In this chapter you have learned the following:

• To search for a public speaking topic, you can use at least five different approaches:
• Individual brainstorming.
• Categorical brainstorming.
• Conducting a personal inventory.
• Current topic identification.
• Internet searching.

• To select a public speaking topic,
• Speak about topics you already know.
• Speak about topics that interest you.
• Speak about topics that are important to your local community.
• Speak about topics that are uniquely your own.
• Speak about topics that your audience finds interesting.
• Speak about topics that the audience embraces but you do not.

• To evaluate a public speaking topic, determine whether the topic meets the standards of
• Appropriateness for the speaker.
• Appropriateness for the audience.
• Appropriateness for the occasion.

• The three general purposes of public speaking are
• To inform.
• To persuade.
• To highlight a special occasion.

• The specific purpose for a public speech includes considerations of
• Your general purpose.
• Your intended audience.
• Your precise goal.

• To develop a thesis statement for a public speech,
• You will prepare a one-sentence summary of the speech.
• You will need to be informed on your topic.