Unit 3: Preparing for a Speech Assignment

3a. Identify the general purpose of a speech

  • What are the three general purposes?
  • What are the definitions of the general purposes?
  • What are some examples of general purposes?
  • At what point in the speech creation process should a speaker identify the general purpose of their speech?

The general purpose of a speech is the broad goal of the speech. There are three general purposes for public speaking: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.

Speeches to inform aim to educate an audience. Some examples of speeches with the general purpose to inform include a presentation about a new strain of the flu, demonstrating a skill like swinging a golf club, or explaining airport security protocols.

Speeches to persuade focus on convincing the audience to take a side on an issue or change a behavior. Some examples of speeches with the general purpose to persuade include encouraging consumers to purchase a specific product, urging students to protest a tuition increase, and encouraging people to engage in healthier eating habits.

Speeches to entertain use humor or emotion to share a message with an audience. Some examples of speeches with the general purpose to entertain include wedding toasts and eulogies that share stories to honor a loved one.

A speaker must identify the general purpose of their speech during the first stage of the speech creation process when they determine their speech topic. The general purpose is the "why" that guides every other decision in the speech creation process.

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3b. Describe common forms of informative, persuasive, and entertaining speeches

  • What are the different categories used for informative speech topics?
  • What are the different types of persuasive speeches?
  • What are some common forms of entertaining speeches?

Speeches that subscribe to each of the general purposes come in a number of different forms or typologies.

Informative speeches are categorized by subject matter.

  • Object-oriented speeches are about tangible things, such as animals, places, or products.
  • People-oriented speeches focus on specific individuals or groups, often highlighting their contributions or life stories.
  • Event-oriented speeches are about occurrences, whether historical, current, or future.
  • Concept-oriented speeches explain abstract ideas, theories, or philosophies.
  • Process-oriented speeches, also called how-to or demonstration speeches, explain a series of actions that lead to a specific result.
  • Issue-oriented speeches address a point of controversy or a matter in dispute, with the goal of explaining the issue objectively rather than taking a side.

Persuasive speeches are categorized by the type of claim or proposition being made: pure persuasion, propaganda, claims of fact, claims of value, and claims of policy. Pure persuasion occurs when a speaker urges an audience to change their minds or behaviors about a topic where there is no clear right or wrong choice. Propaganda is a controversial type of persuasion that uses biased or misleading information to promote a particular cause or point of view. Claims of fact persuade the audience that something is or is not true. Claims of value persuade the audience that something is good/bad, right/wrong, or better/worse than something else. Claims of policy persuade the audience that a specific action should or should not be taken.

Entertaining speeches are usually defined by the occasion they are delivered at, such as after-dinner speeches, ceremonial speeches, and inspirational speeches. After-dinner speeches are lighthearted remarks delivered after a formal meal, often aligned with the event's theme. Ceremonial speeches include speeches given as part of a ceremony, such as introductions, toasts, roasts, and eulogies. Inspirational speeches are designed to motivate or uplift the audience emotionally, such as a commencement address.

Understanding these forms will help you choose the right direction for your speech assignment.

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3c. Select appropriate specific purpose statements

  • What are the three components of a specific purpose statement?
  • Why must a specific purpose statement be phrased as an infinitive?
  • How does the target audience influence the wording of this statement?
  • What are some examples of specific purpose statements?

A specific purpose statement is a concise, single-sentence phrase that states precisely what the speaker hopes to accomplish in their speech. It builds on the general purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain) by narrowing the focus to a specific topic and goal.

A well-written specific purpose statement must include these three elements: the general purpose, the audience, and the objective. Specific purpose statements are phrased as an infinitive (a verb preceded by the word "to", such as "to explain") because it is an action-oriented statement. Using an infinitive forces the speaker to define the specific action they will take to achieve their goal, ensuring the statement remains a clear roadmap for the speech rather than a vague idea.

The target audience influences the wording of the specific purpose statement because they are the central focus of the speech. A speaker must tailor the wording to match the audience's knowledge level, interests, and demographics. The wording ensures the goal is relevant and accessible to that specific group.

Here are some examples of specific purpose statements:

  • To inform my classmates about the history of jazz in New Orleans.
  • To persuade my local city council members to implement a mandatory plastic bag ban.
  • To entertain my cousin's wedding guests by sharing three humorous stories about our childhood adventures.

The specific purpose statement is an important part of the speech creation process.

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3d. Explain the functions of an outline for a public presentation

  • What are the functions of an outline?
  • How does an outline test the scope of content?
  • How does an outline help a speaker assess the logical relationships between ideas?
  • How does an outline help evaluate the relevance of supporting ideas?

The basic functions of a speech outline are to test the scope of content, assess logical relationships between ideas, and evaluate the relevance of supporting ideas.

An outline tests the scope of content of a speech by allowing you to visually compare the weight of your main points. If your first main point has six sub-points and your second main point only has one, the outline reveals that the scope is unbalanced. You can then decide to either find more information for the second point or narrow the first point to keep the speech proportional.

An outline helps a speaker assess the logical relationships among ideas by using indentation and symbols (such as Roman numerals for main points and capital letters for subpoints). The outline forces you to show which ideas are superior and which are subordinate. This hierarchy makes it clear whether a sub-point actually belongs under a specific main point or if the sequence of ideas is out of order.

An outline helps you evaluate the relevance of supporting ideas in your speech. When you place a piece of evidence (a statistic, quote, or example) directly under a sub-point in an outline, you can easily see if it directly supports that claim. If the evidence doesn't clearly explain the point it is under, the outline makes that lack of relevance stand out, allowing you to cut or move it.

A speech outline also serves as a blueprint, helping you stay organized during both the writing and delivery phases. In summary, outlining is the bridge between your research and your final performance.

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3e. Describe the three types of outlines: working outline, full-sentence outline, and speaking outline

  • What are the three types of speech outlines?
  • What is the purpose of each of the types of speech outlines?
  • Why should a speaker avoid using a full-sentence outline at the podium?

There are three types of speech outlines: working outline, full-sentence outline, and speaking outline. Each serves a different purpose in the speech development process.

  1. The purpose of the working outline is to serve as a rough map for organizing your ideas. It is a tool that helps you lay out your main points and sub-points as you first begin to structure your research and thoughts.
  2. A full-sentence outline provides a complete blueprint of your speech. By writing every point in full sentences, you can accurately track your time, test the logical flow of your arguments, and ensure that every claim is properly supported by evidence.
  3. A speaking outline serves as a delivery aid. It uses brief keywords and phrases to prompt your memory while you are on stage, ensuring you don't read your speech word-for-word and can maintain eye contact with your audience.

A speaker should not use a full-sentence outline at the podium when delivering a speech, as it only encourages reading from the page, which destroys eye contact and vocal variety. It also reduces the speaker's credibility.

Each outline serves a specific stage of the speech creation process: planning (working outline), checking (full-sentence outline), and performing (speaking outline).

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3f. Identify the five principles of outline creation: singularity, consistency, adequacy, uniformity, and parallelism

  • What does the principle of singularity require of each outline point?
  • How does parallelism improve an audience's ability to remember points?
  • What is the difference between consistency and uniformity in an outline?
  • How do you determine if you have met the principle of adequacy?

There are five principles of outline creation: singularity, parallelism, consistency, uniformity, and adequacy.

  1. The principle of singularity ensures that each point or sub-point within an outline contains only one distinct idea.
  2. The principle of parallelism ensures that by using similar grammatical structures for main points, this makes them predictable and easy for the audience to remember.
  3. The principle of consistency focuses on maintaining a focused and stable approach throughout the speech, primarily by ensuring the entire outline stays aligned with a single, clear thesis statement.
  4. The principle of uniformity requires the consistent use of grammatical structure and formatting throughout an outline.
  5. The principle of adequacy requires providing sufficient support for claims through necessary definitions and high-quality evidence. This rule ensures the audience understands the message by requiring at least two sub-points to thoroughly support the main points.

These principles ensure your speech outline is logically sound and easy for the brain to process.

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Unit 3 Vocabulary

This vocabulary list includes terms you will need to know to successfully complete the final exam.

  • adequacy
  • after-dinner speeches
  • ceremonial speeches
  • claims of fact
  • claims of policy
  • claims of value
  • concept-oriented speeches
  • consistency
  • event-oriented speeches
  • full-sentence outline
  • general purpose
  • inspirational speeches
  • issue-oriented speeches
  • object-oriented speeches
  • parallelism
  • people-oriented speeches
  • process-oriented speeches
  • propaganda
  • pure persuasion
  • singularity
  • speaking outline
  • specific purpose statement
  • uniformity
  • working outline
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