COMM-2500 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Thesis Statement, Literal And Figurative Language

• School: Clemson University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMM-2500
• Professor: Vanessa Condon

Document Summary

There are literally endless possibilities for speech topics from a to. The first step in speechmaking is choosing a topic. Usually the speech topic is determined by the occasion, the audience, and the speaker"s qualifications. In a public speaking class, the situation is different. Students generally have great leeway in selecting topics. This would appear to be an advantage, yet there may be no facet of speech preparation that causes more gnashing of teeth than selecting a topic. There are two broad categories of potential topics for your classroom speeches: (1) subjects you know a lot about and (2) subjects you want to know more about. Most people speak best about subjects with which they are most familiar. Everyone knows things or has done things that can be used in a speech. Think for a moment about unusual experiences you may have had or special expertise you may have acquired.