SPE 111

There are many ways to choose a topic, but for a speech where you need to inform others about a topic, consider the following questions:

• What are you an expert on? 
  • Pro: You already know a lot, so you will be able to speak confidently on the topic
  • Con: Since you already know so much, it may be difficult to find good outside sources.
• What do you want to learn more about?
  • Pro: You are interested in the topic, and since you do not know too much going in, you will have a better idea of what your audience may need/want to know.
  • Con: It may take a bit more time as you not only need to find sources, but you need to learn enough about the topic to be able to speak confidently about it. (This doesn't mean you need to know everything or be an expert on the topic before you give your speech)

How to write your topic: 

"I will be informing an audience of ______ (about/how to) ______. This will be valuable to my audience to _______"

EXAMPLES:

"I will be informing an audience of college students about the dangers of K-12 zero-tolerance policies. This will be valuable to my audience who may not know about this problem that affects their peers and society."

"I will be informing an audience of student drivers about how to drive safely and properly in hazardous conditions. This will be valuable to my audience who will likely find themselves driving during a rainstorm or snowstorm."

When choosing a topic for this speech, ask yourself: What do I believe in? What do I feel strongly about?

This could be a :

• Political opinion
• Ethical belief
• Cultural/aesthetic belief

Choose something you feel confident about and that you could speak clearly on but it doesn't have to be directly tied to your life experience. 

Keep in mind your audience, and try to brainstorm two or three arguments before you start your research.

How to write your topic

"I will be persuading (audience) to _____. I will talk about (arguments). An argument against this is _____, so I should look into____."

EXAMPLES:

"I will be persuading a group of college students to study abroad. I will tell them about the benefits of studying abroad, which include understanding different cultures, pushing one's boundaries, and the benefits to your career/grad school admissions. Some people might argue that studying abroad is a waste of money, so I should be prepared to discuss funding opportunities and financial benefits."

"I will be persuading a group of coworkers to unionize. I will discuss the power of collective bargaining in general, and specifically increased possibility of higher wages and safer working conditions. An argument against unions is that conditions have improved and they are no longer needed so I should look into examples of modern industries where employees are poorly treated.