Speech Writing Process

Introduction

• This lecture focuses on the speech writing process for students in a communication course.
• Emphasis is on student duties in speech assignments rather than professional speaker preparations.
• A four-step process is introduced for topic selection and main point establishment.

Challenges for Students

• Students face unique challenges compared to real-life speakers, such as selecting their own topics.
• Topic selection is crucial for comfort and success at the podium.
• Poor topic selection can lead to anxiety and poor performance.

Topic Selection

Importance

• Selecting the right topic is the most difficult yet crucial part of speech preparation.
• Poor topic selection often causes confident students to struggle during speeches.

Common Mistakes

• Choosing topics that are easy to access but not well understood can lead to failure.
• Example given of choosing topics like COVID-19 without deep understanding.

Personal Example

• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about choosing a controversial topic (abortion) without thorough knowledge, leading to poor performance.

Criteria for Topic Selection

• Three criteria for selecting a classroom speech topic:
  1. Subjects you know about.
  2. Subjects you love and are interested in.
  3. Subjects your audience is interested in.
• Aim to fit all three criteria for a successful topic choice.

Process of Topic Selection

Brainstorming Technique

• Use a brainstorming process to select a topic if struggling.
• List 9 categories: people, things, processes, concepts, natural phenomena, problems, plans, and policies.
• Write down the first 6 items that come to mind under each category.
• This process helps in quickly finding an appropriate and engaging topic.

Expressing the Topic

• When expressing your topic, use words that represent your subject matter in a general sense.
• Avoid using terms like "how" or "why" in your topic expression.
• Example: "Baseball cards" instead of "what to look for in a baseball card."

Audience Assumption

• You can assume the audience to be any group of people relevant to your topic.
• This assumption aids in creating a more focused and relevant speech.

Conclusion

• Review study notes and materials to reinforce topic selection and speech preparation.
• Following the process will aid in successful speech writing and delivery.