How to select a good topic
To goal of a topic search is to identify an idea that justifies your speaking and others’ listening, To find the right topic, you may need to work through several stages of discovery, including;
1. charting your own interests and the interests of your listeners
The best way to begin your search in to develop lists of your own interests and those of your listeners as revealed in class discussions and earlier speeches.
Sometimes it is hard to come up with a list of potential topics in the abstract. If your mind seems to have gone blank, you can sometimes spur it by using newspapers, magazines, or television to generate ideas. What catches your attention? What might be adapted to the interests or need of your audience?
2. Analyzing potential topics to refine and focus them
In order to come up with specific topic possibilities, you may need to start with general topic areas and subject them to close analysis. One technique is to ask the questions news reporters use to assure that they investigate a story thoroughly.
3. Selecting one topic on the basis of its meaningfulness, its audience appropriateness, and your ability to acquire responsible knowledge of it
After you have completed your interest charts and analyzed your topic area, two or three specific topics should emerge as important and appealing possibilities. Now you should ask of each:
- Dose this topic fit the nature of the assignment or occasion?
- Could I give a speech on this topic in the time available?
- Can I learn enough about this topic to give a responsible speech?
- Why would I want to give a speech on this topic?
