There are times when each of us is called upon to address a group of people. There is no reason why we cannot approach this challenge with relative ease and self-confidence.

The Purpose of Speaking

Public speeches are delivered on many different occasions, but no matter what the occasion, the speaker hopes to get the audience to accept his point of view.

Therefore, in a certain sense, all speeches are persuasive speeches:

Persuading the audience to believe your information persuading the audience to change its beliefs persuading the audience not only to change its beliefs, but also to act on the changes

Perhaps you wish to inform the audience about capital punishment. Or, you may wish to get them to change their beliefs about capital punishment. Or, you may not only wish them to change their beliefs about capital punishment, but to write letters to the governor telling him what action to take.

The purpose is determined by the type of audience you are speaking to; by the circumstances of the speech; and sometimes by the course of action that you recommend.

But, whether the purpose of a particular speech is determined by the audience, by the circumstances, or by the speaker himself, preparation of the public speech must begin with the establishment of the purpose of the speech.

This purpose should be put into a sentence which is specific and concrete. A clear knowledge of the purpose in speaking is as helpful to the speaker as a road map is to the driver. The purpose gives direction to the speech and, to a degree, governs all subsequent efforts the speaker makes.