I. The Purpose Statement states the objective of your speech in a single sentence.

    A. The purpose statement conveys how you narrowed your topic.

Poor: To persuade my audience to support airline safety.
Better: To persuade my audience to pay careful attention to the flight attendant's safety presentation when traveling by air.
    B. The purpose statement describes your topic accurately.

    Luke was home-schooled and believes that these students can still experience typical high school activities and social events.

Poor: To inform my audience how home-schooled students have the same educational opportunities as students attending high school.
Better: To inform my audience how home-schooled students can participate in dances and parties, sports, and extracurricular activities during their high school years.
II. The Thesis or Topic Statements allow the audience the understand the ultimate message you want to convey in a single sentence.
    A. There are 4 criteria important to a thesis statement.
 
1. Statement not a question
2. Efficient, not all the details
Good: Michelle's play on the field and leadership off the field earned her the Most Valuable Player Award
Poor: Michelle is our most valuable player because she was a leading scorer, scoring the winning goal in the playoffs. She was also a supportive teammate who worked hard in practice, and a role model for our own players. She also set a good example for the many youth players who came to watch our games.
3. Conveys what you hope audience will know, do, or feel as a result of your speech.

    Poor: Today, I plan to talk about jury duty.
    Better: College students called for jury duty need to know campus policies and courtroom procedures for prospective jurors.

4. Consistent with the specific purpose.
    E.g., Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to abstain from eating meat for one week.

Poor thesis: People need to eat a balanced diet.
Better thesis: A week-long meatless diet can show you the path to a healthier lifestyle.