Real Communication An Introduction

348 Part 4  Public Speaking

may give you a specific assignment. Be certain of your

instructor’s expectations for your speech, asking ques-

tions if necessary, to ensure that your topic and speech

are appropriate. In searching for a good topic, you

might try two proven strategies for generating ideas:

considering personal interests, and brainstorming and

clustering.

Finding a Topic That Intrigues You

It’s hard to give a persuasive speech about something

you don’t find particularly inspiring or an informative

speech on a topic you know nothing about. Finding a

topic that is interesting to you will prove useful, making

you more motivated to research, refine your ideas, and

generate audience enthusiasm.

But when you have a variety of interests, it can be hard to pinpoint one to

speak about. One way to get started is to write up a list of topics that interest

you. For example, take a look at the variety of interests listed in Table 12.1. Cre-

ating a thorough and detailed list of topics that interest you (or even others) can

be a great tool for stimulating speech ideas.

Brainstorming and Clustering

Once you’ve determined a very general topic—from your interests or an instruc-

tor’s assignment—you’ll need to start amassing information, thinking creatively,

and considering problems and solutions related to your topic. This is a process

known as brainstorming.

In brainstorming, you might consider using a technique for identifying

potential topics called clustering (R. E. Smith, 1993). It begins with a core idea

from which the writer branches out into a web of related thoughts and ideas.

Rather than generating a list of ideas, clustering “spills” ideas in a visual way. To

TABLE 12.1

PERSONAL INTEREST TOPICS

Personal Experiences Controversial Issues Current Events Hobbies Beliefs and Values

Camping trips

Life-threatening event

Education

Organizations

Accomplishments

Military service

Volunteer work

Gun control

Smoking bans

Animal testing

Immigration

Prayer in public

schools

Internet privacy

National health care

The economy and

new job prospects

National debt

Sporting events

Musical performances

Acts of terrorism

Cyberbullying

tragedies

Global warming

Rock climbing

Hiking

Cycling

Camping

Cooking

Online gaming

Auto restoration

Social justice

Environmentalism

Supernatural events

Humanitarianism

Spirituality

Mysticism

Retribution

Source: O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein (2007), tab. 7.4, p. 98. Adapted with permission.

CHOOSING a topic from
among numerous ideas and
interests will call for some
thinking and writing. Get
creative! © Radius Images/Alamy