Page 64 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 2 Your First Speech 31

For informative speeches, examples of specifi c purposes would include:
• To explain for my audience the basic principles involved in the Heimlich
maneuver.
• To illustrate for my audience how to swing dance.
• To share with my audience knowledge about the earliest contributors to
hip-hop culture.
Again, your specifi c purpose must be realistic. It is one thing to explain the ba-
sics of the Heimlich maneuver, and quite another to successfully instruct people
in using the maneuver in a brief time without any hands-on practice. You can il-
lustrate the basic steps of swing dancing in a few minutes, but teaching someone
to really “swing” takes much longer.
In addition to ensuring that your specifi c purposes are realistic, make sure
they are worthwhile. For example, the Heimlich maneuver can save a life. But
unless your audience has some interest in swing or hip-hop, why would audience
members be motivated to listen to your speech?
Finally, you need to assess your specifi c purpose carefully in terms of your
own goals. What, exactly, do you want to achieve (other than a passing grade on
your speech)? For example, what is your reason for teaching the steps of swing?
Do you go swing dancing every Saturday night? Do you want to encourage oth-
ers to join you? Or are you just a fan of the style, but not a participant? Under-
standing your own goals can help you write a clear and useful specifi c purpose.
As you develop your specifi c purpose, keep in mind these factors and the four
guidelines listed in Tips and Tactics.
Tips and Tactics
Guidelines for Refi ning the Specifi c Purpose of a Speech

• Describe the results you seek.
• Be as specifi c as possible.
• Express your goal in measurable terms.
• Set a realistic goal.

Whatever speech topic you select, therefore, you need to clarify in your
own mind and for your instructor what specifi c purpose you intend to achieve
through the speech. Make sure the specifi c purpose is realistic, is worthwhile for
your audience, and helps you achieve your own goals as a speaker. It will make
what comes next much easier.

Writing Your Thesis Statement

Every speech should have a central idea or point. If you want people to save for
thesis statement
their retirement at the earliest age possible, your point might be that doing so
A single declarative
can make an early retirement possible. You should be able to express this point
sentence that focuses
in a single declarative sentence. We call this a thesis statement, a sentence
the audience’s attention
that focuses your audience’s attention on the central point of your speech. A the- on the central point of a
sis statement should make your central point clear; express your point of view on speech.
that point; and, if accepted, fulfi ll your specifi c purpose.