Speech Basics: What is a Thesis in a Speech?

Thesis in a SpeechDuring one’s career development or education, he or she is more than likely to have to decide on what is a thesis in a speech. Speeches are a common method of presenting information on different occasions, whether at work or education. Similar to essays, a speech has a structure, and its introduction also features a thesis. A speech needs to be informative – it is the author’s responsibility to develop it in such way that he/she will not lose the attention of the audience. An informative, effective, and laconic thesis is a good way of focusing the attention on the main idea. Thus, it would be more than reasonable to review what is a thesis in a speech before trying to develop an important presentation.

Speech as a Form of Communication

A speech is a one-sided oral form of communication. The main purpose of a speech is for the speaker to reveal a certain idea to the audience. Depending on the type of speech, an additional objective could also include persuading the audience into believing a certain truth or taking certain action, for example, if the aforementioned speech is persuasive. However, the speech can also bear a purely informative form, for instance, if it is a report that merely includes statistical data.

Thesis as a Part of the Speech

Similar to an essay, article, or any other written work, a speech has a certain structure. Just like its written counterparts, a speech, in most cases, is also composed out of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. While speeches may differ depending on the topic and the speaker’s approach, they resemble these similarities for two reasons: such is the most effective way to deliver information, and most speeches are developed in written form at first. Thus, it is only reasonable that, just as any other written work, a speech’s introduction includes a well-defined thesis, which is designed to clearly outline the main idea of what the listeners are about to hear.

Why Develop a Thesis?

A thesis is an integral part of any speech, just as of any essay. It is required in order for both the listener and the speaker not to lose the main thread of the topic. Speakers often make the mistake of flooding the audience with unnecessary information and statistics, which may lead to confusion and even frustration. A well-defined, brief, and informative thesis allows to avoid such problems, as the speaker may return to it any time, in order to emphasize the main thought of the issue. A thesis has to inform the listener regarding the main theme of the speech, its purpose and approach, catch the listeners attention, and serve as a basis for further communication.

Furthermore, it has to do all of the above in a brief form. It is important for the thesis not to be too long and oversaturated with information, or it would lose its purpose. A thesis in a speech is an informative beacon, which allows the listener to take a grip on a certain idea in order to be able to embrace new information – it is a short summary of the thoughts that forms the backbone of the speech’s structure.