An Informative Speech conveys knowledge
and understanding.
As students,
you probably have had great teachers whose main purpose was to educate you. While they also may have persuaded you about the
value of education, their main job was to inform you of certain bodies of knowledge.
As viewers
of documentaries on PBS, the History and Discovery channels, you have been entertained -- and -- educated about all sorts
of topics. Some of these topics may not even have been interesting at first, but after learning a bit, you realized how curious
you’d become.
These two examples
illustrate the power and purpose of Informative speaking.
In this speech, you act as
an interesting and informative speaker, even when addressing controversial topics. Rather than acting as a lawyer or advocate,
your job here is to be an objective, even-handed observer and presenter of a topic. HOW you frame your speech helps determine
if you remain informative, or, stray into a persuasive speech (you don’t want to persuade in this speech, so choose
your organization wisely).
You may also choose to do
an Informative speech on a non-controversial topic. With this type of speech, you need not worry about straying into persuasive
territory. These speeches may take the form of demonstration (“how to”); exploring a process; exploring an object;
exploring a concept; exploring an event. See our Ch 14 for many great examples!
GUIDELINES for Informative Speaking
--Don’t overestimate
the audience’s knowledge.
--Don’t underestimate
the audience’s intelligence.
--Relate the subject directly
to the audience.
--Don’t be too technical.
--Avoid Abstractions.
--Personalize your ideas
TYPES of ORGANIZATION
--Pro and Con:
Here you explore both sides of an issue—evenly. This may be hard when you have strong feelings about the issue.
--Historical: Here you explore
an issue across time. This can be really engaging and fun: consider that cocaine use in the US wasn’t just once legal,
but actually prescribed by MDs!
--Cross-cultural: Here you
explore an issue across cultures, either contemporarily or in the past.
--Topical: Here you select
pithy sub-topics which require further in-depth exploration. Each sub-topic is a main point.
You will select
between 2 and 5 main points.
They should
cover the same amount of material.
They should
not repeat or overlap one another.
THE OUTLINE
To be eligible to speak on
the day you are scheduled, you must --
-- turn in a typed, double-spaced
outline -- complete with FULL LIST OF WORKS CITED -- BEFORE you speak.
Use the following
format as your guide.
INTRODUCTION
- attention getter________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
- reveal topic __________________________
- credibility statement: “I am credible to speak on
this topic because, ___________________________________________.”
- preview statement: “Today I will inform you about
1. __________________; 2. __________; 3. _____________________.”
BODY
I.
Main Point One -- FULL Sentence
_________________________________________________________
Evidence (Statistics, Examples, Testimony)
(Cite at least 4 sources
during the speech)
Explanation – CONNECT
the evidence to the Main Point
TRANSITION Statement: “Now
that we’ve discussed __________________, let’s move on to _______________.”
II. Main Point Two -- FULL Sentence
_______________________________________________
Evidence (Statistics, Examples, Testimony)
(Cite four sources during
the speech)
Explanation – CONNECT
the evidence to the Main Point
TRANSITION Statement: “Now
that we’ve discussed __________________, let’s move on to _______________.”
(You may have between
2 and 5 main points)
.
CONCLUSION
--SIGNAL THE END IS NEAR
--RECAP MAIN POINTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Length: 5—7 MINUTES (through practice, you will learn what to add or cut).
Sources: 4 outside sources must be cited IN the BODY of the speech, and included w/outline.
Delivery: Extemporaneous – cue cards will be checked before you speak.
