Page 236 - Essentials of Human Communication

Step 1: Select Your Topic, Purposes, and Thesis 215

Skill DEvEloPmENT ExPERiENCE

limiting Topics

Think about the overly general topics listed below. Using one of the methods discussed in this chapter (or any
other method you’re familiar with), limit one of these topics to a subject that would be reasonable for a 5- to
10-minute speech:

● Sports
● Male-female relationships
● Parole
● Surveillance on the Internet
● Children
● Student problems
A limited topic makes
● Morality
your speech easier to
● Fitness construct and easier to
● Political corruption understand and
● Violence remember.

Your general Purpose The two general purposes (major aims or objectives) of public
speeches are to inform and to persuade. The informative speech creates understanding; it
clarifies, enlightens, corrects misunderstandings, demonstrates how something works, or
explains how something is structured (see Chapter 13). The persuasive speech, on the other
hand, influences attitudes or behaviors. It may strengthen existing attitudes or change the
audience’s beliefs. Or it may move the audience to act in a particular way (see Chapter 14).
Table 11.1 identifies some of the major differences between informative and persuasive
speeches; keep these distinctions in mind as you read the next sections.

Your specific Purpose Your specific purpose identifies the information you want to
communicate (in an informative speech) or the attitude or behavior you want to change (in a
persuasive speech). For example, your specific purpose in an informative speech might be:
● to inform my audience of three ways to save time using the Internet for research;
● to inform my audience about how the new interoffice e-mail system works; or
● to inform my audience of the benefits of integrated work teams.

TABle 11.1 differences Between informative and Persuasive speeches
Here are some of the major differences between speeches that primarily aim to inform and those that aim to persuade.

element of speech informative speeches Persuasive speeches
Examples include classroom lectures, Examples include political speeches, reli-
demonstrations of how things work gious sermons
Topic/subject Significant but generally noncontroversial Significant and controversial or debatable
Purpose To communicate new information to listeners To change the attitudes, beliefs, or behav-
iors of listeners
Thesis States the central idea of the speech States the debatable position to be argued
Support Primarily examples, definitions, numerical data, and In addition to informative support, relies heavily
presentation aids on logical, emotional, and credibility support