Unit 1: The Art of Public Speaking

Now that we have a handle on public speaking from a theory perspective, we are going to put the development of a speech into practice. In order to deliver a speech, you must first brainstorm a topic. We cannot deliver an extemporaneous speech without ground-work. This work is essential to an effective speech delivery. In this chapter, you will learn effective brainstorming skills to narrow down your topic, create a general and specific purpose for your speech topic, construct a thesis statement, preview the main points of your speech, and consider the support and/research within the main points. This section is essential for the success of your delivery. Often times, students breeze through this process believing that this is time-wasted. However, as you read through this chapter, you will see each step is an essential part of the overall speech making process. Take your time with each section, take notes, and think creatively. You will not be disappointed if you spend copious amounts of time thinking through each of these sections.