We all love stories of people who have done interesting things. Of course, you don’t want to talk about the obvious people everyone already knows a lot about. If you’re giving a Black History Month speech, do not choose the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Instead, think about the arts and consider the poet Gwendolyn Brooks, or the movie actor Sidney Poitier or the playwright August Wilson. Also, there’s no need for the person to be famous. It could be a member of your own family. It could be a grandfather who immigrated to the United States and set up the family in a new country. Regardless of whom you select, remember, the person’s story needs to make a point. Decide what the person exemplifies. Is it courage, determination, individualism? Whatever it is, that’s the reason people should listen to you.
There are countless place options. Perhaps there is a memorable vacation you could talk about or a country you have visited on a study trip. Places need not be foreign or exotic. Maybe there’s someplace close to home that’s personally important to you. Do you have a favorite room in your house? Is there one in your grandmother’s house? Is there a house other than your own that you enjoy visiting? If you can figure out why a place has great appeal or attraction to you, you have a speech topic.
Use categories to generate ideas about things that might become speech topics. Do you love your electric guitar? Whole books have been written about any instrument you can name. When you combine information about the instrument with information about your personal connections and feelings about it, you have a speech. Is there a tool, toy or vehicle that has special meaning for you? That too might be a topic for a speech.
Whatever you decide to talk about, remember to keep the audience foremost in mind. The person, place or thing is important to you, but you need to emphasize whatever there is about it that will interest others. Often the connection is that the audience shares something with you. They have favorite places, memorable relatives and things they love. As you write your speech, keep that in mind and periodically remind the audience of these shared experiences and feelings. Then you’ll be talking about them as much as you’re talking about you, and they’ll listen.