Informative SpeechInformative Speech

An informative speech is one An informative speech is one that presents or describes that presents or describes information. It helps an information. It helps an

audience understand a topic audience understand a topic and remember details about and remember details about

it.it.

Goals of an Informative Speech:Goals of an Informative Speech:

• understandingunderstanding• rememberingremembering

Kinds of Informative Kinds of Informative SpeechesSpeeches

Some informative speeches describe a Some informative speeches describe a place, person, or object.place, person, or object.

Other informative speeches involve Other informative speeches involve definitions. For example, you may definitions. For example, you may use a speech to define what use a speech to define what familyfamily

or or friendshipfriendship means to you. means to you.

Speeches to inform can also be used to Speeches to inform can also be used to explain an idea such as the importance of explain an idea such as the importance of electricity on the development of factories electricity on the development of factories or the impact of computers on our schools.or the impact of computers on our schools.

Make your information interesting---Make your information interesting--- Humor: “Did you hear Humor: “Did you hear

about the speech about the speech teacher who…”teacher who…”

Clever comparisons: Clever comparisons: “If you were to make a “If you were to make a pile of all the books a pile of all the books a student needs during student needs during his educational career, his educational career, they’d reach up to they’d reach up to the…”the…”

Make your information interesting…Make your information interesting…

Compelling contrasts: “On the one hand, Compelling contrasts: “On the one hand, we have the bank president trying to…; on we have the bank president trying to…; on the other hand, we have the 14-year-old the other hand, we have the 14-year-old computer whiz who…”computer whiz who…”

Curious quotes: “Remember the words of Curious quotes: “Remember the words of the psychologist who was declared insane. the psychologist who was declared insane. He said…” He said…”

Make your information interesting… Visual aids: “The graph shows you…” Audio aids: “Listen to this recording I made

of what that store manager told me on the phone.”

Drama: “There, at midnight, in the center of the cemetery, we all heard…”

Make your information interesting…Make your information interesting…

Movement: “As I step Movement: “As I step over to this chart…”over to this chart…”

Voice: “Softly, quietly, Voice: “Softly, quietly, the protesters waited --- the protesters waited --- then suddenly YELLED then suddenly YELLED ---then YELLED ---then YELLED AGAIN.”AGAIN.”

Methods of Presenting Methods of Presenting InformationInformation• Narration: A narration is an account Narration: A narration is an account

of the details of a story or an event. of the details of a story or an event. The information you use to develop a The information you use to develop a narration is usually obtained through narration is usually obtained through direct personal experience. A direct personal experience. A narrationnarration is a is a storystory..

Methods of Presenting InformationMethods of Presenting Information

Description: A description gives a vivid Description: A description gives a vivid word picture of something, such as a word picture of something, such as a building, a place, an object, an animal, or building, a place, an object, an animal, or a person. A description can include details a person. A description can include details such as size, weight, shape, color, age, such as size, weight, shape, color, age, condition, and arrangement.condition, and arrangement.

Organizing the Body of the Organizing the Body of the Informative SpeechInformative Speech

Chronological order: Consider using Chronological order: Consider using chronological order when you present chronological order when you present a process (how something is done, a process (how something is done, how something is made, or how how something is made, or how something works) or when you something works) or when you present a history of something. present a history of something.

Transitional words to use: first, next, Transitional words to use: first, next, finallyfinally

Organizing the Body of Organizing the Body of the Informative Speechthe Informative Speech

Spatial order: This is a pattern of Spatial order: This is a pattern of organization in which items are arranged organization in which items are arranged according to their position in space. You according to their position in space. You are likely to use spatial order for any are likely to use spatial order for any description.description.

Transitional words to use: up/down, Transitional words to use: up/down, right/left, north/south/east/west, right/left, north/south/east/west, prepositional phrases that tell whereprepositional phrases that tell where

Organizing the Body of the Organizing the Body of the Informative SpeechInformative Speech

Topical Order: This is a pattern of Topical Order: This is a pattern of organization in which a topic is broken organization in which a topic is broken down into parts that are arranged in an down into parts that are arranged in an order determined by the speaker and order determined by the speaker and stated in the specific purpose. Topical stated in the specific purpose. Topical order is the most common pattern for order is the most common pattern for information speeches. information speeches.

Organizing the Body of the Organizing the Body of the Informative SpeechInformative Speech

Order of importance: This starts with Order of importance: This starts with the least important information and the least important information and ends with the most important.ends with the most important.

Organizing the Body of the Organizing the Body of the Informative SpeechInformative Speech

Cause-and-effect: Information is Cause-and-effect: Information is arranged to show causes or arranged to show causes or conditions and the effects or results conditions and the effects or results of those causes or conditions.of those causes or conditions.

Organizing the Body of the Organizing the Body of the Informative SpeechInformative Speech

►Comparison-and-Contrast order: Items Comparison-and-Contrast order: Items of information are organized to show of information are organized to show similarities and differences between similarities and differences between the items.the items.

Principles for InformingPrinciples for Informing

People who feel a “need to know” listen People who feel a “need to know” listen better, so analyze your listeners’ needs and better, so analyze your listeners’ needs and create a need to know.create a need to know.

Principles for InformingPrinciples for Informing Connected information is more easily Connected information is more easily

received that unconnected received that unconnected information, so a good speaker uses information, so a good speaker uses information that connects to what information that connects to what the listeners already know.the listeners already know.

Principles for Informing

Well-organized information is more easily understood, so start at the beginning and discuss each step in sequence until you read the end of the process.

Principles for InformingPrinciples for Informing Repeated information is more easily Repeated information is more easily

understood and remembered, so understood and remembered, so choose two or three of the most choose two or three of the most important ideas in your speech and important ideas in your speech and use repetition to emphasize those use repetition to emphasize those points.points.

Principles for InformingPrinciples for Informing

Information tied to feelings is easier to Information tied to feelings is easier to remember, so use memorable examples, remember, so use memorable examples, illustrations, and stories to help your illustrations, and stories to help your audience remember your main idea.audience remember your main idea.

Principles for InformingPrinciples for Informing Too much information reduces Too much information reduces

understanding, so avoid information understanding, so avoid information overload. Most people can overload. Most people can understand and remember only five understand and remember only five to nine pieces of information at one to nine pieces of information at one time.time.

Outline for Informative Outline for Informative SpeechSpeech

I.I. IntroductionIntroduction A. Begin with an attention-getterA. Begin with an attention-getter ((Don’t Don’t say, “Today I’m going to say, “Today I’m going to

tell tell you how to…”you how to…” B. State exactly what your topic is B. State exactly what your topic is

and and why it is important.why it is important.

Outline for Informative Outline for Informative SpeechSpeech

II.II. BodyBody A.A. B.B. C.C. 1. facts1. facts 2. statistics2. statistics 3. examples3. examples

Outline for Informative Outline for Informative SpeechSpeech

III.III. ConclusionConclusion Close with a memorable statement.Close with a memorable statement.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Questions to Ask Yourself Before Giving an Informative SpeechGiving an Informative Speech

Have I selected a good topic?Have I selected a good topic? Have I written a clear specific Have I written a clear specific

purpose?purpose? Have I gathered information from a Have I gathered information from a

variety of sources?variety of sources? Does my topic relate to my Does my topic relate to my

audience’s experience?audience’s experience? Is my material well organized?Is my material well organized?

Outline for Informative SpeechOutline for Informative Speech

Does my introduction pique my audience’s Does my introduction pique my audience’s interest in learning more about my topic?interest in learning more about my topic?

Is the information new, or does it offer new Is the information new, or does it offer new insights?insights?

Can I use humor to make my delivery Can I use humor to make my delivery more effective?more effective?

Can I use audiovisual aids to help my Can I use audiovisual aids to help my audience understand and remember?audience understand and remember?

Possible Speech Topics The region (area, country, state) I come

from; its people; its traditions. The kind of education I want (need). My chosen profession; why I have chosen it

and how I plan to prepare for it. The person I most admire. My first impressions of this town.

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics My favorite city, and whyMy favorite city, and why The “art” of persuading parentsThe “art” of persuading parents Big cities vs. small townsBig cities vs. small towns A moment (day, time) I will never forgetA moment (day, time) I will never forget My first airplane (boat, train, etc.) rideMy first airplane (boat, train, etc.) ride My favorite sportMy favorite sport

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics• Things that have helped shape my lifeThings that have helped shape my life• My most memorable experienceMy most memorable experience• My happiest (saddest, most My happiest (saddest, most

frightening) memoryfrightening) memory• Flirting with deathFlirting with death• My most embarrassing momentMy most embarrassing moment• Man’s greatest achievementMan’s greatest achievement

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech TopicsMoney as a measure of success (or is it?)Money as a measure of success (or is it?)The book (or books) that has influenced The book (or books) that has influenced

me the mostme the mostPublic enemy #1Public enemy #1 If I were President for one week, I would…If I were President for one week, I would…What democracy (patriotism, liberty, What democracy (patriotism, liberty,

freedom) means to mefreedom) means to meWhat America means to meWhat America means to me

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics Why I am proud to be an AmericanWhy I am proud to be an American What I can do to be a good school What I can do to be a good school

citizencitizen The duties, obligations, and The duties, obligations, and

responsibilities of citizenshipresponsibilities of citizenship What “self-motivation” means to meWhat “self-motivation” means to me The world in the year 2050The world in the year 2050

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics The four most important changes since The four most important changes since

19001900 Some American ideals that we must hold Some American ideals that we must hold

fastfast Why I plan (or do not plan) to go to collegeWhy I plan (or do not plan) to go to college How the news media influences peopleHow the news media influences people What school spirit means to meWhat school spirit means to me

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics

My favorite AmericanMy favorite American Why I am responsible for my own Why I am responsible for my own

education, and how I can meet that education, and how I can meet that responsibilityresponsibility

The effect of racial prejudices on our The effect of racial prejudices on our countrycountry

Why schools msut have rulesWhy schools msut have rules An experience that helped me “grow up”An experience that helped me “grow up”

Possible Speech TopicsPossible Speech Topics If you had one day in your life to live If you had one day in your life to live

over, which one would it be? Why?over, which one would it be? Why?What one value do you cherish most? What one value do you cherish most?

Why? Why?Who has been the most influential Who has been the most influential

person in your life so far? Why?person in your life so far? Why?

Informative Speech Grading RubricInformative Speech Grading RubricOrganizationOrganization

Is the speech’s purpose clear?Is the speech’s purpose clear?Is the introduction interesting enough Is the introduction interesting enough to capture audience’s attention?to capture audience’s attention?Are key ideas easily understandable?Are key ideas easily understandable?Does the conclusion summarize key Does the conclusion summarize key ideas?ideas?Is material well organized?Is material well organized?

Informative Speech Grading Informative Speech Grading RubricRubric

ContentContent►Does topic relate to audience’s Does topic relate to audience’s

experience?experience?► Is there adequate information?Is there adequate information?

Informative Speech Grading RubricInformative Speech Grading Rubric

DeliveryDelivery Does student use humor to make delivery Does student use humor to make delivery

more effective?more effective? Does student use audiovisual aids to help Does student use audiovisual aids to help

audience understand and remember?audience understand and remember? Does student seem confident and Does student seem confident and

enthusiastic?enthusiastic?

Informative Speech Grading RubricInformative Speech Grading Rubric

Does the speaker have good eye Does the speaker have good eye contact?contact?

Are the speaker’s facial expressions, Are the speaker’s facial expressions, gestures, and movements natural?gestures, and movements natural?

Are the speaker’s articulation, Are the speaker’s articulation, enunciation, and pronunciation correct?enunciation, and pronunciation correct?

Does the speaker use “um,” “like,” “and Does the speaker use “um,” “like,” “and stuff,” “and everything,” or other vague stuff,” “and everything,” or other vague expressions?expressions?

Personal Experience Speech Grading Rubric

Organization Is the speech’s purpose clear? Is the introduction interesting enough to

capture audience’s attention? Is material well organized?

Personal Experience Speech Personal Experience Speech Grading RubricGrading Rubric

ContentContent Is topic appropriate for audience?Is topic appropriate for audience?

DeliveryDelivery Does student use humor to make Does student use humor to make

delivery more effective?delivery more effective? Does student seem confident and Does student seem confident and

enthusiastic?enthusiastic?

Personal Experience Speech Personal Experience Speech Grading RubricGrading Rubric

• Does the speaker have good eye contact?Does the speaker have good eye contact?• Are the speaker’s facial expressions, Are the speaker’s facial expressions,

gestures, and movements natural?gestures, and movements natural?• Are the speaker’s articulation, Are the speaker’s articulation,

enunciation, and pronunciation correct?enunciation, and pronunciation correct?• Does the speaker use “um,” “like,” “and Does the speaker use “um,” “like,” “and

stuff,” “and everything,” or other vague stuff,” “and everything,” or other vague expressions?expressions?

• Is the speaker easily understood? Is the speaker easily understood? (volume, (volume, rate)rate)

Personal Experience Speech Personal Experience Speech Grading RubricGrading Rubric

LengthLength Is the speech a full three minutes?Is the speech a full three minutes?