What are the things to be considered in choosing a topic in making a speech?

For many students choosing a topic is one of the hardest things to do in this class. You are not the only one who is having trouble selecting a topic. I would suggest that you start brainstorming possible topics. It may help if you brainstorm with a friend or family member that knows you well. Start with your interests. What do you like to do? What do you do well? Essentially you are teaching us about something. You are informing us about something--anything. If it is something unique to us or new to us---that will usually interests us. Sometimes when you think something you do or are interested in is "boring" or not very exciting---it may be exciting to your audience. Your brainstorming session will, hopefully, get you a list of possible topics. You can visit the Topic Selection Helper Web page for topic ideas.

A great speech starts with a great topic. It is so important that you select a topic that interests you, and you believe will interest your audience. Here is a web site that may help you choose a topic and research your information: How Stuff Works. Here are some links and guidelines to help you select the right topic for you and your audience. Once you have some potential topics you will want to ask yourself some questions about each topic in order to find the best one for you and your audience.

• Once you have a topic (or list of topics) ask yourself the following questions.
  • Am I interested in the topic?
  • Will I enjoy researching this topic?
  • Will I enjoy talking about this topic and
    sharing my information with my audience?
  • Will my audience be interested in my topic?
  • Am I passionate about this topic?

    If you can answer yes to all of the above questions
    then you have selected a great topic for you and your audience.

• Draw from personal interests as well as those of your audience members:
• Draw from the popular media:

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What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or tips for selecting speech topics that you would like to share? If so, contact me, Ron St. John, with your feedback. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Be sure to state the title or subject matter, so I know to what material you are referring. Thank you for visiting the Public Speakers' Sites!

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Last Revised: January 16, 2002

Choosing a topic can seem like an arduous task, more difficult than delivering the actual speech/presentation itself. Still, it is one of the most important parts of speech preparation as a public speaker, because it determines the flow of your speech, from the beginning to the end.

It is impossible to say there is one crucial part of speech delivery because it depends on the 5Ws and 1H (Who, What, Where, When, Why and How).

Photo by Teemu Paananen on Unsplash

In certain speeches, the opening may be the most essential part, because you want to get the attention of everyone quickly. For example, imagine that you are speaking to an audience that is completely disconnected (and tired and hungry), the most important thing for you at that moment is your opening because you need to get their attention, and earn their engagement during your speech. However, in other scenarios, the closing of a speech /presentation will be vital. The key is to doing justice to the topic you have chosen to talk about is to give attention to all parts of your speech.

Not many people know that choosing a topic entails more than randomly picking a topic. As easy as it seems, you need to put in quite a lot of work and preparation. Below are two things to consider before choosing a topic:

1. Relevance: When selecting a topic, consider necessary, it will be to the audience and purpose of the event. Will your audience understand the topic and relate to it as soon as possible? Does it suit the event? Will it make an impact on the audience?

2. Retentive: Can you remember any speech you listened to recently? Is there a particular word/acronym/phrase that stuck? When you think of that word/acronym/phrase, does it remind you of the speech all over again? For easy comprehension and retention, you should adapt to using creative acronyms and selecting topics can be easily remembered. For example, the topic of your speech could be ‘stand up’, and then you use that phrase several times throughout your discussion. If people forget anything, they will always remember ‘stand up’. This helps you to create a lasting and almost unforgettable impression in the minds of your audience, and it will always remind them of the message over and again.

Bonus tip: In order not to feel like you’re missing out on anything, choosing a generic topic like “7 keys to success’ could be very advantageous. This is because you can use that same phrase to talk about success in business, marriage, academics, wellness, and other aspects of life. So, you can think through for such topics that apply to different situations. Pulling up the ‘stand up’ example again, it could be stand up for justice, stand up for freedom, stand up for good parenting or any other thing, as long as you touch a bit of everything, and your audience gets the message.

Expertise, passion and audience are some of the major factors that influence the choice of topic for a speech. Here’s the drill:

• It would be best if you always started with the audience in mind; they are the reason for the presentation.
• See how you can match the topic up with your niche or passion and expertise.
• More than the dire need to have an excellent presentation and stage buzz, you should be more concerned about impacting your audience. A presentation is only exceptional when people listen, learn, remember it, and engage.
• If you do not have the necessary expertise to convey the message for that particular audience, you are at liberty to pass up that opportunity.
• Remember that your speech will reflect the quality of your preparation.

Some times, during your speech, you may sense the need to go beyond the confines of your topic, either to gain their attention or make your talk more understandable; and it is okay. At least once or twice, I’ve had to tweak my topic on the spot to better suit the audience I meet at the event.

Choosing a topic is not always it but the more brainstorming you do, the more likely you are to have a better presentation. When you think through your content correctly, and you have considered all possible topics and ideas, carry out your research by looking at the event social media handles, if there’s any, or call the event host to ask for more information. Please read, and get the right words and information to infuse in it. Then, you’re good to go!

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