CHAPTER SEVEN
SELECTING THE TOPIC AND PURPOSE
True-False
T F 1. A descriptive speech is a type of an informative speech.
T F 2. The primary goal of the persuasive speech is to influence beliefs, define concepts,
and affect the behavior of listeners.
T F 3. A speech on the topic “a college education is important” presented to a speech
class would be too overworked and familiar.
T F 4. Brainstorming is the process of jotting down ideas and evaluating as you do so.
T F 5. If you are interested in a topic but not knowledgeable about it, you should throw it
out and select another issue.
T F 6. A speaker should feel confident and not challenged by his or her topic selection.
T F 7. There are few topics which could be characterized as boring.
T F 8. One way to improve an overworked topic is to alter it.
T F 9. Entertaining speeches are presented primarily for enjoyment and usually lack
research.
T F 10. ProQuest Research Library, Academic Search Premier and InfoTrac College
Edition are databases that contain lists of periodical titles and brief summaries of
the articles.
T F 11. The phrase, “I want to explain how to perform a preventive maintenance check
on your car,” is an acceptable thesis statement.
T F 12. All major headings of the body of the speech are previewed in the thesis
statement.
T F 13. A specific purpose should be easy to read and easy to verbalize.
T F 14. Occasionally, a specific purpose might contain more than one topic.
T F 15. A specific, limited issue you can develop into a speech is a topic.
T F 16. According to the text, college speech instructors tend to emphasize informative
and persuasive speeches over speeches to entertain.
T F 17. People tend to overlook their own experiences when trying to think of speech
topics.
T F 18. Newspapers should never be used for research subject matter because they are
mostly advertisements.
T F 19. Most people will not have an occasion to present an entertaining speech during
their lifetimes.
T F 20. The specific purpose is the purpose the audience has for listening to the speech.
T F 21. Persuasive speeches do not require researched material.
T F 22. Appropriateness in a speech is highly subjective.
Multiple Choice
23. A speech of definition is a type of
a. demonstration speech.
b. persuasive speech.
c. informative speech.
d. entertaining speech.
24. A speech which changes beliefs is known as a(n)
a. demonstration speech.
b. persuasive speech.
c. informative speech.
d. entertaining speech
25. A business report which projects growth of a company for the year 2010 would be
characterized as
a. demonstration speech.
b. persuasive speech.
c. informative speech.
d. entertaining speech
26. A presentation in which the speaker asks the audience to donate blood would be
considered a speech to
a. stimulate
b. actuate
c. convince
d. none of the above
27. The general purpose represents the
a. direction of the material in the speech.
b. the objective of the speech.
c. the main points of the body of the speech.
d. the topic statement for the speech.
28. When selecting a topic, you should choose an issue that
a. is popular with one segment of the audience
b. is embarrassing to only a few listeners
c. is appropriate to a few listeners
d. is appropriate to as many listeners as possible
29. Brainstorming is
a. a good way to conduct library research
b. helpful in outlining the speech
c. a technique to generate numerous subjects
d. difficult to accomplish in a short period of time
30. One of the best resources to consult for speech topics
a. are library databases
b. is your knowledge and experience
c. are the dictionary and the encyclopedia
d. is the library Vertical File
31. A search engine, such as Google, allows you to search for which of the following?
a. People
b. Places
c. Objects
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
32. The topic “barrier reef” would not be suitable for a 5 to 8 minute informative
presentation in a speech class because
a. it is not interesting
b. it is inappropriate
c. it does not provide new information
d. it is not limited
33. The thesis statement is also called the
a. general purpose.
b. specific purpose.
c. central idea.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
34. The speech to entertain does not require
a. skill in debating
b. skill in writing
c. skill in delivery
d. creativity
35. The specific purpose—”Nuclear power plants, pro or con?”— is poor because it
a. does not include the topic
b. does not include the general purpose
c. is not phrased as a declarative sentence
d. a and c
e. b and c
36. The following thesis, “The speeches of Abraham Lincoln revealed his uncomplicated
style and universal appeal,” would tell an audience that the body of the speech would
contain __________________main points.
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. four
37. The phrase, “Making a cheesecake requires understanding a recipe and using a step-
by-step method to create a beautiful finished product,” is an example of
a. a topic
b. a general purpose
c. a specific purpose
d. a thesis statement
38. “To convince the audience to register to vote as soon as they turn legal voting age” is
a. a topic
b. a general purpose
c. a specific purpose
d. a thesis statement
Fill in the Blank
to the audience.
40. The specific purpose should include a declarative sentence that contains (the topic),
44. The library index which contains titles of magazines articles is known as the
Short Answer
46. Identify three guidelines for preparing a specific purpose statement.
47. Identify three of the five guidelines for considering a topic.
48. Name three ways which can be helpful in gathering ideas for a speech.
Possible answers:
Essay Questions
49. You and your colleagues at work have decided to give your supervisor a surprise birthday
dinner at a popular restaurant. Your associates know that you have just completed a speech
course so they have asked you to present a five or six minute after-dinner speech on an
entertaining topic. Since you have no idea of what to present, explain how you would begin the
process of finding a topic and some areas to consider when making the final topic selection.
50. Choose a topic for a speech to inform and develop a specific purpose and a thesis statement.
51. Discuss several difficulties which can occur when writing a thesis statement. Provide
specific examples to support your answer.
52. Explain the differences between/among speeches to inform, speeches to persuade, and
speeches to entertain.
Online Chapter Quiz Questions
Chapter 7
Selecting the Topic and Purpose
True False
1. A technique to help generate many subjects in a short time is called barnstorming.
2. A speech of definition is a type of persuasive speech.
3. A speech to stimulate influences listeners to take action on an issue.
4. Speeches to persuade influences listeners beliefs, actions, and feelings.
5. It is acceptable for a thesis statement to include only one main point in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
6. A speech that is meant to promote enjoyment and to amuse and to divert the audience’s
attention is a/an
a. speech to inform.
b. speech to persuade.
c. speech to actuate.
d. speech to entertain.
7. The type of speech that seeks to change the beliefs of the audience is
a. an informative descriptive speech
b. a persuasive actuating speech
c. a persuasive convincing speech
d. an informative demonstration speech
8. A speech informing an audience about a person, place, object, or event would be
a. a speech to stimulate
b. an actuating speech
c. a demonstration speech
d. a descriptive speech
9. What characteristic does not correctly describe the thesis statement?
a. It tells listeners how many main points the speech will include.
b. It should be stated in a sentence.
c. It is the organizational hub of the speech.
d. It is another term for the specific purpose.
10. Which statement is not a proper guideline for selecting a topic?
a. It should conform to the general purpose.
b. It should be interesting to the speaker.
c. It should be broad and general.
d. It should be appropriate.
Fill in the Blank
11. A technique which helps a speaker generate many subjects in a short period of time is called
___________________.
12. The statement that represents the speaker’s goal or reason for the speech is the
_______________ ____________________.
13. The type of speech that educates and enlightens listeners is called a speech to
_______________.
14. The type of speech that influences listeners is known as a speech to __________________,
15. A specific, limited issue that you can effectively develop into your speech is a_____.
Answers
