or a few options to pick from then I would prefer that. For example, if someone were to tell me to give a speech but that I could choose between camping, fishing, or hiking. It would give me the freedom of choosing one that I'd be most comfortable with but I wouldn't have to stress and worry about what kind of topic to pick. Situations like church, I would prefer to be assigned a topic. But like in a class setting I think I would like to choose. In a work setting, I'd like to be assigned. Whether it's easier to have a topic assigned or not, I don't think it really matters. To me, it's just the individual situation but I hope to learn to get better at being ready and prepared for both.
I don't know whether or not it is easier, or harder for me to write about somethig assigned to me or when I get to choose what I want to write\talk about. I have positives and negatives about them both. Like when you get assigned a certain topic it's nice because I know what I need to write on and it keeps my scattered brain from wandering off on to other topics. Unlike, when I get to pick, because that usually gets me branching off into other things that interest me. But what is nice about choosing something I want to write about is that I can guarentee what I write\talk about will atleast be interesting, because when I'm super interested in something I want everyone else to be as interested as me.
What tips and tricks do you use to brainstorm? How does brainstorming help you?
Whenever I need to organize my thoughts or play with ideas, I have to write them down. I need a pen or pencil in my hand and a clear paper in front of me. For me, brainstorming with these physical objects produces much better results than typing, searching, or drawing. When words, phrases, or sentences come, I just write them down. I don't restrict myself. If they come to my mind, they spill onto the paper. By the time I am finished with this paper I have usually identified a main topic. My main topic is typically whatever encompasses most of the words on my paper. Working with words really gets me thinking. After this, I will get a new paper, set it beside the first, and start again. This time I begin to organize the jumbled words. Words and short phrases become more complete thoughts under headings. I may repeat this process several more times, and soon my body is expanded and detailed. After a few sheets of paper, I have an organized outline of my speech before me and I am able to move on in the direction I need to. This is just my personal way of brainstorming. It really all comes back to words. Words get me writing and thinking. They are the beginning and end. They give me a place to start and a purpose with which to move forward.
The most memorable speech I ever heard was actually from a Stanford volleyball player. I can’t think of her name right now but she was really an inspiration to me. It was my junior year in high school and I was on the varsity volleyball team. We started off our season a little rough and my coach decided to have his niece, who was a college player, come talk to us so we could maybe have some encouragement. She just started off with a few personal stories of her volleyball career and I felt like I could really relate to her. She talked about the importance of always having a good attitude no matter how hard life can get. It just always stuck with me because I really looked up to her and could relate some of my own life to hers. Her speech to us really helped my teams attitudes towards one another. It’s amazing that one person can have such an influence on many peoples lives.
To be assigned or pick my own topic for a speech are both easy and hard at times, just depending on who my audience is and the occasion for which I am speaking. My reasoning for this is because it depends on where I am at day to day and how I am feeling. Also my audience and the occasion are big variables. For church I could be assigned or pick my topic and they both would be easy or easier to prepare as compared to giving a speech to my co-workers or in class. I would rather be assigned in those situations because then I would have a better idea of what is expected and it would help me know what my audience needs to hear. For church as I have said I would be fine being assigned or picking my topic. For work I would like to be assigned a topic. For a class depending on the type of speech I could do either choose or be assigned and not be to stressed about it.
On the subject of topics, I definitely like to have some general guidelines based on environment and audience. I think it just gives a good foundation, which every speech needs. It also takes off the stress of coming up with something interesting, non-offensive, useful, exciting, etc. Plus, you can always blame the person who gave you the topic if your speech turns out to be a bust. On the flip side, I do like to have a little freedom on where I take my speech because it allows me to add personality and passion which is also a “must have” for a successful speech. Sometimes, it's hard to speak on something that someone else feels is a strong topic when it doesn't necessarily “speak” to you. Whatever the topic is, assigned or chosen, a good public speaker will be able to find something within that topic to make it personal.
Is it easier to have a topic assigned to you, or would you rather have the choice of choosing a topic to speak on? Why? When would you want a topic assigned to you and when would you want to choose a topic?
For me I would have to say that I would like to choose my topic rather than be assigned. This is not because I would be any more or less nervous with either of the selection methods. My preference comes from the idea of having pride in my speech. It has to do with having something in me to support what I am saying. For example… take a missionary who is sent out for his church. If he is speaking something that he was told to say how affective would he be at either persuading or informing? I think his level of commitment to persuade those around him would end up sub-par. This would be because the topics given to him did not come with passion necessarily. However if he were able to choose his topic from his knowledge and experience he would be able to speak with confidence and pride that he can stand behind his message because he has passion for his topic.
The only time that I want something assigned to me is maybe in class because that is what is going to happen ☺
My preference on choosing a topic depends fully on my audience and how much I know about them. If I am speaking to a group of people that I know very little about I would like to be assigned a topic from the leader of their group or congregation. This assures the person that is asking you to speak that the needs of that group of people will be addressed. On the flip side of that, there are occasions that you know what the audience needs to hear and the flexibility to choose the topic would help greatly. An example of this is if you are speaking to a group of people that you know on a personal level. That way you don't need to ask a leader of the group what would help the audience to grow and develop because you would already know. The ability to connect with your audience depends primarily on knowing their needs and their expectations. For this reason it is good to have a topic assigned to you if you don’t know your audience.
On the subject of whether we would like to choose a topic or if we get a topic assigned to us, it really depends on what type of speech I’m giving. If I am giving a persuasive speech, then I would want to choose my own topic so I can choose something that I am passionate about. When I can choose a topic more passionate about, I will be able to persuade my audience on more of a personal level because, for me, when I’m giving a talk on a subject that I’m passionate about, I have life experiences that I can share that have led me to why I think the way I do about that subject. However, if I’m giving an informative speech, it wouldn't matter if I got to choose my own topic or if I was assigned a topic. It would be easier if I was given a topic on an informative speech because I would be less tempted to give my own opinion and trying to persuade the audience. So it really depends on the type of speech we are giving.
My favorite speech. We had a man and wife come into my high school as a guest speaker, which they talked about suicide. This talk/speech put me in to tears and touched my heart. Recently in their life there son had killed himself, which they explained why, and how he did it. This guy has been going around for years and talking at schools, churches, jail, juvey about suicide and how life is so precious. This not only made me sad but also made me feel lucky to be alive and to learn about how to stop or help people that feel like this. The guy was very prepared he new how to talk to the audience, he had poems, sayings, stories that made all of us students completely silent and have all eyes on him. He caught everyone’s attention and really touched and inspired the audience. I wish to become a motivate speaker just like him.
Question 1:
Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable?
I have been to many different leadership conferences, and listened to numerous motivational speakers throughout my lifetime. Many of them have sparked my attention and made me want to keep listening to what they have to say. While these people are speaking they always seem so calm. They could be speaking in front of a stadium of people and still seem so calm as if they are only talking to a small group of people. They always know their information. I'm sure they have put lots of time and effort into knowing exactly what they are going to say and always keeping themselves calm while doing it. That is how these people become motivational speakers. Lots of times motivational speakers will leave you with certain quotes or key saying that stand out to you. That is something that many people will remember. That is their way of leaving their mark on you so that you can remember what they said to you. I would love to learn to be as poised and calm as they are while speaking to large groups of people.
There is no way that I would be able to come up with a speech or talk without lots of time brainstorming. Over the years I have found one strategy to be the very most effective for me. Writing down my thoughts as they come is how I get things flowing. There is no order when I first begin to write it is just a jumbled mess of separate thoughts that relate to or help my topic. Usually I will end up with five or six pages of random thoughts, ideas, quotations and many other things. At this point I then begin my revisions and narrowing or rewriting what I have there on paper. There has never been a time where I have had a specific amount of times that I go through my material and organize or fix it, I just seem to mess with and tweak it until I am finally satisfied with all that I have written down. Brainstorming helps me because I have a time to get anything that I can possibly use out onto paper so I can remember it and work with it as I create a final draft or complete speech.
I think that it is easier to have a topic assigned to you. It saves a lot of time trying to figure out what subject you want to do and if it's a good topic. You are able to study and research right away without researching topics do then researching that topic. You also get to learn about something new that you didn't learn before. It can also though being easier getting to choose the topic because it's always easier talking about things you are famiar you. It's easier when you do research you won't need to do as much research and you have an idea how to organize your speech. It's also easier if you are worried about time and if you are familiar with the topic you can always rabble on about it even if it wasn't in your notes or your outline. I think it also depends on what the speech is about also likebif itsa speech for an informative or a persuasive. I think it s also better to have guidelines if you are able to choose your one topic.
One speech that has always been memorable to me is the Michael Jordan Hall of Fame induction speech. In this speech he was very calm and was able to communicate what he was trying to say perfectly. He talked about all the things in his career that he has accomplished and and all the milestones he has past. Something that made this speech memorable was how good everything flowed together and how well-spoken he was when he was. Something else that made this speech memorable was his ability to grab your attention, from the beginning he made what he was saying very interesting and made you want to listen to it all. He being able to speak well and present himself well has done a lot of good for his career because it has helped him in situations where he has to talk to the press and media. It helps make what he says more credible and it makes people take him seriously.
Question#1
The church that I belong to is always have speakers come out for different talks in order to help us and so it's interesting to always see what makes some of them better then others. There is a specific one that I can remember from a few years ago where the speaker made a high impact for me. That topic was 'How to be the best you.' And I think some of the talents this person had that made them good and memorable was that a) they made their whole speech simple. I've listened to some people talk and I couldn't even pay attention to what they were saying because I couldn't follow them. B) He was very relatable and understanding. He understood that he was talking to youth and that we don't want fingers pointed at us and being told to be better, but made it clear that he's been down our road before and understands. And C) he was very comfortable with what he was saying, and would throw out occasional jokes to keep that mood light and the audience interested.
The perfect time to choose a topic would be for a persuasive speech or an informational speech. Being able to pick what you want for either of theses purposes really gives you the advantage on the court. You would generally pick a topic that you’re interested in so it makes it ten times easier remembering information. It is also easier persuading an audience when you like what your talking about and feel confident in your decision. Its difficult deciding if it’s easier to choose a topic or if being assigned one is easier because theirs so many pros and cons for both. Being assigned would make it very quick to start researching information and you wouldn’t have to worry about a topic to choose. But if you don’t like the topic given to you, you might have a harder time connecting with the audience. Having the freedom to pick a topic gives you a bigger advantage because again you would obviously choose something you like so it will be much easier to talk to an audience, so in conclusion it is easier picking a topic then being assigned one.
When I think about my topic and what kind of speech I will be giving, I really think about what my audience is going to be. So for my first speech in class, it was people around my age. So the first thing I thought of is, make them laugh. I loved listening to those speeches where they made me laugh, I really enjoyed them, and it kept me listening, and entertained. So I thought about what they did to make theirs funny, I got ideas from that, and also from my own personality. I got voted class clown my senior year in high school, so I guess people think I'm kinda funny. But when it comes to a serious talk, I get right to business. I look up information, I get all kinds of resources and think about what I can do to impress my audience, and make them really think about me, and my speech. So I don't get categorized into all the rest of the speeches. It really does help me, cause then when I think about what would be funny to say, I don't forget it, I always remember what I am going to say. It really is an easy trick to brainstorming and getting my ideas put together, is to just imagine what my audience is going to be, and think of how to entertain them and keep their minds on me
A topic is the base of a speech you need it for pretty much everything about a speech. Having the choice to choose a topic for you to speak about can totally change your speech. If I could talk about whatever I wanted in class I think that I could do a number of things better. 1. I would add personal stories to relate to the topic I have. 2. It would most likely be something I am passionate about because I got to choose it. 3. I have more confidence in something I know a lot of details or facts about therefore creating a better speech. Although, I think that choosing a topic is much easier I feel that being assigned a topic isn’t terribly hard if you have the right amount of time to do research and get to know your topic on a more personal level. But without those things I find it very challenging to talk something up when I normally do not have a clue on what I am saying.
What tips and tricks do you use to brainstorm? How does brainstorming help you?
Personally I like to have my speech almost prewritten ahead of time. I like to know exactly what I am going to say. So when I prepare I like to brainstorm for my topics then write each paragraph of my speech. When it comes to choosing a topic I am the worst. I am un-confident in my topic and I am very indecisive. I may change my topic twenty times before I finally commit. I will list all of the topics that I am considering, then I will choose the few that sound the best. After I get those few, I will research my selected topics. I will then decided which one I would feel the most comfortable speaking about, or the one I think my audencie will need/want to hear the most. After I pick my final topic I will break it down into its major sections and write my speech for each section.
It is definatly easier for me to get to choose the topic i have to speak on rather than having the topic given to me and me having to research and speak on it, because when its your freedom of choice to express an opinion to the public in the way that you passionately feel about it you tend to be more motivated in the curiculem and more interested in the subject so speaking on it is alot more comfturable and convincing appose to haveing your topic or subject chosen for you and having to research about the topic and presenting or speaking about it on a limited basis which restricts the fluidity of the presentation.
The only time i would perfer to have the topic chosen for me is on a debate type situation when the topics are equally debatable but even then i would still perfer the topic i know most about or feel the strongest towards
I would rather have someone give me a topic. I am so a.d.d that I have to many ideas at once and very indecicive so I can't ever focus on one. At least if the speech is picked out for me I can just go and get the information and not have to choose between a million and one ideas before I can get the information that I would need. I never like doing my own speeches unless it is in a comptition. I then know my audience and know what to expect them to talk about. I could easily pick a topic to one up my compition. I already have issuse with being scattered and at least if I am givin a topic I can have more time to prepare then having to worry if I will even get a topic selected to write on before the day it is due and having to spout a bunch of nothing. Jenny Campbell
1.Think back to a memorable speech you listened to. What made it good? What made it memorable?
I think one of the most memorable speaches I have recently seen was an acception speech gave by Dion Sanders going into the Football Hall Of Fame. Dion has alway been flashy, he would always taught the other team when he would pick off a pass and dance his way into the endzone. Dion was never know as a person to hold back what he really wanted to say, kinda wore his heart on his sleave. So going into his acceptence speech, I think a lot of people were expecting Dion to be flashy and not give the propper speech. I was surprise and as were many to see Dion be humble. It was amazing to see who many consider one of the greatest corners of all time show his humble side. Thanking all of his coaches for putting up with, Thanking all of his teamates for making him better. Even went as far to thank his Grandma for believing in him when he was going to quit playing in college. For someone as great as him to show that he was so humble in his speech, thats what made it so memorable to me. So many times we'll see musicians and movie stars except awards and yeah sometimes they'll thank their fans but there speechs come across meaningless. Very rarely we can see an acceptance speech be so sincere and the speaker be so humble. I believe when we do, that speech sticks with us more because the speaker established a trust and to me its more memorable.
I don't believe that either having a topic assigned to you or coming up with your own topic is easier. I think that a speech can be good only depending on the time put into it. However, as in the impromptu speeches we're doing this week in class, being given the topic as opposed to being able to choose a topic may or may not be difficult, depending on how much we know about the subject. I never would have been able to come up with something like the guy did when he had to talk on a political issue. Talking about politics, I would have defaulted to something like how I felt about certain politicians, but there are certain things you don't talk about in society, and politics lands in that category. I know there are several people who don't think the same way I do about politicians right now and I could have offended them. But if you're given a topic about something that you know a lot about, then I think you'll do just as well as you would have if you would have chosen the topic yourself. For instance the guy who gave the speech on Tiger Woods. He was able to give a very good speech because he and his wife debate it all the time. He had a background in the topic he was given and it added to his speech. I was very impressed all the way around with what everyone has done so far.I don't believe that either having a topic assigned to you or coming up with your own topic is easier. I think that a speech can be good only depending on the time put into it. However, as in the impromptu speeches we're doing this week in class, being given the topic as opposed to being able to choose a topic may or may not be difficult, depending on how much we know about the subject. I never would have been able to come up with something like the guy did when he had to talk on a political issue. Talking about politics, I would have defaulted to something like how I felt about certain politicians, but there are certain things you don't talk about in society, and politics lands in that category. I know there are several people who don't think the same way I do about politicians right now and I could have offended them. But if you're given a topic about something that you know a lot about, then I think you'll do just as well as you would have if you would have chosen the topic yourself. For instance the guy who gave the speech on Tiger Woods. He was able to give a very good speech because he and his wife debate it all the time. He had a background in the topic he was given and it added to his speech. I was very impressed all the way around with what everyone has done so far.
3. Is it easier to have a topic assigned to you, or would you rather have the choice of choosing a topic to speak on? Why? When would you want a topic assigned to you and when would you want to choose a topic?
I much prefer having a topic assigned to me. This way you don't have to think twice and waste time wondering what you should talk about it. You can get straight to the research and its always interesting learning about new things. I like getting the opportunity to explore different subjects and the challenge of writing a speech about something I may not be as comfortable with. I guess on those days where I'm busy and feeling tired it would be easier to just write about something you've given several speeches about, but that's no fun. I personally really do like to learn and it's a bigger accomplishment when I do a good job with something I'm not familiar with. I do think it's good to have a mixture of both though just for experience. You never know what kind of speeches you may need to give in the future so it's best to be comfortable with either option!
In most circumstances having a topic assigned to you would be the easiest for me. Rather than me researching for a topic then researching that topic just doing the research once would be the best considering my ability to become bored with something very fast. When speaking to a crowd at, I don’t know let’s say a hospital about something in the medical field I would rather be told what to talk about but when trying to persuade people I would much rather choose my topic because it’s much harder to persuade yourself as you persuade people than it is to just persuade people. Altogether most of the time it is easier to just be given a topic then it is to choose for me at least but I can see a good point in both sides it is very hard to research an issue you know very little about to begin with.
Question 3
I think it all depends on the situation. In a class such as Public Speaking I would like to choose a topic so i feel credible and comfortable and can access a lot of ways to present it. When assigned a topic I feel that will be a good challenge as well to learn something new, but on the other hand I feel its easier to have a topic that you choose to speak about. In a business setting for a company I would like to have a topic given to me so that way i know what the main man wants to get done or accomplish and maybe have my own way of presenting and setting it up but to get a cwertain point across. So I would say for a more general purpose having some guidelines would help a lot but I feel its all situational whether I would like to have a topic assigned to me or if i would like to choose one for myself.
I have had a papers where the topic had been given to me. Some of them were easy and good but others have been completely what I didn’t want. I had no interest in the topic so completing the paper was one of the hardest things because I didn’t care about it. Both looking for a topic and being given a topic is difficult but I would rather choose my own topic so I at least know I’ll be interested in the topic. When I brainstorm for the topic I want to research about I don’t only think about things I have experiences with or am good at, I think about things my parents, roommates, friends are good at that I could possibly be interested in so I can get a little more help than if I was doing it on my own
There are visual and auditory learners. I am easily classified as a visual learner hands down. Quite often, to help myself organize my thoughts, I use what is termed “mind mapping.” This is synonymous with brainstorming with a specific approach. I draw mine with a series of bubbles. A mentor of mine also called them “plates.” He preferred plates because a plate of food consists of different items that make up the whole of one plate. After you draw your plate, in the middle you write the general topic or keyword that represents a principle. You then create bubbles off shooting from the main one. These sub-categories are the individual principles that make up the specifics of the larger principle that you are trying to describe or illustrate. In a speech, you can create several bubbles that help you organize it from start to finish. Ie: Introduction, point 1, 2, and 3, conclusion could be the main topics to discuss. From that point you then create smaller bubbles with specifics on what they will consist of. The visual approach helps me to see the whole speech in my mind thus internalizing the entire speech. Internalizing it then makes it so I can speak without using note cards.
I have given speeches where the topic has been assigned to me and I've also given speeches where I have been able to choose the topic. In all honesty, I don't know which I prefer because it depends on the situation and the circumstance at which I am speaking. For instance, when I give talks in church I like it when they assign me a topic because otherwise there is so much doctrine and material that I could speak on. It is so hard to make a decision because you want your talk to be memorable and great but you don't know which topic to speak on. On the other side of the coin, giving a speech for conferences or in front of panels I would much rather decide my own topic. By doing this I am able to find something that I am passionate about and know a lot about so that way I can present them with a lot of material that could have the ability to influence them. In my example before, I care about all of the topics associated with church and so I would be great to talk about anything. Whereas if I was to be speaking to a group of high school kids from around the state (which I did this summer) I would speak about leadership and the power that one individual has. I know a lot about this and how it is applicable to them because I can relate to them easily.
Question 3:
I think it would be easier in some ways and harder in some ways. I would rather have a topic assigned to me for an impromptu speech because it really gets my mind rolling and I can gather information quickly and do what my instincts tell me. Although, there is definitely an advantage to choosing your topic, if you choose the RIGHT one. The benefit of choosing your own topic is that you are naturally going to choose something that you feel most comfortable talking about, something you know a lot about. In this case, you have a lot of material to cover and a lot of ideas in your head because your talking about something you are passionate or very knowledgable about. I think there are many cases where topics are assigned to people; corporate meetings, sports, even every day conversation, and especially in politics.
Some people like to have their topic assigned to them, myself on the other hand would jump at the chance to choose my own topic to speak on. I believe that if I am able to choose something that I love or that I am passionate about, then it will be a lot easier for me to speak about it. Even if I only hand a couple minutes to prepare, I think it would be more of a walk in the park talking about something I know, rather than trying to talk about something I am unsure of. Personally, if you ask me to talk about soccer, I could go on for hours without even having to think about what I was saying. It just comes naturally to me. I would much rather have a day or two to prepare for my speech though. I think I would feel more at ease and less uncomfortable.
When i was eleven or twelve, I had no problem coming up with ideas, they just never really related to the topic I was supposed to write on, and as you can see that can be a problem. But, thankfully, my sixth grade history teacher, Jenny Walker, was the first person to show me how to make a word web, to force my brain to focus on my topic - and its the method I've used to brainstorm ever since. I think the reason I like to make a word web is because its name really does ring true. If i have a paper due, or a speech to prepare, and i need to find a topic, writing down just one word will make me or anyone really, indisputably think of another, and so-on. Until I've got a paper that is full of thirty different words that will just make me think of more, until eventually I have a topic, and speech/paper. Its the foolproof way of brainstorming as far as i'm concerned. You can't really go wrong.
A couple years ago, i went to a speech about drinking and driving at UNLV when i played baseball there. this speech was for the athletes and giving the speech was this girl who was a stud athlete in college and got it all taken away because of a drunk driving accedent. She was deformed and had one arm. Her face had over 20 plastic sergeries to it and she seemed emotionally scared for life. Her words were powerfull but the site of her is what really cut deep with people. During her speech she had a slide show showing pictures of the crash and her going to the hospital. The pictures were horrifying and made everyone in the room gasp. I realized that ill never forget this speech simply because of the images of the slide show and the site of this girl who was completely in different for as before. So a powerful visual can make a speech memorable.
I think that in some ways it is easier for me when I have a topic assigned to me. That way, I know exactly what I need to do and can get straight to work researching and writing the speech, rather than spending a lot of time trying to decide on my topic. That being said, I think that my best speeches are ones where I get to choose the topic, even though I tend to spend more time agonizing over what I'm going to speak on. I think that they are better because I can choose things that I am interested in and passionate about, which makes me try harder.
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