Goal formulation of the speech or report: a few simple tips for students

During the study process, students should have such useful skills as speaking and presenting any report for the public. They often can take part at students’ conference, present own presentation at seminars or lectures, etc. that’s why they should feel easy and free to do it because it’s an important part of the study process. Here you can find a few tips about making goals and gathering useful materials for such speech and report.

You need to be clear about what the purpose of the report is, what kind of reaction the listeners are getting. Do you want to explain, describe or just tell something? Or do you want to change your mind or persuade the audience to do something?

In order to get a clear idea of what you are seeking, state your intention in writing in a whole sentence. It should also be borne in mind that the purpose of the speech should be formulated not only for themselves but also for their listeners. Defining the target clearly helps to make the report easier, and in a way adjusts the audience. If you need you can use help on a special website. You have to choose one and go to this website. You would have useful samples of writing your report or speech there. It always helps students who find difficulties with such type of work.

There is a general and specific purpose of the report. The overall purpose is determined by the type of response that the speaker wants to elicit from the audience and depends on whether he or she wants to entertain them or satisfy the curiosity, inspire, persuade, or incite to action. The specific purpose is expressed in the very content of the speech, which can entertain, quench the thirst for knowledge, inspire, persuade and call for action.

A combination of these goals is also possible. For example, an entertaining speech sometimes will not do without information and even without elements of influence. An engaging speech will not succeed if it is not interesting, not inspiring, not convincing. But the speaker must clearly imagine which of the general guidelines is preferred and build his or her speech accordingly.

While the overall goal determines what kind of reaction you want to achieve, the specific goal clearly states what the listener should know, feel and do. It is expressed in the very content of the speech.

A specific thematic statement should not be a well-known truth. It is your job to show that something, probably or possibly, correctly or that course of action, may or may not be accepted.

Another work on report or speech is the gathering materials. If the content of the speech is taken not only from personal experience, the material can be selected from many sources. Read more than one journal article, gather information from several, but not one. Expand the views of different authors, compare them. Communicate with the environment, record thoughts and facts that come to mind and read about.