Transcript What—The Topic

Purpose Practice
©2003 Gilberto Berríos
Universidad Simón Bolívar
What will we practice?
In this exercises you will:
• identify process-oriented verbs
• identify goal-oriented verbs
• decide when a purpose is well
expressed
Let’s remember
The purpose should:
• express your goal
• be clear to you
• be clear to your audience
• start with a goal-related verb, such as:
“I’m here today to demonstrate…”
Let’s express purpose
adequately
Does this sentence express a purpose?
“I’m here today to talk about the
importance of chemical waste disposal.”
No way!
Why?
• It emphasizes process, not goal!
In other words…
Merely
talking about anything
equals
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!
Does the following sentence
emphasize a goal?
“My purpose here is…
…to suggest …
…the implementation of a chemical waste
disposal program.”
Yes
No
You are
soooo
wrong!
Go back
‘To suggest’ implies
that you will try to
persuade the
audience.
Right!
They will expect a
formal justification to
implement a
chemical waste
disposal program.
How about this sentence?
Does it emphasize a goal?
“My aim in this presentation is…
…to express my view of…
…the importance of chemical waste
disposal.”
Yes
No
Think
again!
Go back
To express your view
is a valid goal.
The audience will get
ready to hear your
position regarding
chemical waste
disposal.
Correct!
Does this sentence
emphasize a goal?
“My objective here is…
…to outline…
…the process of chemical waste disposal.”
Yes
No
Look at
the verb!
Go back
That’s
correct!
‘To outline’ implies
that you will present
the major points of
the topic.
The audience will
expect a schematic
explanation of the
chemical waste
disposal process.
Does this sentence
emphasize a goal?
“My goal today is…
…to tell you about…
…the importance of chemical waste
disposal.”
Yes
No
I don’t
think so!
Go back
The sentence starts with ‘my goal,’
but telling someone about
something seems more a process
than a goal.
The audience will think that you did
not prepare anything specific about
chemical waste disposal.
Good!
Express your purpose
adequately
These sentences express valid purposes:
“In this presentation, I will clarify two ways
of disposing of chemical waste.”
“I will demonstrate the steps for
proper chemical disposal.”
“Today, I will make you aware of the dangers
involved in chemical waste disposal.”
But…
•
They use
language that
may put people
down
•
They may sound
condescending
Express your purpose
adequately
These sentences may sound better:
“In this presentation, I would like to clarify
two ways of disposing of chemical waste.”
“In a few simple steps I plan to
demonstrate proper chemical disposal.”
“Today, I intend to make you aware of the
dangers involved in chemical waste disposal.”
This is all for now, my friends.
The end