How to Search for Public Speaking Topics
Searching for a public speaking topic is a process of evaluating the practical merits of different speech possibilities. You must assess subjects based on factors common to all speaking occasions. You should choose a relevant and practical topic that inspires you to adequately research and present it. In some cases, the occasion will dictate the topic, but you may be called upon to deliver a speech on the topic of your choice.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Write down as many subjects as possible that interest you. Include both specific and general items. For a broad interest area, such as the battles of World War II, narrow the topic down to a particular battle to make the research manageable. If you find it difficult to choose a topic, think about your favorite books or television shows. Check which websites you have bookmarked on your computer for direction, or travel to the local library and ask a librarian for assistance.
-
2
Determine the sources of information available for a possible topic. Check to ensure the sources are credible and the information is current. References to information in tabloid gossip columns will weaken your credibility as a speaker, as will information that is many years or decades old. Consider the source`s motivations for publishing the information and how the intent affects the validity of the facts provided.
-
-
3
Consider the time allotted for speaking and its effect on the presentation. The ultimate goal is to adequately present the topic in the time allowed without leaving the audience feeling overwhelmed by too much information or uninformed by a shallow presentation. For example, preparing a speech on the accomplishments and failures of the Roosevelt Administration would not be practical in a ten-minute format. However, addressing the effects of the New Deal on impoverished Americans during the Depression would provide focus for a short presentation.
-
4
Decide the purpose of the presentation and how it affects the topic. For example, ask if the intent of the speech will be to inform the audience about the death of John F. Kennedy, or to persuade the audience there was a conspiracy behind his death. A speech of information will provide the facts surrounding his death. A speech of persuasion will make a case either for or against a conspiracy, requiring the audience to consider more than one point of view regarding the topic.
-
5
Assess the composition of the audience in terms of such factors as gender and age. Knowing the audience can help you arrive at a suitable approach to your topic. For example, you may be interested in cell phone technology, but you're addressing a gathering of senior citizens. To make the speech relevant to their life experience, present a compare-and-contrast speech using an old dial phone and a new cell phone as visual aids.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
