11. Purpose

• General Purpose is the broad goal of a speech

  • To inform or persuade
  • Inform: you act as a teacher or lecturer (convey information clearly, accurately and interestingly)
  • Persuade: you act as an advocate or a partisan (change or structure the attitudes or actions of your audience)
• Specific Purpose: A single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech

  • Narrow your choices to determine the specific purpose of your speech
  • Should focus on one aspect of a topic
  • State your specific purpose in a single infinitive phrase that indicates precisely what you hope to accomplish with your speech.
• TIPS FOR FORMULATING THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE STATEMENT

  1. Write the Purpose statement as a Full Infinitive Phrase, not as a fragment.
  2. Express your Purpose as a statement, not as a question
  3. Avoid Figurative language in your purpose statement
  4. Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea.
  5. Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general
• QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC PURPOSE

  Does my purpose meet the assignment?

  Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allotted?

  Is the purpose relevant to my audience?

  Is the purpose too trivial for my audience?

  Is the purpose too technical for my audience?