Here's why this is crucial:
* Understanding the Intent: Knowing the speaker's goal helps you understand the context and the message they are trying to convey. Are they trying to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain?
* Identifying the Key Idea: The main argument is the central claim the speaker is making. Once you identify it, you can then look for supporting evidence and analyze how effectively the speaker makes their case.
Here are some questions to help you determine the speaker's purpose and main argument:
* What is the overall topic of the speech?
* What is the speaker trying to achieve?
* What is the central claim or message?
* What is the speaker's tone and attitude towards the topic?
Once you have a clear understanding of the speaker's purpose and main argument, you can move on to further analyze the speech, including examining the structure, language, and delivery.