Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Video

Formulate a Topic
“How to Select a Public Speaking Topic”
A mind mapping video.

Draw a Mind Map
“Draw Your Mind Map”
Although most mind maps are simply words, students may enjoy the idea of drawing topics in a mind map exercise to generate speech topics.

Brainstorming Techniques
“Brainstorming Topics for Informative Speeches”
The speaker demonstrates the process of brainstorming for informative speech topics.

Audio

Develop an Effective Specific Purpose Statement
“Purpose and Thesis Statements in Speeches”
The presentation defines purpose and thesis statements, describing how they differ.  The thesis statement appears in the introduction.

Formulate a Behavioral Objective for Audience Members
“Speech Purpose and Central Idea”
The speaker discusses about ways to identify a general and a specific purpose statement in order to write a central idea statement for the same speech.

Formulate the Specific Purpose
“Determine and Write the Specific Purpose Statement”
The speaker explains how to write a specific purpose statement.

Web Resources

Brainstorming
“Choosing a Topic”
The reading discusses choosing a speech topic, brainstorming to generate many ideas, and then distilling he ideas to find a focused topic.

Create an Effective Thesis
“Developing Your Thesis”
A description of thesis statement formation.

Formulate the Specific Purpose
“Formulating the Specific Purpose Statement”
This presentation includes the step-by-step process in creating the specific purpose for your speech.  Examples of effective and ineffective specific purpose statements highlight this reading.