Problem: Article: Once the person has finished speaking, you can show them that you were listening by paraphrasing a key point or idea they shared. However, make sure that you do not simply repeat what they said word-for-word. For example, if the person has just told you about their day, you might say something like, "Oh, wow! It sounds like you were really busy, and that fiasco with your coworker sounds so frustrating! I'm glad you made it to yoga with your favorite instructor afterward and the day got a little better." It's fine to let the person know if something they said is unclear to you. In fact, this is a good way to show them that you're paying attention. Try to avoid interrupting them, and wait for a natural pause to ask them to clarify. For example, you might wait until they finish their next sentence, and then say something like, "Sorry, can you explain that again? I think I may have missed something." Or, you might say, "Wait, what was that about your brother?" Once the person finishes speaking, you may want to encourage them to keep talking. This lets them know you're listening and interested in what they have to say. It's also a great way to keep the conversation going. Try saying something like, "What happened after that?" or "How did you get through the rest of the day?" Or if they have just told you they checked out a new restaurant over the weekend, get more details by asking questions like, "What was it called?" "What kind of food do they serve?" "What did you order there?" and "How was it?" It's important to stay tuned into your own needs and feelings to be a good listener. If you are feeling too stressed, distracted, or busy to listen to the person, it might be better to let them know that than to try and force yourself to listen. For example, you might say something like, "I can tell this is important, and I don't want to miss anything. Can we talk later today? I'm running late for a meeting." Or you might say, "I really care about what you have to say, but I just can't focus right now. Can we pick a time to talk tomorrow instead?"
Summary: Paraphrase what the person has said to show you're listening. Ask questions to clarify what the person says. Use open-ended questions to encourage the person to say more. Let the person know if you're not able to listen to them at the moment.

Problem: Article: Speech topics are often assigned but, if you need to pick your own, write a list of subjects that interest you. Choose a subject that you know a lot about or that you'd be eager to research. Then narrow your focus on a specific topic, and make sure it meets the requirements listed in the prompt. Suppose your prompt instructs you to inform the audience about a hobby or activity. Make a list of your clubs, sports, and other activities, and choose the one that interests you most. Then zoom in on one particular aspect or process to focus on in your speech. For instance, if you like tennis, you can't discuss every aspect of the sport in a single speech. Instead, you could focus on a specific technique, like serving the ball. While you may reference your personal experience in the speech, you'll need to conduct research and cite authoritative sources. The right sources depend on your topic, but generally include textbooks and encyclopedias, scholarly articles, reputable news bureaus, and government documents. For example, if your speech is about a historical event, find primary sources, like letters or newspaper articles published at the time of the event. Additionally, include secondary sources, such as scholarly articles written by experts on the event. If you're informing the audience about a medical condition, find information in medical encyclopedias, scientific journals, and government health websites. Make sure you know your topic inside and out; you should be able to describe it clearly and concisely. In addition to conducting research, talking to your family and friends about your topic can help refine your understanding. For instance, if your speech is on growing plants from seeds, explain the process step-by-step to a friend or relative. Ask them if any parts in your explanation seemed muddy or vague. Break down the material into simple terms, especially if you're addressing a non-expert audience. Think about how you'd describe the topic to a grandparent or younger sibling. If you can't avoid using jargon, be sure to define technical words in clear, simple terms. Your thesis conveys your speech's central focus and should be as specific as possible. Check with your instructor about formatting your thesis. They may encourage you to describe your purpose by referencing yourself. However, if your assignment calls for more formal language, you'll need to skip phrases such as "My purpose is" or "I'm here to explain." For example, if your speech is on the poet Charles Baudelaire, a strong thesis would be, "I am here to explain how city life and exotic travel shaped the key poetic themes of Charles Baudelaire's work." While the goal of an informative speech isn't to make a defensible claim, your thesis still needs to be specific. For instance, "I'm going to talk about carburetors" is vague. "My purpose today is to explain how to take apart a variable choke carburetor" is more specific. Keep in mind an informative speech doesn't aim to persuade the audience to accept a claim. Instead of crafting an argument or appealing to emotions, present an objective speech that clearly spells out your subject matter. This means your organization and language need to be step-by-step instead of argumentative. For instance, a speech meant to persuade an audience to support a political stance would most likely include examples of pathos, or persuasive devices that appeal to the audience's emotions. On the other hand, an informative speech on how to grow pitcher plants would present clear, objective steps. It wouldn't try to argue that growing pitcher plants is great or persuade listeners to grow pitcher plants.
Summary: Choose a subject that interests you if the topic isn't assigned. Gather a variety of reliable sources to back your claims. Form a clear understanding of the process or concept you're describing. Come up with a thesis that concisely presents your speech's purpose. Focus on informing your audience instead of persuading them.

Problem: Article: Pick something you think is a passion, and talk to a friend about it. When you're done talking, ask them if you seemed intense or casual about it. If you talk for a long time and they say you were intense about it, that's a sign it's a passion. When you are talking about your passion, you will probably speak louder, faster, and more. You'll get worked up talking about it. You'll sound excited and won't want to stop talking. If they say you didn't seem to know very much, or you kept a pretty even tone, it's a hobby. You'll feel much more excitement talking about a passion than you will talking about a hobby. Choose something you do every week, or every few days, and stop doing it. If you think about it daily, miss it, and don't feel like doing anything else, you've found something that's a passion. If it doesn't bother you to stop doing it, it's likely to be a hobby. If you typically play ultimate frisbee every Wednesday, skip it this week. If you fill the time with something else and barely think about it, it's a hobby. Take a break from editing the film footage you are always shooting. If after two days you can't think straight because you want to be at the computer, you know it's a passion. Get an opinion besides your own from a set of standardized questions. Be honest about your feelings on the activity. You'll be able to learn how much it means to you from a set of questions and not just your own thoughts. A quiz like this can't tell you without a doubt whether something is a passion or a hobby. However, it forces you to be more objective about the activity than you are on your own. The websites of Clarity on Fire, Goodnet, and Paid to Exist offer different types of quizzes that help you gain a better idea of what hobbies could be passions.
Summary:
Tell someone about the potential passion, and ask for their reaction. Take a break from the activity for a week. Use a quiz as an objective guide.