Have a Purpose

The successful speaker knows why he is speaking, what he is talking about, and what he hopes to accomplish by his speech. The most common purposes of speakers are to inform, convince, to move to action, to impress and to entertain. A student campaign speaker aims to win votes for his candidate; a debater, convince his hearers; an after-dinner speaker, to entertain the guests; a Fourth of July orator, to impress the audience. The speaker may have a double purpose, like persuading his audience to read a book.

Decide what your aim is; then state it in a complete sentence: "My purpose is to convince my classmates that they should vote for the planning of an event in their school." Make sure that your subject is definite and not too broad.

Try to note that in making speeches like for example the following you should have a purpose or purposes that you wish to achieve.

1. A speech opening a membership drive for Junior Red Cross.
2. A review of a panel discussion on television or radio.
3. A speech to freshmen on the achievements of the school they have just entered.
4. A talk on " Amusing Experiences of Famous People"