Demonstrative Speech

A demonstration speech is a form of informative speech where the speaker’s primary purpose

is to teach the audience how to complete a task (or process), and this is largely accomplished
by demonstrating the task (or process) through a series of steps.

“A demonstration speech is a form of informative speech where the speaker’s primary

purpose is to teach the audience how to complete a task (or process).”

Demonstration speech topics are numerous, including all of the following:

 How to prepare a recipe (as in standard cooking shows)
 How to operate a software application
 How to tie a knot
 How to calculate a mortgage payment

The Demonstration Speech Outline

Just as there are many demonstration speech topics, there are many ways to organize a
demonstration speech. You will rarely go wrong, however, basic speech outline is as follows:

1. Start with why

2. Give a brief overview of the entire process
3. Go through the steps, one-by-one
 For each, describe it, then show it
4. (Optional) Discuss options, extras, or variations
5. Allow time for Q&A
6. Summarize briefly

1. Start with why

A demonstration speech is about training the audience to perform a task or complete a process.
Just as with any educational task, it helps tremendously if your audience is motivated to learn.

This is why it’s important to tell your audience how they will benefit from the knowledge you
are about to share. Once your audience knows why they are learning this new task, they will be
motivated to learn.

Will learning this new task or process help your audience:

 Earn or save money?
 Earn a promotion?
 Build their range of skills?
 Save them time?
 Make their life easier?
 Provide enjoyment or satisfaction?
 Make them happy?
There are many ways to motivate your audience, but one of the best ways is to open with a
story. Paint a picture of how their life will improve with this new knowledge.

2. Give a brief overview of the entire process

Before you dive too deep in the details, it is essential to present an overview of the overall task or
process.

 A brief, high-level overview of the steps involved provides a mental framework for

the audience upon which they can hang the details as you provide them later in the speech.
 When learning a new task, some people in your audience will fear that it is
complicated. An early overview assures your audience that it is not overly complex. For
example, “We’re going to discuss how to cook a quiche in just four easy steps…”
 If you fail to present an outline, it’s difficult for your audience to see how the steps will
fit together later on. The audience won’t have the necessary context.
A great way to present the overview is with a diagram illustrating the steps of the task at a
high level. You can refer to this diagram throughout.
Along with the overview, you should also list the prerequisites needed for the task, and any
assumptions you are making. For example, what is needed before one begins this task? What
supplies or resources are assumed?

3. Go through the steps, one-by-one

From a speaker’s perspective, one of the best things about a demonstration speech is that the
core of your outline is prepared for you: you simply need to go through the steps of the task in
sequential order.  (Occasionally, you may decide to present the steps in a different way, but be
sure to let your audience know that you are breaking a convention.)
Keep the series of steps as simple as possible. Break the process down to the most essential
steps that will lead your audience successfully from start to finish. There’s no “best” number of
 steps, but keep the number of steps as low as possible. Don’t present a 19-step process unless
your goal is utter confusion.
Defer optional steps for later in your presentation (or, for the Q&A). It is best to avoid
complicating matters on the first pass.
For each step, you should:
 Explain the purpose of the step (why is this step necessary)
 Explain the step in simple, straightforward language (what needs to be done)
 Show how to complete the step (how should it be done)

4. (Optional) Discuss options, extras, or variations

Now that your audience has seen the task or process demonstrated from start to finish, you can
(if time permits) provide some additional options or variations.

For example, if you are explaining how to cook a certain recipe, start with the basic version first.
After that’s done, you can discuss alternate ingredients, different flavours to try, and other ways
to build on the basic recipe.

5. Allow time for Q&A

Many types of speeches benefit from taking questions from the audience and answering them,
and a Q&A session is particularly well-suited for a demonstration speech. This allows the
audience to seek clarification on any of the steps which were unclear.

Depending on your topic and the forum in which you are speaking, you may choose to take
questions at the end, or you may invite questions throughout your demonstration. Either way,
monitor your time.

6. Summarize briefly

Finally, you should summarize the process briefly, and recap the benefits which your audience
will realize if they perform the desired process or task.

How to Elevate Your Demonstration Speech

Once you’ve mapped your topic onto the basic speech outline given above, there are many ways
that you can elevate the quality of your content and the manner in which you present it to
maximize the effectiveness for your audience:
 A.  If you can, get audience members doing it.

Your options for audience participation are often determined by how long your presentation is,
the setting in which the demonstration takes place, and the availability of supplies which can be
shared by the audience.

Having said this, it’s great if you can get the audience participating in the demonstration.
Actively engaging the audience and having them perform the steps will improve the likelihood
that they will remember the steps and be able to carry out the task or process independently long
after your presentation.

If the situation doesn’t allow for you to involve the whole audience, try to get one or more
audience members to help you out as volunteers.

B. Visuals are critical for a demonstration speech.

Nearly every demonstration speech can be made better by incorporating appropriate visuals to
accompany your verbal descriptions and instructions.

You have many options:

 Your body is often the best visual.

If your speech is about some physical task to perform (e.g. throwing a ball), then the most
important visual is your own body. You can demonstrate each of the steps individually, and
“animate” the process at various speeds to enhance the demonstration.
 Physical props make it real.
There are two main types of props: “real” and models. Real props include the actual objects
that are used when performing the task. Models include both “fake” versions of the real
objects, as well as scaled-down versions.
 Use photographs or diagrams as necessary.
If your body and props aren’t sufficient, use photographs and diagrams. As you present
these, it sometimes helps to immerse yourself in the photograph or diagram to animate the
action that would be involved.
Whatever visuals you choose to include, be sure that your audience can easily see them. If
they cannot see your visual (if it is too small, or their view is obscured), their understanding will
suffer.
 C. Extend your demonstration by providing follow-up resources.

A single demonstration — whether it be a 5-minute speech, or a 5-hour training session — is

often not enough to guarantee that the new knowledge is learned perfectly. To improve the
likelihood that your audience will successfully practice the task or process, it helps to provide
resources they can use after your demonstration is complete.

This includes (but is not limited to):

 Websites, books, pamphlets, or other expert sources which they can consult for deeper
information, or more advanced training.
 Handouts you prepare which summarize the steps in the process, as well as diagrams
or photographs which illustrate key details.
 Contact details so your audience can ask questions in the future as they try to apply the
knowledge you have imparted.