Selecting Your Speech Topic

University of Hawai'i Maui Community College Speech Department

Selecting A Speech Topic

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:

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!