Coffee Break: Speech Writing "Picking your Topic"

Hopefully you read my previous post about basics to keep in mind when writing your future Nobel Peace Prize speech. But if you didn't that's fine. This post is free so you can go back and get a refresher. Here are a few more tips I picked up in my Public Persuasion class at Northwestern University, Summer of 2020.

The most important thing about writing a good speech is picking your topic. "Gotta connect before we can lead". Sometimes this can be the hardest step since you have to choose a topic that is appropriate for your audience and the occasion. Here are 5 kinds of speeches to reach 5 communication goals:

1. The speech to stimulate - seeks to reinforce and intensify feelings already present in the listeners. Ask yourself: "When my speech is over, I want my listener to feel..."

2. The speech to inform - these are the standard talks in classrooms, lecture halls and board rooms. Ask yourself: "When my speech is over, I want my listeners to know that..."

3. The speech to persuade - the goal here is to persuade by presenting viewpoints and working to prove it. Ask yourself: "When my speech is over, I want my listeners to believe that..."

4. The speech to activate - here you are asking people to do something. This is more than persuading, you are asking people to activate. Ask yourself: "When I finish my speech, I want my listeners to do the following..."

5. The Speech to entertain - these are fun and humorous from the start to the end. These use comedy to persuade. Ask yourself: "While I give my speech, I want my listeners to be amused, entertained and happy".

Source: To learn more about this topic you can reference "The Elements of Speech writing and public speaking" by Jeff Scott Cook (1989). You can buy his book on Amazon.com

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