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Types of Presentation - Infor - Persuasive PDF
Types of Presentation - Infor - Persuasive PDF
Types of Presentation - Infor - Persuasive PDF
org
chapter 15
introduction
Every day you give others
information in an informal way, chapter objectives chapter outline
whether you realize it or not. You give After reading this chapter, you
• Introduction
your grandparents driving directions to should be able to: • Functions of Informative
your college campus. You tell your Speeches
professor about a breaking news story. o Provide Knowledge
1. Explain why informative
You teach a friend how to ride a o Shape Perceptions
speeches are important
motorcycle. You explain to your o Articulate Alternatives
2. Recognize the functions of
significant other your spiritual o Allow us to Survive and
informative speeches
philosophy. You show a co-worker 3. Identify the main Evolve
how to operate the cash register. You responsibilities of the • Role of Speaker
o Informative Speakers are
help your younger brother build his informative speaker
4. List and describe the four Objective
first Facebook page. Or you share your
o Informative Speakers are
summer travel experience with your types of informative
speeches Credible
roommate. Without a doubt, o Informative Speakers Make
5. Discuss techniques to
information plays a vital role in our the Topic Relevant
make informative
everyday lives. In the dictionary, the o Informative Speakers are
speeches interesting,
term “inform” has several meanings, coherent, and memorable Knowledgeable
including to impart knowledge; to 6. Apply chapter concepts in • Types of Informative Speeches
o Definitional Speeches
animate or inspire; to give information review questions and
o Descriptive Speeches
or enlightenment; to furnish evidence; activities
to make aware of something; to o Explanatory Speeches
o Demonstration Speeches
communicate something of interest or
• Developing Informative
special importance; to give directions; Not only is there an art in Speeches
and to provide intelligence, news, facts o Generate and Maintain
or data. When you deliver an
knowing a thing, but also a
Interest
informative speech, your primary certain art in teaching it. o Create Coherence
purpose is to give your audience ~ Cicero o Make Speech Memorable
information that they did not already • Conclusion
know, or to teach them more about a • Review Questions and Activities
manager who can’t teach workers how • Glossary
topic with which they are already to assemble microchips will have a
familiar. • References
department with low productivity and
Your ability to give informative quality. And a little league coach who
speeches is one of the most important is unable to instruct players on batting
skills you will ever master, and it will and catching techniques will have a
be used both during the course of your disadvantaged team. It is easy to
career, and in your personal life. A imagine how difficult it would be to go
pharmaceutical sales representative about the business of our daily lives A speaker hasn’t taught until
who can’t describe the products’ without the ability to give and receive the audience has learned.
chemical composition, uses and side information. Speeches to inform are
effects, will have trouble making a sale. the most common types of speeches
A high school math teacher who can’t (Gladis, 1999), so speech writers
explain algebra in simple terms will should give priority to learning how to
have students who will not learn. A construct them.
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Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
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In our information age, people are genre. If you have to work three jobs immediately. In a speech on relaxation
fortunate to have unlimited and free to help pay for school, you could give a techniques, a speaker can lead the
access to information on virtually any speech on effective time management. audience through a simple stress
topic they can imagine via the internet. Genuine curiosity will make the reduction exercise they can use at
Unfortunately, in addition to the research and preparation process easier. home. For a speech on handwriting
credible information, the internet Further, when you have enthusiasm for analysis, listeners can be given paper,
contains an abundance of garbage. a topic, it shows when you speak. On asked to write a sample sentence and
Good speech writers know that it is the other hand, if you do not really care shown how to interpret some points on
important to avoid weak or about your topic, your audience is not the sample. If the audience members
questionable sources (e.g. Wikipedia, likely to care either. have laptops, a speaker can show them
Britannica.com or Ask.com) when In addition to having relevance for how to improve one of their digital
constructing their speeches. Start by you, it is crucial that you tie your topic photos. If listeners can use the
asking what you know, find out what directly to your listeners. Early in the information they learn quickly, they
the experts know, and then move to speech, give listeners at least one tend to remember it longer, and they
find out what information other sources reason why they should care about your are more likely to try the action again
can provide (Gladis, 1999). You can topic and the ways in which the later (Nelson, et al., 2010).
search your library catalogue or information will be beneficial or
Amazon.com to locate books (which entertaining (Morreale & Bovee, 1998).
provide details and depth), and then Establish-ing a motive for your types of informative
check out or order these books via audience to listen to you is commonly speeches
interlibrary loan (often free) if they are referred to by the acronym WIIFM – In the last section we examined how
not available in your library. Explain “What’s in it for me?” This is what the informative speakers need to be
not only how something is done, but audience consciously or unconsciously objective, credible, knowledgeable, and
also why it is done for a great speech asks when you start speaking (Urech, how they need to make the topic
(MacInnis, 2006). This variety gives a 1998). To establish WIIFM, you relevant to their audience. This section
speech depth and a level of interest that clearly link the topic to the listeners’ discusses the four primary types of
cannot be achieved merely by doing a values, attitudes, beliefs and lifestyle. informative speeches. These include
Google search and using the first five Consider not only what the audience definitional speeches, descriptive
websites that pop up. For additional wants to hear, but also what they need speeches, explanatory speeches, and
ideas on locating sources, “Sources of to hear (Gladis, 1999; Maxey & demonstration speeches.
interesting information” is provided at O’Connor, 2006). Take the topic of
the end of this chapter. retirement planning as an example.
Younger listeners may not perceive this definitional speeches
The cure for boredom is as relevant to their lives when they are
In definitional speeches the speaker
curiosity. There is no cure for attempts to set forth the meaning of
not yet making a steady salary. But, if
curiosity. concepts, theories, philosophies, or
you can demonstrate how investing
issues that may be unfamiliar to the
~ Dorothy Parker even a small amount every month can
audience. In these types of speeches,
grow to a considerable nest egg by
speakers may begin by giving the
retirement age, and that getting into the
informative speakers make habit of saving early can lower the
historical derivation, classification, or
the topic relevant number of years they have to work, the
synonyms of terms or the background
When you are selecting your topic of the subject. In a speech on “How to
topic becomes more interesting for
and thinking about what you want to identify a sociopath,” the speaker may
them.
accomplish in your informative speech, answer these questions: Where did the
two factors should drive your decision. word ‘sociopath’ come from? What is
Foremost, you want to select a topic a sociopath? How many sociopaths are
that holds a high degree of interest for there in the population? What are the
you (i.e. the topic is meaningful to symptoms? Carefully define your
you). Students who feel at a loss for terminology to give shape to things the
topic ideas should turn their attention to audience cannot directly sense.
their own lives and activities. If you Describing the essential attributes of
like to play video games, you might one concept compared to another (as
give a speech about how they are made. through use of analogies) can increase
If you have a passion for ska reggae understanding as well. For a speech on
Making the topic relevant for your “Elderly Abuse,” the speaker may
music, you might bring in MP3 cuts to
audience can also mean that you show compare this type of abuse to child or
help define the boundaries of this music
them how to apply the information spousal abuse for contrast.
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it? What color is it? What does it Ehninger, & Monroe, 2000). For
smell like? Is it part of a larger example, to explain the custom of the
system? Can it be seen by the naked Thai wai greeting (hands pressed
eye? What is its geography or location together as in prayer), you also need to
in space? How has it changed or explain how it originated to show one
evolved over time? How does it had no weapons, and the ways it is tied
compare to a similar object? When to religion, gender, age, and status.
preparing for the speech, try to think of
ways to appeal to as many of the senses
as possible. As an example, in a speech
about different types of curried dishes, Sample Explanatory Speech
you could probably verbally describe Outline
the difference between yellow, red, and
green curry, but the speech will have
more impact if the audience can see, Title: Giant Waves, Death, and
Devastation: The 2004 Indian
smell, and taste samples.
Ocean Tsunami (National
Geographic, 2006)
Sample Descriptive Speech
Outline explanatory speeches Specific Purpose: At the end of my
speech, my audience will be aware
An explanatory speech (also known
of the nature of the 2004 Tsunami
as a briefing) is similar to the
Title: Easter Island: The Navel of the and the destruction it caused.
descriptive speech in that they both
World (Fischer, 2006) share the function of clarifying the Central Idea: The 2004 Asian
Specific Purpose: At the end of my
topic. But explanatory speeches focus Tsunami was one of the worst natural
speech, my audience will be able to on reports of current and historical disasters in human history in terms of
visualize some of the main events, customs, transformations, magnitude, loss of human life, and
attractions on Easter Island. inventions, policies, outcomes, and enduring impact.
options. Whereas descriptive speeches
Central Idea: Easter Island hosts a attempt to paint a picture with words so I. Geological event
number of ancient, mysterious, and that audiences can vicariously A. Earthquake
beautiful attractions that make it an epicenter and
experience it, explanatory speeches
ideal vacation destination. magnitude
focus on the how or why of a subject B. Tsunami forms
and its consequences. Thus, a speaker (waves reach up to
I. Stone Giants – “Moai”
might give a descriptive speech on the 100 feet)
A. Average 13 feet
high; 14 tons
daily life of Marie Antoinette, or an C. Tsunami strikes land
B. Play sacred role for explanatory speech on how she came to of various countries
Rapa Nui (native her death. Recall that definitional with no warning
inhabitants) speeches focus on delineating concepts
C. Central Ahu or issues. In this case, a speaker might II. Human casualties reach
ceremonial sites give a defintional speech about the almost 230,000 – top 10
Emergency Economic Stabiliztion Act of all natural disasters
II. Coastline activities A. The countries and
of 2008, or an explanatory speech on
A. Beaches people involved
why the financial bailout was necessary B. Loss of food, water,
B. Snorkeling & Scuba for U.S. financial stability.
C. Surfing hospitals, housing,
If a manager wanted to inform electricity, and
III. Rano Kau Chilean employees about a new workplace plumbing
National Park C. Threat of disease
internet use policy, s/he might cover
A. Giant crater questions like: Why was a policy
B. Sheer cliffs to ocean III. Ongoing effects
implemented? How will it help? What A. Environmental
C. Sea birds happens if people do not follow destruction
established policies? Explanatory B. Economic
Be able to describe anything speeches are less concerned with devastation
visual, such as a street scene, in appealing to the senses than connecting C. Psychological
words that convey your meaning. the topic to a series of related other trauma
~ Marilyn vos Savant subjects to enhance a deep
understanding (McKerrow, Gronbeck,
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I hear and I forget. I see and I feel unintelligent if they are not developing informative
remember. I do and I understand.
successful. Practice your speech with
speeches
friends who know nothing about the The first sections of this chapter
~ Confucious topic to gauge if listeners can do what explained the importance of
you are asking them to do in the time informative speaking, the functions of
demonstration speeches allotted. informative speeches, the role of the
The most practical of all informative
informative speaker, and the four major
speeches, a demonstration speech
Sample Demonstration Speech types of informative speeches. This
shows listeners how some process is
Outline final section of the chapter discusses
accomplished or how to perform it
three goals in developing informative
themselves. The focus is on a
speeches and advice for increasing the
chronological explanation of some Title: How to Survive if You Get effectiveness of your speech. These
process (how potato chips are made), Stranded in the Wilderness (U.S. three goals include 1) arousing the
procedure (how to fight fires on a Department of Defense, 2006). interest of your audience, 2) presenting
submarine), application (how to use the
information in a way that can be
calendar function in Outlook), or Specific Purpose: At the end of my
speech my audience will
understood, and 3) helping the audience
course of action (how court cases
understand what to do if they remember what you have said
proceed to Supreme Court status).
unexpectedly become stranded in (Fujishin, 2000).
Speakers might focus on processes that
the wilderness.
have a series of steps with a specific
beginning and end (how to sell a home Central Idea: You can greatly generate and maintain
by yourself) or the process may be improve your ability to stay alive and interest
continuous (how to maintain the hard safe in the wilderness by learning a Use Attention-Getting Elements
drive on your computer to prevent few simple survival techniques. Before you capture the interest of an
crashes). Demonstration speeches can
audience, you have to get their
be challenging to write due to the fact I. Size up the situation
A. Size up the
attention. As you know, attention
that the process may involve several
surroundings getters are used in the introduction of a
objects, a set of tools, materials, or a
B. Size up your speech, but attention getters can also
number of related relationships or
events (Rinehart, 2002). Nevertheless, physical and be used throughout your speech to
mental states maintain an audience’s attention.
these types of speeches provide the
C. Size up your There are a number of techniques you
greatest opportunity for audience equipment can use that will naturally draw
members to get involved or apply the (handout “What to listeners’ attention (German, et al.,
information later. Include in a Survival 2010).
When preparing this speech, Kit”)
Intensity refers to something that
remember first to keep the safety of the
II. Survival Basics has a high or extreme degree of
audience in mind. One speaker
A. Obtaining water emotion, color, volume, strength or
severely burned his professor when he B. Acquiring food other defining characteristic. In a
accidently spilled hot oil from a wok on C. Building a fire speech about sharks’ senses, showing
her. Another student nearly took the D. Locating shelter how sharks smell 10,000 times better
heads off listeners when he was
demonstrating how to swing a baseball III. Finding help
bat. Keep in mind also that you may A. Call or signal rescue
need to bring in examples or pictures of personnel
completed steps in order to make B. Wilderness
efficient use of your time. Just think of navigation
C. Leaving “bread
the way that cooking demonstrations
crumb” trail
are done on TV --- the ingredients are
pre-measured, the food is pre-mixed,
and the mixture magically goes from
uncooked to cooked in a matter of Any subject can be made
seconds. Finally, if you are having interesting, and therefore any
your audience participate during your subject can be made boring.
presentation (making an origami ~ Hilaire Belloc
sculpture), know what their knowledge
level is so that you don’t make them
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than humans would be an example of Voyager. You could also direct the The wisest mind has something
the intensity principle. audience’s attention to couples who yet to learn.
Novelty involves those things that have wedding ceremonies spoken in
Klingon. ~ George Santayna
are new or unusual. Discussing the
recent invention of the flesh-eating
mushroom death suit developed by Jae
Rhim Lee would be novel. This suit is lyrics to Beatles songs, holiday songs,
designed to help bodies decompose and children’s games are universal.
naturally above ground to avoid the use Commercial jingles and song lyrics
of dangerous embalming chemicals. also work to get the audience involved.
Contrast can also be used to draw You could start a speech on boating
attention through comparison to safety with these lyrics: Just sit right
something that is different or opposite. back / And you'll hear a tale / A tale of
This works best when the differences a fateful trip / That started from this
are significant. If you were showing tropic port / Aboard this tiny ship (from
the audience how to make hot sauce, Tell a Story Gilligan’s Island). Depending on the
and you showed a bar graph comparing Story telling is not only the basis for make-up of your audience, you might
the scoville units (level of hotness) of most of our entertainment; it is also one use lyrics from Johnny Cash, Billy
different chili peppers, this would be of the best ways to teach an audience Holiday, The Doors, The Beatles, Jay-
contrast. Jalapenos rate at 2500 – 8000 (Carlson, 2005). Also known as Z, The Judds or the Arctic Monkeys.
scoville units, habaneros rate at narratives, stories typically have a Just remember you probably can’t read
100,000 – 350,000, and the naga beginning in which the characters and all of the lyrics, you need to make sure
jolokia rates at 855,000 – 1,041,241. setting are introduced, a rise in action, the lyrics are directly linked to your
some complication or problem, and a topic, and you should be sure to cite the
resolution. Stories with compelling artist and song title.
characters can be used in a creative
way to weave facts otherwise dry and
technical facts together (Walters,
1995), as in a speech about preparing a
space shuttle for take-off from a
mouse’s perspective. Jaffe (1998)
differentiates between three types of
narratives that can be used in
informative speeches. The first type of
story is a natural reality in which
natural or scientific facts are brought
together in chronological accounts, as
in the formation of the Grand Canyon.
Audiences will also attend to The second narrative involves social
movement or Activity. To employ this realities which detail historic events,
technique, the speaker can either use Just for fun, can you name the artist
and the development of cultures and who sang the lyrics below? Can you
action words, well-chosen movements, institutions. The last kind of story, the
an increased rate of speech, or s/he can think of a speech topic that would
ultimate reality, is focused on profound correspond to the lyrics? (Answer at the
show action with video. A speech philosophical and spiritual questions
describing or showing extreme sports end of the chapter)
like “Where do we come from?” and
with high levels of risk, a fast pace, or “What happens to us when we die?” Mystery Artist
amazing stunts could be used to
illustrate activity. Nursery rhymes and song lyrics Money, get away.
familiar to the audience can also be Get a good job with good pay
Finally, Humor can be used to draw used in an interactive way to get and you're okay.
attention to a subject or point, but be listeners interested in the topic (Maxey
sure that it is relevant and in good taste.
Money, it's a gas.
& O'Connor, 2006). In a speech about
In a speech about the devotion of the global population explosion, you
Grab that cash with both hands
Trekkies (Star Trek fans), you could could ask audience to finish the phrase and make a stash.
share the example of Tony Alleyne “There was an old woman who lived in New car, caviar, four star
who designed and outfitted his flat in a shoe…” Common commercials, daydream,
England as a replica of the deck of the Think I'll buy me a football team.
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Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
Be Creative them in and show off their make-up speech on travelling to the Pyramids,
Speakers who are different are and costumes. The speaker was wise to you should be aware of this. When you
memorable (Maxey & O'Connor, have her cohorts in the room just long are talking about a topic that your
2006). To give your speech impact, be enough to make the point (but not the audience is familiar with, you should
imaginative and dare to push the entire time which would distract from share little known facts or paint the
envelope of conformity. When you the speaker), and the audience was subject in a new light. In a speech
have spent time researching a topic, attentive and grateful for the variety. about a famous person, you might
you may be able to envision ways to Hanks and Parry (1991) explain that depict what they are like behind the
incorporate surprising facts, props or anyone can be creative, if s/he wants to scenes, or what they were like growing
visuals that make your presentation be and is willing to make the effort. up. In a speech about a new
different from others, and therefore For some tips on how to foster your technology, you might also talk about
more memorable. You could dress like creativity, see Table 16.2. However, the inventors. In a speech about a
a Shakespearian actor for a speech you need to remember that creativity is famous city, you could discuss the
about the famous playwright. You just a tool to help you teach your more infamous landmarks and
could have the audience move their audience. Do not overlook the attractions.
chairs and take part in a yoga requirements of the occasion, the
demonstration. Or you might use your content of your research, or the needs
own audience plants to help with a of your audience in your zeal to be
speech entitled “Behind the Scenes of creative.
TV Talk Shows.” When one student
got up to speak, he drew a row of The worst enemy to creativity is
houses on the blackboard and then self-doubt.
began to drink a glass of water and ~ Sylvia Plath
speak about the life giving properties of
water. After making a few comments, Stimulate Audience Intellect
he threw the glass of water on the Most people have a genuine desire to
blackboard --- erasing most of the understand the world around them, to
houses. Then he began his speech on seek out the truth, and learn how to
the devastating effects of a flood (be solve problems. The role of the
sure to get your professor’s permission informative speaker is to satisfy this
before you do something like this!). desire to learn and know. To illustrate
Another student giving a speech about our quest for knowledge, consider the
“Clowning” had two actual clowns wait success of the Discovery Channel, the
in the hall until she was ready to bring Learning Channel, the History Channel,
the Food Network and other
educational broadcasts. So how do we create coherence
Tbale 16.2 Tips for Jump Starting appeal to the minds of listeners? Think Organize Logically
Your Creativity about all of the information we Several types of organizational
From Everyday Creativity by encounter every day but do not have patterns are discussed in the Selecting
Carlin Flora (2009) time to pursue. Think about subjects and Arranging Main Points chapter.
that you would like to know more Using these as a starting point, you
• Take a different way to work about. Ask what information would be should make sure the overall logic of
the speech is well thought out. If you
• Collaborate with others with
universally interesting and useful for
listeners. Many people fly on were giving speech best suited to
complementary skills chronological order, but presented the
airplanes, but do they know how to
• Seek inspiration in beautiful survive a plane crash? People also steps out of order, it would be very
surroundings difficult to follow. Those of you who
share many ordinary illnesses, so what
• Start working on the problem are some common home remedies? All have seen the movie Memento (which
right away of the people on earth originated presented the sequence of events
• Work in a blue room (it boosts someplace, so who were our ancient backwards), may have noticed how
difficult it was to explain the plot to
creativity) ancestors?
others. In a logical speech, the points
• Get a hobby or play music In addition to finding topics that you are trying to draw are obvious, the
• Think about your problem right relate to listeners, the information we supporting materials are coherent and
before falling asleep supply should be up to date. For correspond exactly to the thesis, and
instance, Egypt recently had a the main points are mutually exclusive
revolution, and if you are giving a and flow naturally from start to finish.
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I could get it - and bear the lash own learning style. Second, regardless
as well! And ain't I a woman? I of your own learning styles, you need
have borne thirteen children, to appeal to as many different learning
styles as possible in your informative
and seen most all sold off to speech. To see how each learning style
slavery, and when I cried out prefers to be taught, see the table
with my mother's grief, none but below.
Jesus heard me! And ain't I a Unfortunately, since the ear alone is
woman? a very poor information gathering
device, steps must be taken to improve
make your speech The final way to use repetition in
retention. Typically listeners only
memorable your speech is through nonverbal
retain only a small fraction of what is
Build in Repetition communication. When you say the
explained to them verbally. The first
Audience retention is determined by word “four” and you hold up four
way to enhance retention is to appeal to
a number of factors including listeners’ fingers, or when you verbally agree
as many of the senses as possible.
interest, knowledge, physical and with a point and nod your head at the
Studies show that audiences retain 20
emotional state, level of stress, same time, you are reinforcing the idea
percent of what they hear, 30 percent of
background, and other competing verbally and nonverbally.
what they see, and 50 percent of what
demands (Fujishin, 2000). One way to they hear and see (Westerfield, 2002).
help your audience remember the When the audience has an opportunity
Appeal to Different Ways of
content of your speech is by repetition to do something (adding the kinesthetic
Learning
(Hughes & Phillips, 2000). There are sense), their retention increases to 80
Individuals have different learning
three ways to incorporate repetition percent (Walters, 1995). Or, if
styles, so some people are visual [V]
into your speech. The first form learners, some are aural [A] learners, participation is not possible, a handout
repetition involves restating your main will raise retention to an impressive 85
some learn by reading [R] and writing,
points in your introduction, body and percent – if the audience can review the
and some learn kinesthetically [K]
conclusion. When you do this, you will handout at least once (Slutsky & Aun,
(Fleming, 2001). You can test your
restate your points using different 1997).
own learning style at www.vark-
language --- not repeat the points word learn.com. Understanding your own Another way to help your listeners
for word. The second form of
and others’ learning styles is useful for remember is by the use of techniques
repetition is where a word or a phrase is
two reasons. First, you will find that like association, linking the new topic
repeated in a poetic way, either
you tend to teach others using your to things that the audience knows about
throughout the speech or at a critical
point in the speech. One example of
this would be Abraham Lincoln’s Table 16.4 The VARK Model of Learning
“government of the people, by the
people, for the people.” Another Learning Style Approach the Learner With…
example can be found in Sojourner
Truth’s speech, delivered in 1851 at a Visual Learners Maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, brochures, flow
women’s rights convention. charts, highlighters, different colors, pictures,
word pictures, and different spatial
… That man over there says that arrangements
women need to be helped into
carriages, and lifted over Aural Learners Explanations of new ideas, large and small
ditches, and to have the best group discussions, lectures, audio recordings,
place everywhere. Nobody ever stories, and jokes
helps me into carriages, or over
mud-puddles, or gives me any Read/Write Learners Lists, essays, reports, textbooks, definitions,
best place! And ain't I a woman? printed handouts, readings, manuals, and web
pages
Look at me! Look at my arm! I
have ploughed and planted, and Kinesthetic Learners Field trips, hands-on projects, sensory
gathered into barns, and no man stimulations, laboratories, recipes and solutions
could head me! And ain't I a to problems, and collections of samples
woman? I could work as much
and eat as much as a man - when From Hawk and Shaw (2007, p. 7)and Fleming (2001).
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Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
or already understands. If you were plenty of people use Power Point, and it to have an impact on a number
giving a speech about rugby, you might does not necessarily make their speech of listeners in your audiences.
compare it to soccer and football to better or more memorable. That is one of the real powers of
help the audience understand the rules. Perhaps the best reason to use
The use of acronyms also aids
spoken communication. Develop
visuals aids during an informative skill for getting the material
retention. On the “Krusty Krab speech is to help your audience
Training Video” episode of Spongebob across to audiences, and you can
understand a concept that may be
Squarepants (a spoof on corporate difficult to understand just by
and will change lives for the
training videos), they use the acronym explaining it. In a speech about heart better and make a worthy
“POOP.” When I asked my then eight- bypass surgery, would it be better to contribution as a speaker.
year-old son if he remembered (several verbally describe the parts of the
weeks after watching the episode) what human heart, or to show a picture of it?
“POOP” stood for, he immediately and Informative speaking is a crucial
How about a model of the heart? How skill that, if developed, will help you be
correctly answered “People Order Our about an actual human heart? Be sure
Patties.” The final technique to help more successful in both your personal
to consider your audience! What if life and your professional career.
audiences remember information is the your speech is about an abstract
simplicity criterion. Information is best concept that does not lend itself well to When constructing an informative
retained when it is explained from top slick graphic representations? One way speech, you should strive to be
to bottom (rather than bottom to top), trainers get their audiences involved objective, spend time developing your
when events are presented from first to and make their presentations credibility, demonstrate that you have
last (rather than last to first), and when memorable is to provide handouts done your research, and link your
information is presented in the positive which the listeners complete (in part) subject to the lives of the listeners.
voice (rather than in the negative voice) themselves. You could use fill-in-the There are four main types of
(Devito, 1981). blank statements (where you provide informative speeches. Definitional
Use Visuals the answer), open-ended questions speeches present the meanings of
Visual aids can be a very powerful where listeners can write their thoughts, concepts, theories, philosophies, or
and efficient way to present facts that and activities like matching or issues. Descriptive speeches provide
might otherwise be difficult to convey crossword puzzles. Regardless of the detailed word pictures of people,
verbally. The benefits of visuals used type of visual media you select for your animals, places, or objects.
for informative speeches include speech, just make sure that it does not Explanatory speeches report events,
increasing interest, understanding, overpower you or the subject. Work to customs, transformations, inventions,,
retention, and the speed at which your keep the audience’s attention on you policies, outcomes or options.
audience can understand complex facts. and what you are saying, and use the Demonstration speeches show listeners
We live in a mediated culture, where visual to complement what you have to how some process is done or how to do
people are visually oriented. This say. it themselves.
means that they expect to be visually
Only one person in a million Several techniques can be used by
stimulated with pictures, graphs, maps,
becomes enlightened without a speakers to increase the effectiveness
video images and objects. Speakers
of their informative speech. Speakers
who do not make use of visuals may be teacher’s help. can arouse interest by using attention
at a disadvantage when compared to ~ Bodhidharma getting elements, telling a story, adding
speakers who use them. This is
creative features, and stimulating the
assuming of course that the visuals
enhance what you are saying and that conclusion intellect of the audience. Speakers can
The primary goal of informative create coherence through logical
you use them well. As you know,
speaking is to increase listeners’ organization, the use of simple
knowledge so they can better language, and by avoiding information
understand the world around them and overload. Finally, a speaker can make
can make more informed decisions. a speech more memorable via
Discussing the impact a speaker can repetition, appealing to different ways
have on an audience, Perry Wilbur of learning, and by using visuals
(2000, p. 99) explains: appropriately.
Always keep in mind that if your If you have knowledge, let others
talk helps just one listener in light their candles at it.
your audience, it has been ~Margaret Fuller
successful. It is far more likely
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Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
review questions
1. For each of the characters described below, what types of informative speeches might each person be called
upon to give in her or his personal and professional life? List as many as you can think of for each.
A. Stacy is an emergency room physician and medical school professor. She also serves on the board of
directors for a local college. For recreation she enjoys rock climbing.
B. Rick is an animal control officer who volunteers his time at both the animal shelter and the local Habitat
for Humanity group. He is in a bowling league with other city employees.
C. Akiko is in insurance sales and volunteers in the math classroom at her children’s middle school. As a
hobby, she collects and sells antiques.
2. Early in the module, the importance of credibility was discussed. Can you think of any presentations you
heard where you DID NOT feel that the speaker had credibility? What did the speakers do and/or say to make
you think they lacked credibility? If you were to give these speakers advice on how to improve their credibility,
what would you say?
3. The chapter states that speakers need to be objective, credible, knowledgeable and that they need to make the
topic relevant to the audience. Rank these responsibilities in order from most to least important, and then
explain your ranking.
4. Imagine you are giving an informative speech on ______________ [you fill in the blank]. How would you
apply each of the five attention getting techniques --- intensity, novelty, contrast, activity and humor --- in your
speech? Make note of at least one idea for each technique.
5. After you have selected a topic for your informative speech, answer the questions below to help determine
ways to orient your topic to your audience. Questions adapted from Ulloth and Alderfer, (1998b, pp. 61 - 62).
A. How much information does your audience already have about your topic?
B. What social or cultural influences of audience members might affect their reaction to your topic?
C. How can your topic be made interesting if the audience has no knowledge or apparent interest in it?
D. Are there any mental, physical, or emotional factors in the audience that may affect their response to
your speech?
E. What do you want your audience to understand after you have delivered your speech?
15-13
Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
activities
1. The list directly below includes a number of potential sources for your informative speech (Walters, 1995;
Ulloth & Alderfer, 1998; Slutsky & Aun, 1997). Using this list for ideas, which of these potential sources could
be used in the research process for each of the following speech topics?
speech topics
Tattoos Action figure collecting Free local activities
Making great BBQ Music piracy Auctions
Bruce Lee Decorating on a budget Creating a web site
2. Use the list of potential informative speech topics below to complete the steps of this activity.
A. Which of the topics listed below might also be used for a persuasive speech?
B. For each of the four different types of informative speeches (Definitional, Descriptive, Explanatory,
Demonstration), identify three topics that would be appropriate to use for each type of speech.
C. At this point, you should have twelve topics listed --- three each under each type of speech. Now, take
one topic from each of the four groups and generate a specific purpose statement and three potential main
points. You will have four different speeches, each with their own specific purpose and main points.
15-14
Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
glossary
Activity
The use of action words, physical or visual General Purpose
movement, or faster rate of speech to draw the The speaker’s overall goal, objective, or intent: to
audience’s attention. inform, to persuade, or to entertain.
15-15
Chapter 15 Informative Speaking www.publicspeakingproject.org
references
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Purposes of Informative Speaking
Informative speaking offers you an opportunity to practice your researching, writing,
organizing, and speaking skills. You will learn how to discover and present information
clearly. If you take the time to thoroughly research and understand your topic, to create
a clearly organized speech, and to practice an enthusiastic, dynamic style of delivery,
you can be an effective "teacher" during your informative speech. Finally, you will get
a chance to practice a type of speaking you will undoubtedly use later in your
professional career.
The purpose of the informative speech is to provide interesting, useful, and unique
information to your audience. By dedicating yourself to the goals of providing
information and appealing to your audience, you can take a positive step toward
succeeding in your efforts as an informative speaker.
Because you are speaking under time constraints, you cannot discuss any topic in its
entirety. Instead, limit your speech to a focused discussion of some aspect of your topic.
Speeches about processes focus on patterns of action. One type of speech about
processes, the demonstration speech, teaches people "how-to" perform a process. More
frequently, however, you will use process speeches to explain a process in broader
terms. This way, the audience is more likely to understand the importance or the
context of the process.
A speech about how milk is pasteurized would not teach the audience how to milk
cows. Rather, this speech could help audience members understand the process by
making explicit connections between patterns of action (the pasteurization process) and
outcomes (a safe milk supply).
Other examples of speeches about processes include: how the Internet works (not "how
to work the Internet"), how to construct a good informative speech, and how to research
the job market. As with any speech, be sure to limit your discussion to information you
can explain clearly and completely within time constraints.
Informative Speeches about Events
Speeches about events focus on things that happened, are happening, or will happen.
When speaking about an event, remember to relate the topic to your audience. A speech
chronicling history is informative, but you should adapt the information to your
audience and provide them with some way to use the information. As always, limit your
focus to those aspects of an event that can be adequately discussed within the time
limitations of your assignment.
Examples of speeches about events include: the 1963 Civil Rights March on
Washington, Groundhog's Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the World Series, and the 2000
Presidential Elections.
Some examples of topics for concept speeches include: democracy, Taoism, principles
of feminism, the philosophy of non-violent protest, and the Big Bang theory.
You might find a topic by thinking of classes you have taken. Think back to concepts
covered in those classes and consider whether they would serve as unique, interesting,
and enlightening topics for the informative speech. In astronomy, you learned about red
giants. In history, you learned about Napoleon. In political science, you learned about
The Federalist Papers. Past classes serve as rich resources for informative speech
topics. If you make this choice, use your class notes and textbook as a starting point. To
fully develop the content, you will need to do extensive research and perhaps even a
few interviews.
Talk to Others
Topic selection does not have to be an individual effort. Spend time talking about
potential topics with classmates or friends. This method can be extremely effective
because other people can stimulate further ideas when you get stuck. When you use this
method, always keep the basic requirements and the audience in mind. Just because you
and your friend think home-brew is a great topic does not mean it will enthrall your
audience or impress your instructor. While you talk with your classmates or friends, jot
notes about potential topics and create a master list when you exhaust the possibilities.
From this list, choose a topic with intellectual merit, originality, and potential to
entertain while informing.
It should be clear that coping with anxiety over delivering a speech requires significant
advanced preparation. The speech needs to be completed several days beforehand so
that you can effectively employ this five-step plan.
Different types of
Presentation
Discussion Topics
Informative
Persuasive
Extemporaneous
Entertaining
Impromptu
Informative Presentation
Informative Presentation
1. Definition Speech
2. Description Speech
3. Process Speech
4. Expository Speech
Definition Speech
Demonstration speech
Proceed slowly.