Write a paragraph describing the process of determining the general and specific purpose of a speech. Begin by selecting a topic that greatly interests you, such as downloading music or perfume creation. Then, using your topic, compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the two processes and list two examples of general and specific purpose statements. Back up your writing with details from your selected topic. Your creativity is encouraged here. NOTE: You may conduct research to complete any of these discussions (if you are still waiting on the book), using the Internet or other resources. Be certain to properly cite your sources and provide a bibliography in appropriate format. This information is also addressed in this week’s audio lessons. Remember that your discussion response must include the following: A reflection on the concept we are discussing. Give us a summary of things you learned about this concept from your assigned chapter readings. A thorough example/discussion to support your reflection. A final statement that tells us what you take away from this week’s lesson. Properly formatted in-text citations and references. Strong grammar, spelling, and mechanics. In total your discussion should be at least 250 words.

Delivering a Speech

The general purpose of a speech serves the function of entertaining, persuading and informing the audience. In most cases all speeches will land into any of the three functions. Normally, if you have been requested to deliver a talk for a given class, it is prudent for your instructor to inform you about the general reason for the speech, after that it is your responsibility to get the specific reasons for that speech (RHutchinson & Waters, 2009). The specific purpose is a statement or idea that will direct one’s speech above the general purpose. Mainly the specific purpose answers one of the following questions: What are you telling the audience about? What are you convincing the audience to do? And how you are entertaining your listeners?

In order to understand this concept let’s take an example of a professor who has been asked to give a speech to a team of creative students. They are tackling a topic on the force of gravity. As the professor is delivering his speech he starts to wander off topic, telling his life in school as a graduate and how they used to pull on one another. In addition, he also begins to discuss hard concepts in physics which are not familiar among the students (Malone & Crowston, 2010). When he winds up to deliver his speech, most students are confused about what he was asked to talk to them. Taking the above example to discuss the two concepts, the leaners in the physics class would understand the professor better if only he   had first selected the general purpose as well as the specific purpose of the speech.

References

RHutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (2009). English for specific purposes. Cambridge University

Press.

Malone, T. W., & Crowston, K. (2010). What is coordination theory and how can it

Help design cooperative work systems? In Proceedings of the 2010 ACM conference on

Computer-supported cooperative work (pp. 357-370). ACM.