topic
the subject of a speech
brainstorming
a method of generating ideas for speech topics by free association of words and ideas
general purpose
the broad goal of a speech
specific purpose
a single infinitive phrase that states precisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech
central idea
a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech
residual message
what a speaker wants the audience to remember after it has forgotten everything else in a speech