Chapters 5 and 7

Chapters 5 and 7

Wednesday, September 18

Work Time on Topic Proposal

Chapter 7

Improving Specific Purpose Statements

Chapter 5

Learning Objectives

Announcements

Agenda

Reminders and Preview

Announcements

• Topic Proposal due Friday, September 20 @ 11:59 (Blackboard)
• Chapters 5, 7, and 15 due Sunday, September 22 @ 11:59 (Connect)
• COMS Tracks #1 due Sunday, October 6 @ 11:59

Learning Objectives

Identify the difference between a general and a specific purpose (Chapter 5).

Distinguish between the specific purpose and the central idea of a speech (Chapter 5).​

Explain the major resources available for researching speeches in the library (Chapter 7).​

Explain how to use the internet for speech research efficiently and responsibly (Chapter 7).​

Follow the four tips for doing research discussed in this chapter (Chapter 7). ​

Selecting a Topic and a Purpose

Pages 74-93 in The Art of Public Speaking​

• Single infinitive phrase​
• States what speaker hopes to accomplish​

• Specific purpose​

• Broad goal of speech​
• Usually written as just "to inform" or "to persuade"​

General v. Specific Purpose

• General purpose​

Specific Purpose Guidelines

Full Infinitive Phrase

Examples

Examples

Examples

Statement, Not Question

Avoid Figurative Language

Avoid Being Vague

Examples

Limit to One Distinct Idea

Examples

Specific Purpose Guidelines Cont'd

Specific Purpose Questions

Does my specific purpose statement meet all the assignment requirements?

Can I cover my specific purpose in the time alloted?

Is my topic relevant to my audience?

Is my topic too trivial for my audience?

Is my topic too technical for my audience?

Central Idea

• One-sentence statement
• Encapsulates major idea of speech

Central Idea Guidelines

Express as a Full Sentence

Statement, Not Question

Avoid Figurative Language

Avoid Being Vague

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Example Outline

General Purpose: To inform​Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the four major events in Speech & Debate.​Central Idea: The four major events in Speech & Debate are public address, limited preparation, interpretation, and debate. ​

• Break into groups of 3 or 4​
• Each group will get one of the specific purpose statements on the next slide​
• Identify the problem with each and rewrite the statement to correct the problem​
• Discuss in your small group for 5 minutes​
• Be prepared to present to the class​

Improving Specific Purpose Statements

Bad Examples

1. To inform my audience about Vietnam.​
2. To persuade my audience that something has to be done about the problem of artificial intelligence.
3. Start an exercise program.​
4. To inform my audience why arbitrage pricing theory is superior to the capital asset model for pricing assets in financial markets.​
5. To persuade my audience that the U.S. government should eliminate the Department of Education and send an astronaut to Mars by 2030.​
6. What is student loan relief?
7. To inform my audience how to register for classes. ​

Gathering Materials

Pages 112-131 in The Art of Public Speaking​

Link

Founder's Memorial Library Resources

Visit the library's website using the icon below to access these amazing resources for research in COMS 100 and beyond!

Databases

HuskieSearch

Journals

Huskie Commons

Digital Library

Google Scholar

Is the date readily available? What is the publication date? When was the information last updated?

Does the sponsoring organization have a history of accuracy and nonpartisanship? Is the organization objective?

Is the author an expert on the topic? What are their qualifications? Can their opinions be accepted as objective and unbiased?

Evaluating Documents

Authorship

Sponsorship

Recency

Tips for Research

• Start early​
• Make preliminary bibliography​
• Takes notes efficiently​
• Take plenty of notes​
• Record in consistent format​
• Make separate entries​
• Distinguish between direct quotations, paraphrases, and own ideas​
• Think about materials​

Work Time on Topic Proposal

Pick an informrative topic that you are interested in exploring for your speech. Submit your answer to the questions on the right to Blackboard as a Word document or PDF by Wednesday, September 18 at 11:59. Remember to choose a topic that you can reasonably discuss in 5-7 minutes with plenty of credible resources to cite.

What is your topic and why is it important to you?

What incident occurred that sparked your interest in this topic?

What questions or issues do you have about this topic that you need to research? List a minimum of three questions or issues that will inform your speech.

Preview

• Cover key concepts from Chapter 8
• Come prepared for an in-class activity to work on finding your three resources for your informative speech

Reminders and Preview

Reminders

• Topic Proposal due Friday, September 20 @ 11:59 (Blackboard)​

• Chapters 5, 7, and 15 due Sunday, September 22 @ 11:59 (Connect)​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: NIU's Memorial Library is an amazing place to visit.​ More effective: NIU's Memorial Library has many benefits for students, including quiet study spaces, access to academic essays and newspapers, and great support staff. ​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: To persuade my audience that NIU is awesome.Effective: To persuade my audience that NIU is a great college for first generation students.

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: Benefits of COMS 100​ More effective: The benefits of COMS 100 include developing more confidence, learning how to organize arguments, and improving public speaking skills. ​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: Going to class every day is a good idea.​ More effective: Going to class every day helps students engage with the material, perform better on assignments, and make meaningful connections with their peers and instructor. ​

Ineffective: To persuade my audience that something should be done about the dining halls. ​More effective: To persuade my audience that the dining halls should offer fresher and healthier food options for all students. ​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: Speech and DebateEffective: To inform my audience about the four major kinds of events in Speech and Debate.

Ineffective: To persuade my audience to come to student hours and to prepare for their speeches early. ​ More effective: (1) To persuade my audience to come to student hours, or (2) To persuade my audience to prepare for their speeches early. ​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: What is Navigate?​ More effective: Navigate is an NIU app that is being used to schedule appointments with advisors, find study buddies in your classes, and organize your class schedule.​ ​

Ineffective v. Effective

Ineffective: What is STEM Fest?Effective: To inform my audience about the history of NIU's STEM Fest.