Choose a Topic You Care About

When you have the freedom to choose your own topic for an informative speech, pick something that reflects your interests and experiences. Consider talking about a favorite hobby (how to make beaded jewelry), presenting a narrative about a vacation (best beaches to visit during spring break in Cancun), or explaining a concept or process you learned in another college course (the role of lie detectors in the criminal justice system). Picking a topic you care about keeps you motivated as you prepare your speech. (For more on how to choose a speech topic, see Chapter 13, pp. 316–320.) It also helps you come across as more animated and passionate in your speech delivery. When you care about your topic, it shows. If you seem bored by your topic, your audience will be, too.