1. Forming the introduction
SPE 108

2. Determining the general purpose &
specific purpose
• What is the broad goal of your speech?
General Purpose
Example: inform or persuade
• What do you precisely hope to accomplish?
Specific Purpose
Example: To inform my audience about the
benefits of music theory for people with
cognitive delays

3. Formulating a specific purpose
statement
• Write the purpose statement out as a full sentence
Forces you to fully articulate your purpose
• Express your purpose as a statement, not a question
A question doesn’t make you choose a direction for where
your speech will go
• Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement
Forces you to be specific, and avoid sweeping statements

4. Formulating a specific purpose
statement
• Limit your purpose to one distinct idea
Forces you to focus your direction
• Make sure your specific purpose is not too
vague or general
If it is, it’s NOT a specific purpose statement

5. Questions to ask about your specific
purpose
1. Does my purpose meet the assignment?
2. Can I accomplish my purpose in the time
allotted?
3. Is the purpose relevant to my audience?
4. Is the purpose too trivial for my audience?
5. Is the purpose too technical for my
audience?

7. The Central Idea
• Central idea: a one sentence
statement that sums up the major
ideas of a speech
• A concise statement about what you
expect to say
• Essentially the same as a thesis
statement in a written paper
• Your residual message – what you
expect the audience to remember
after you’re finished speaking
• The central idea usually emerges after
most of your research is complete, and
you have already decided on the three
main points of your speech.

8. Guidelines for the central idea
The central idea:
1. Should be expressed in a full
sentence
2. Should not be in the form of a
question
3. Should avoid figurative
language
4. Should not be vague or overly
general