Selecting a topic and a purpose

Chapter4 Selecting a topic and a purpose,刘煜韬 李新阳 罗珊琪,As you read through the book, you will find examples of hundreds o

Selecting a topic and a purpose

• choosing a topic
  • determined by occasion,audience,speaker's qualificaation
  • Topics you know a lot about
    • draw on your own knowledge and experience
      • unusual
  • Topics you want to know more about
    • select a topic that you want to explore for the first time
    • topics which you hold strong opinions and beliefs
  • Brainstorming for topics
    • personal inventory
      • experience
      • interests
      • hobbies
      • skills
      • beliefs
      • .......
    • Clustering
      • nine columns
        • people
        • places
        • things
        • events
        • processes
        • concepts
        • natural phenomena
        • problems
        • plans and policies
    • Internet search
      • website
• Determining the general purpose
  • To inform
    • exolain,report,demonstrate
    • clearly
    • accurately
    • interestingly
  • To persuade
    • sell,advocate,defend
    • change or structure the attitudes of audience
    • change or structure the actions of audience
• Determining the specific purpose
  • focus on one aspect of a topic
    • tips for formulating the specific purpose statement
      • infinitive phrase
      • statement
      • avoid figurative language
      • limit it to one distinct idea
      • not too vague or general
    • Questions to ask about your specific purpose
      • Does my purpose meet the assignment?
      • Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted?
      • Is the purpose relevant to my audience?
      • Is the purpose too trivial for my audience?
      • Is the purpose too tachnical for my audience?
• Phrasing the central idea
  • what is the central idea
    • thesis statement
    • a concise statement of what you expect to say
    • residual message
  • guidelines for the central idea
    • should be expressed in a full sentence
    • should not be in the form of a question
    • should avoid figurative language
    • should not be vague or overly gereral