Beginning the Speech Process General and specific purposes and Central Ideas

SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT Write as a full infinitive phrase, not a fragment. Express your purpose as a statement, not a question. Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement. Limit your purpose statement to one idea. Make sure your purpose statement isn’t too vague or general.

Questions to ask yourself Does it meet the assignment? Can I accomplish the purpose in the time allotted? Is the purpose relevant to my audience? Is the purpose too trivial for my audience? Is the purpose too technical for my audience?

What’s the problem? To inform my audience how to make perfect popcorn every time. To inform my audience about the growth of credit card fraud and the methods of sound financial planning. What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? To inform my audience about how to change a tire. To inform my audience about locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary speech acts. Donate blood. To persuade my audience that something needs to be done about global warming. To inform my audience about how awesome my family is.

CENTRAL IDEA A concise statement of what you expect to say. A thesis statement. The central idea typically emerges as you research your speech and figure out the main points. The central idea encapsulates the main points to be developed in the body of the speech.

Supply the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea. Main Points: I. As a painter, Leonardo Da Vinci produced The Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, and other masterpieces. As an inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci drew plans for such devices as a parachute and a flying machine. As an astronomer, Leonardo Da Vinci concluded that the earth revolves around the sun.

General Purpose: Specific Purpose: Central Idea: Main Points: I General Purpose: Specific Purpose: Central Idea: Main Points: I. You should volunteer as a literacy tutor because it helps children. II. You should volunteer as a literacy tutor because it strengthens community. III. You should volunteer as a literacy tutor because it is personally rewarding.

Provide the general purpose, the specific purpose, and the main points. General Purpose: Specific Purpose: Central Idea: The four stages of alcoholism are the warning stage, the danger stage, the crucial stage, and the chronic stage. Main Points: