Week 3 — Readings & Resources

Your primary reading is Chapter 3 (in this module). Everything below is the optional, go-deeper layer — pick what helps, skip the rest.

How to use this page

This page has 10 items (4 readings and 6 videos). Allow 65–76 minutes for everything. Each group points back to the matching chapter section and class-session segment, so use the full menu when you want more, or take the quick path below.

Every video here has captions: turn them on with the CC button in the player. The chapter covers the same ideas in text.

Pick-one quick path (18–20 min total)

• Speech Purpose & Central Idea — COMMpadres Media
• Topic Selection — COMMpadres Media
• How to Write a Speech With Purpose — Toastmasters Magazine

① Finding a topic and cutting it to size

Chapter 3, Section “Brainstorm, then narrow through four filters” · Session 1, Segment 2, “Finding and narrowing a topic” · Remember: list topics fast without judging, pick the one you know firsthand, then narrow it by purpose, audience, context, and time before you research.

• How to Pick a Captivating Speech Topic — Toastmasters International — a world-champion contest speaker shares advice on picking a topic that connects with an audience and holds it from start to finish; this builds on Week 2's audience analysis, so listen for the moments where the audience shapes the choice. (video, 8 min) (captions: creator)
• Finding Speech Topics — Toastmasters International — a short look at whether to stick with topics you already know or explore a new subject; compare its advice with the self-inventory the chapter builds. (video, 6 min) (captions: automatic)
• Topic Selection — COMMpadres Media — an introductory communication video on what makes a solid speech topic and how to generate ideas when you are stuck; use it with the four filters, which do the cutting after the ideas are on the page. (video, 7 min) (captions: automatic)

② Turning a topic into a goal

Chapter 3, Section “Specific purpose: write the goal as one infinitive phrase” · Session 1, Segment 3, “Writing the specific purpose” · Remember: a specific purpose is one goal for these listeners, written as an infinitive phrase, and it must pass the four tests.

• How to Write a Speech With Purpose — Toastmasters Magazine — a short article on deciding why you are speaking and what you want listeners to take away; it sorts speeches into five purposes where this course names three, and it picks the topic before the purpose, so read it as one speaker's method beside the chapter's. (reading, 5–7 min)
• Speech Purpose & Central Idea — COMMpadres Media — walks through building a general purpose, a specific purpose, and a central idea for one speech, comparing the planning to choosing a vacation destination; use it while you complete the Week-3 module overview. (video, 6 min) (captions: automatic)
• Topic, Purpose and Central Idea Statements Video Tutorial with Dr. Hughes — Dr. Sunny Skye Hughes — a class tutorial that works one example of the topic, purpose, and central idea statements that begin a speech; it names two general purposes where this course names three, so check its specific purpose against the four tests as you watch. (video, 7 min) (captions: automatic)

③ Saying the message in one sentence

Chapter 3, Section “Central idea: say the message in one sentence” · Session 2, Segment 4, “Writing the central idea” · Remember: the central idea is one declarative sentence that states the message, and you say it aloud near the end of the introduction.

• Thesis Statements — Writing Center Tips & Tools — a handout on what a thesis statement is, how it works, and how to refine a draft one; it is written for papers, so translate each tip into a sentence you would say aloud, and stop here before finding sources, which next week takes up. (reading, 10–14 min)
• Description and Examples of Index Items — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — a government checklist for clear public materials; read the Main Message and Call to Action items in Part A, which ask for one main message statement placed near the top, the same job a central idea does in a speech. (reading, 6–9 min)

④ Checking a chatbot's help

Chapter 3, Section “AI-critique: test a chatbot's specific purpose” · Session 2, Segment 5, “Testing a chatbot's draft” · Remember: a chatbot can suggest angles, but you test every draft against the four tests and write the final wording yourself.

• AI & Public Speaking: Brainstorming a Speech Topic — Dr. Bradley Wolfe — a video on using AI ethically to brainstorm a speech topic in a public speaking class; as you watch, notice which steps the speaker keeps for themself, then run any draft it suggests through the four tests. (video, 6 min) (captions: automatic)

Optional one-stop reference (free online reference)

• Credo for Ethical Communication — National Communication Association — the course's ethics anchor; this week, reread the first principle on truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason, and ask whether your central idea is one you can honestly support, then skip the rest for now. (reading, 4–6 min)

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell your instructor and use the reference above in the meantime.

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