Selecting Topic and Purpose

Which of the following is a good question to ask when checking your specific purpose?

• Is my font size big enough?

• Will the audience enjoy my jokes?

• Can I accomplish this in the time given?

• Do I like the topic personally?

What makes a specific purpose ineffective?

• It uses a full infinitive phrase

• It states one clear idea

• It is too trivial or too complex for the audience

• It is related to the topic and audience

Which of the following is an effective central idea?

• Exercise

• What are the types of exercise?

• Exercise is awesome!

• Exercise improves heart health, strengthens muscles, and boosts energy.

Which of the following should you avoid in a central idea?

• Full sentence

• Clear structure

• Figurative language

• Main points preview

What is one guideline for writing a central idea?

• Make it sound like a poem

• Express it as a full question

• Keep it short and vague

• Write it as one clear, complete sentence

What is the general purpose of a speech?

• To entertain

• To inform or to persuade

What should a specific purpose start with?

• “Let me tell you something”

• “To inform” or “To persuade”

How many ideas should a specific purpose have?

• One idea only

• Two or more ideas

What is a central idea?

• A one-sentence summary of the speech

• A funny story at the start