{"id":135,"date":"2022-03-30T15:25:28","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T15:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/speechcomm\/chapter\/the-topic-general-purpose-specific-purpose-and-thesis\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T18:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T18:40:58","slug":"the-topic-general-purpose-specific-purpose-and-thesis","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/speechcomm\/chapter\/the-topic-general-purpose-specific-purpose-and-thesis\/","title":{"raw":"8.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis","rendered":"8.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis"},"content":{"raw":"

8.2\u00a0 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\nBefore you can start building the body of your speech or presentation, you need to complete some key preparation steps. These include choosing a topic, deciding on your general purpose, writing a specific purpose statement, and developing a central idea (or thesis).\r\n\r\nTaking the time to do this early work helps you create a strong foundation for your speech. You\u2019re making important decisions about what you will talk about and why it matters. These choices shape every part of your speech, from the points you include to how you organize and deliver them. Because of this, it\u2019s important to think carefully and critically during this stage so your speech is clear, focused, and effective from the start.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Understanding the General Purpose<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n\r\nBefore you begin working on a speech, it\u2019s important to understand its general purpose<\/strong>. The general purpose explains what you want to achieve with your speech and helps guide your choice of topic. In most cases, your instructor will assign the general purpose, and it will fall into one of three categories: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nA general purpose to <\/strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2078\"]inform<\/strong> [\/pb_glossary]means you are teaching your audience about a topic. Your goal is to help them better understand something by sharing facts, explaining ideas, or introducing new information. In an informative speech, you focus on being clear and accurate\u2014you do not share personal opinions or tell the audience what to do.\r\n\r\nA general purpose to [pb_glossary id=\"429\"]persuade[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> means you are taking a position on a topic and encouraging your audience to agree with you. In these speeches, you share your viewpoint, support it with evidence, and often ask your audience to take action or change their thinking.\r\n\r\nA general purpose to [pb_glossary id=\"2079\"]entertain[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is typically used for special occasions, such as celebrations or ceremonies. The goal is to engage the audience, create a positive experience, and connect them to the moment or event.\r\n\r\nAs you can see, these purposes are very different. An informative speech focuses only on sharing knowledge, while a persuasive speech includes your opinions and a call to action. Because the general purpose shapes everything about your speech, it\u2019s important to clearly understand it before you choose your topic.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Selecting a Topic<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\nSpeakers often focus on one or more related topics\u2014broad ideas, issues, or concerns that matter to a specific audience. One of the easiest ways to come up with a topic is to pay attention to what\u2019s happening around you\u2014at your school, in your community, or in the world. If you\u2019re interested in using public speaking to inform others or create change, there are plenty of meaningful topics to explore.\r\n\r\nA great way to start is by asking yourself a few simple questions:\r\n