The first part of Step 1: Think is to identify why you are giving a speech and to choose a speech topic. Although you will want to choose a topic that is appropriate for the situation, it should also be a topic that excites you. You will be spending a lot of time working on the speech, so you might as well enjoy the topic.
J. R. R. Tolkien’s timeless adventure The Lord of the Rings begins with a speech. At the birthday feast of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the guest of honor is making some after-dinner remarks to acknowledge the special occasion and praise his friends. But Bilbo’s purpose on this particular evening is to do more than just say “I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am” and “I am immensely fond of you.” Instead, Bilbo’s speech catches everyone’s attention when, toward the end, he says the following:
I have called you all together for a Purpose. . . . I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT. . . . I regret to announce that . . . this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE! He stepped down and vanished. There was a blinding flash of light, and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen. One hundred and forty-four flabbergasted hobbits sat back speechless.2
As fans of The Lord of the Rings series know, this speech and Bilbo’s sudden disappearance set in motion an extraordinary adventure for his nephew Frodo as he seeks to protect the Ring. Of course, the speeches we give in our lives are rarely as dramatic (or magical!) as this. But no matter the occasion, our speech preparation should always begin in the same way as Bilbo’s: by thinking carefully about the general purpose of our speech and considering what topic to discuss.