Three different brainstorming techniques are described in this week’s readings: personal inventory, clustering, and Internet Research. Which method do you feel will be the most useful to you when selecting a speech topic? Explain why you feel this way. Describe an example situation in which your chosen method has worked for you. See the two linked worksheets on
86 CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Clustering Worksheet
If you are having a difficult time coming up with a speech topic, you might try brainstorming for a topic. One method of brainstorming is clustering, which is described on pages 80–81 of your textbook. Create lists of items that come to mind under each of the following nine headings. If none of the items on your lists grabs your interest, try creating sublists for those items that seem the most promising as potential topics.
People | Places | Things | ||
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | ||
Events | Processes | Concepts | ||
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | ||
Natural Phenomena | Problems | Plans and Policies | ||
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ | _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ |
