Selecting a Topic and Purpose 7
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. As long as your speech topic interests you, it need not be appropriate to the
audience and occasion.
2. In many instances, a speaker will be required to meet time constraints for a
speech.
3. The three general speech purposes are to inform, to persuade, and to mark a
special occasion.
4. The general purpose of a speech is often indicated by the occasion.
5. A speech that defines, describes, explains, or demonstrates is persuasive in
nature.
6. When selecting a topic for an informative speech, the speaker should try to
gauge how much the audience already knows about it.
7. The speaker should present his or her informative speech with the goal of
giving the audience something new to expand their understanding and
awareness of the topic.
8. The general purpose of a persuasive speech is to effect some degree of change in
9. Issues on which there are competing perspectives are generally most
appropriate for informative speeches.
10. A eulogy is a type of special occasion speech.
11. Special occasion speeches sometimes have secondary specific purposes to
inform or to persuade.
12. To develop an interesting speech, a speaker should choose a topic with which
he or she is unfamiliar.
13. Current events are generally considered boring choices for speech topics.
14. Speaking about grassroots issues provides opportunities to engage with the
community.
15. A common topic, such as the health risks of smoking, is a good choice for a
speech because it touches upon a subject the audience is likely familiar with.
16. Brainstorming is a problem-solving process involving the spontaneous
generation of ideas.
17. Brainstorming is not an effective way to select a speech topic.
18. Brainstorming by word association involves placing a potential topic in the
middle of a piece of paper, drawing a circle around it, and mapping the ways
that related ideas branch from the central topic.
19. Internet tools, such as popular search engines, should not be used when
brainstorming a topic.
20. To narrow a speech topic, you need to consider time constraints, audience
expectations, and the nature of the occasion.
21. The specific speech purpose lays out precisely what you want the audience to get
from the speech.
22. The thesis statement is the theme or central idea of the speech.
23. A well-written thesis statement aids the speaker in developing a coherent,
understandable arrangement of information.
24. The specific speech purpose is the same thing as the thesis statement.
25. When crafting a speech, it is a good idea to create the main points and
supporting material first, then work on the thesis statement.
26. The thesis statement should be stated in a way that will motivate the audience
to listen.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
27. Speakers are often given direction with respect to their speeches. They may be
given
A) a purpose. C) time constraints.
B) a challenge. D) All of the options are correct.
28. The ______ speech purpose answer
A) general C) informative
B) specific D) persuasive
29. The purpose of a(n) ______
and awareness of a topic.
A) commemorative C) informative
B) persuasive D) challenge
30. A persuasive speech topic is most appropriate when
A) the audience holds attitudes and beliefs about the topic similar to the
B) the issue discussed has very little controversy.
C)
encounter opposing information in the near future.
D) the audience completely agrees with the speaker before the speech.
31. Special occasion speeches include all of the following except
A) speeches of introduction. C) speeches of presentation.
B) class lectures. D) speeches of acceptance.
32. Grassroots issues are
A) poor speech topic choices.
B) audience directly.
C) usually local in nature.
D) issues pertaining to the federal government.
33. People rarely respond to persuasion directed at their core values, so steer clear
of topics that are
A) highly charged. C) novel.
B) personal. D) civic minded.
34. Topic mapping is a ____________ technique.
A) speech organization C) critical-thinking
B) speech delivery D) brainstorming
35. When narrowing a topic, the speaker should consider the
A) time constraints. C) nature of the occasion.
B) audience expectations. D) All of the options are correct.
36. The ______ speech purpose describes in action form what outcome you want to
achieve with the speech.
A) general C) specific
B) initial D) ethical
37. The ______ concisely identifies, in a single declarative sentence, what the speech
is about.
A) topic C) purpose
B) thesis statement D) claim
38. A quality thesis statement should be restricted to
A) two to three main points. C) two paragraphs.
B) a single idea. D) the size of the audience.
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK QUESTIONS
39. The first task in preparing any speech is to select a(n) ______ and purpose for
speaking that are appropriate to the audience, occasion, and overall speech
situation.
40. To inform, to persuade, and to mark a special occasion are the three general
speech ______.
41. A(n) ______ speech defines, describes, explains, or demonstrates something.
42. The general purpose of a(n) ______ speech is to effect some degree of change in
or specific behaviors.
43. Issues on which there are competing perspectives are good topic choices for
a(n) ______ speech.
44. A speech of acceptance is a type of ______ speech.
45. The problem-solving process involving the spontaneous generation of ideas is
termed ______.
46. Drawing a(n) ______ is a helpful way to show categorical relationships among
words.
47. The ______ speech purpose lays out precisely what you want the audience to get
from the speech.
48. The ______ statement is the theme or central idea of the speech.
49. Speech topic choices should always be guided by what is right, or by ______
considerations.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
50. Explain the major differences between informative and persuasive speech
purposes.
51. List three topics suitable for a persuasive speech.
52. Discuss three types of special occasion speeches.
53. If you were assigned to write a speech based on your personal interests, what
four topics would you consider for your speech?
54. Identify two current events or controversial issues appropriate for a classroom
speech.
55. Identify two contemporary grassroots issues appropriate for a classroom
speech.
56. How can speaking about grassroots issues provide a speaker with
opportunities to engage with the community?
57. Compare and contrast the brainstorming techniques of word association and
topic mapping.
58. How can you use Internet tools to brainstorm and narrow potential speech
topics?
59. Discuss at least two things to consider when narrowing a speech topic.
60. How does the general speech purpose differ from the specific speech purpose?
61. Explain why a speaker should strive to be ethical when choosing a speech topic
and purpose.
62. Describe the similarities and differences between the thesis statement and the
specific speech purpose.
63. Explain why the nature of the thesis statement varies according to the speech
purpose.
64. Choose a speech topic. Then write (a) a general speech purpose, (b) a specific
speech purpose, and (c) a thesis statement.
65. How can a speaker make a thesis statement relevant to, and motivating for, the
audience?
ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER 7
