Introduction to Speech Research Guide  

This guide is designed to help you find information for speeches.  It is hopefully also useful for finding resources for other items as well. 

Before looking for information to use for a speech, determine the topic of the speech.

What is the purpose of my speech?  (to inform, to persuade, etc.)

Write several sentences describing what you want to speak about.

To further define your research topic, consider the following items:

• Specific Time Span:
• Place (ex. country, state, rural, urban):
• Event or Aspect:
• Person or Group:
  

Circle the two or three most important ideas in your research topic from the sentences you wrote and/or the above box.

You may find it helpful to write a single sentence which expresses the central idea of your speech (a thesis or topic sentence).