1.6 About Picking a Topic

Starting you off with models to use is possible because this book and its inductive approach to public speaking differs from traditional instruction in another way. Traditionally, students are encouraged to pick their own speech topics. If a topic interests you, the theory goes, you’ll be more motivated to compose and deliver a good speech. The theory is sound—and we’ll eventually get there, but only gradually.

Choosing your own speech topic sounds appealing. But it’s a skill that requires more than simply thinking something up. Is my topic too narrow to be interesting to others? Is it too broad? If it’s too broad, how do I narrow it down? Is it a topic that I can cover in the time I’ve been allotted to speak? Can credible research be found on this topic? If there’s a lot of research out there, can I manage it all?

That’s a lot to lay on any student for their first-ever public speech. Then, too, perhaps as a new college student who’s going through a lot of changes in your life, you might simply say, “I don’t really know what topic I want to speak about—particularly since I’m scared to death at the thought of speaking!” Don’t feel bad. Lots of students struggle with not really knowing what to speak about. So, the inductive approach to public speaking addresses the skill of topic selection gradually. Here’s how it works:

What about the reasons for your first two topics—namely the value of a college education and a major problem that college students face? In fact, these topics address a question that you (and all other public speaking students) can rightfully ask: “Why do I have to take this course? How will learning to speak benefit me someday after I graduate and in my career?” Consider the following:

These speech topics also have some key advantages that will set up you up for success. Credible research is readily available and easy to find on higher education and on major problems faced by college students. Plus, the topics are manageable within the time you’ll be allotted to prepare and deliver each speech. And the topics are relevant and interesting for your audience of college classmates.

To demonstrate the application The act of putting a thought, idea, or concept into concrete operation. or “takeaway value” of what you’ll be learning, throughout the chapters in this book you’ll find three Real-Life Career Scenarios that illustrate professional applications for key concepts. Here, for example, are the scenarios for the first concept—how to gain your audience’s attention—that’s covered in the next chapter: