Choose a Strong Topic
A good topic is focused enough to explain clearly and interesting enough to give the audience a reason to listen.
Narrow the subject
Broad subjects produce shallow speeches.
Turn a large subject into one specific question or claim.
Look for tension
Good topics often contain a choice, problem, surprise, disagreement, or useful takeaway.
Tension creates a natural reason to keep listening.
Match the time
A two-minute speech needs a much smaller topic than a twenty-minute presentation.
If you are rushing through many points, the topic is probably too broad.
Example
Too broad: “Technology.” Better: “Why turning off non-human phone notifications can reduce distraction.”
Common mistake
Trying to cover an entire subject instead of one meaningful angle.
Try this
Take one broad topic—health, technology, travel, school—and narrow it three times.
Keep in mind
Smaller topics often produce stronger speeches.
Practice this skill
Give a real speech and use SpeakCoachLab coaching to focus on this skill in context.