How to Topics for a Speech

When choosing a speech topic, consider your audience.

When deciding on which topic you will choose for a speech, determine the dynamics of your audience, the underlying subject of the event and why you have been invited to speak at the engagement. Considering these factors when choosing a topic will help you give a successful speech.

Instructions

1. Know the audience you will be addressing. It is unreasonable to write a scholarly speech that encompasses your collective knowledge on a certain topic if you end up speaking to a class of elementary school students.

2. Know the underlying subject of the entire event you will be attending. Whether it is politically, economically or socially driven, you must also know the objective of the entire event to comprehend the scope of work needed to drive your speech forward.

3. Understand why you have been brought to address that certain audience at that certain event. Whether it is your experience or pioneering attitude in the field, you must be aware of why you have been asked to stand upon that stage. For example, if you have been asked to speak to high school students at a career event and you're an officer in the United States Marines, you will, by knowing all of these factors, have the foundation for your speech to grow upon.

References

• A Research Guide for Students: Presentation Tips for Public Speaking
• Speech Topics Help: Public Speaking Training: How to Choose the Best
• Fearless Public Speaking: What Should I Write About?

Resources

• Speech Topics Help: 7,500 Speech Topics
• Public Speaking Tip: Home
• Stress Cure: How to Conquer Public Speaking Fear
• Woman Studies Program: A Lesson on Speaking to a Specific Audience