What is a Purpose Statement?

• A. A short slogan used to promote a product.
• B. A two-paragraph summary of your topic.
• C. A one-sentence summary that captures the essence of what you are trying to communicate.
• D. A list of goals for the presentation.

Answer: (C)

A purpose statement is a concise, one-sentence declaration that tells what you want the audience to take away or do as a result of your message. It acts as a compass for the briefing, guiding what information to include and how to present it so everything stays focused on that single objective.

For example: The purpose of this briefing is to inform flight leadership about the current immunization gap and to secure commitment to implement the revised vaccination outreach plan within the next 90 days. This isn’t a slogan or a long topic summary, and it isn’t a simple list of goals. It states the exact outcome you want from the audience and shapes the content to achieve that outcome.