MODULE 8

Module Title: COMMUNICATIOIN FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES

Chapter 3
Lesson 1 INFORMATIVE, PERSUASIVE AND ARGUMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION

Period Coverage: Week 8

Module Learning Outcome:

At the end of this module, students are able to

1. Employ strategies for effective informative speaking, including avoiding persuasion,

avoiding information overload, and engaging the audience
2. Explain the benefits of public speaking to your education, your personal life, and your
career

Information Sheet 3.1 CHAPTER 3

INFORMATIVE, PERSUASIVE AND ARGUMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION

INITIALIZING
Communication is made for numerous purposes. The way messages are crafted depends
highly on the intention of the sender.
CONCEPT GROUNDING
A persuasive communication attempts to influence or reinforce the attitudes, beliefs, or
behavior of an audience.

 PERSUASION IS TRYING TO FORCE SOMEONE INTO SOMETHING. BASICALLY IT

IS AIMED AT CREATING, REINFORCING OR CHANGING PEOPLE’S BELIEF OR
ACTIONS.
 IT BENEFIT US IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES I.E IN CAREER PLANS OR
RELATIONSHIPS.
 LAWYERS, MARKETERS, COUNSELORS, POLITICIAN, PASTORS THRIVE ON
PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION.
 THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT PERSUASION, THE MORE LIKELY YOU GET WHAT
YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE.
 This type of speech often includes the following elements:

 appeal to the needs of the audience

 appeal to the reasoning of the audience
 focus on the relevance of your topic to the audience
 fit the speech to the audience - ensure they understand the info
 make yourself credible by demonstrating your expertise
Informative communication involves giving than asking. As an informative
communicator, you want your receivers to pay attention and understand, but not to change
their behavior.
Osborn (2009) purports that informative communication arises out of three deep
impulses:
a. We seek to expand our awareness of the world around us.
b. We seek to become more competent.
c. We have an abiding curiosity about how things work and how they are made.
INFORMATIVE COMM. STRATEGIES
INFORMATORY- TO CREATE AWARENESS I.E SIMPLE DIRECTIONS, DEMOSTRATIONS,
SPEECHES
EXPLANATORY- TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING, TO CLARIFY DIFFICULT INFORMATION AND
CREATE UNDERSTANDING I.E. ACADEMIC LECTURES, PHILOSOPHIES, DOCUMENTARIES
Argumentative communication relies heavily on sound proof and reasoning. According to
Aristotle, logos, ethos and pathos are the three primary forms of proof. In our time, whoever,
many scholars have confirmed the presence of a fourth dimension of proof, mythos, which
suggests that we respond to appeals to the traditions and values of our culture and to the
legends and folktales that embody them.
PURPOSE:
1. AN ARGUMENT FOLLOWS WHEN TWO GROUPS DISAGREE ABOUT SOMETHING.
2. ARGUMANTATIVE ESSAY IS ALSO ONE THAT ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE READERS
MIND, TO CONVINCE THE READER TO AGREE WITH THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE
WRITER.
3. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS ATTEMPT TO BE HIGHLY PERSUASIVE.
Lucas (2007) claims that to avoid defective argumentation, the following must be
avoided:
What is the difference between an informative, persuasive, and argumentative
communication?
Informative "These are the facts"
 You are stating the facts, often backed by scientific research or other references to
opinions by acknowledged experts. There is no attempt to sway others to your point of
view, and in fact you do not even give your own view.
Persuasive "Why I am right"
 You are doing your best to convince other to support your own view of the situation.
You use logical and emotional argument to show why what you are saying is right. If you
mention the other side of the story you are only doing so to show why your own
perspective is a better choice. The focus is on your own perspective and not on putting
down the other side. You say what you are standing "for"
Argumentative "Why you are wrong"
 You are stating the pros of your side and the cons of the other side, doing you best to
put the other side in its place. Most of the focus will be on why the other perspective is
wrong. You don't have to have a better solution as long as you show why the solution
you are criticizing is not going to work. You say what you are standing "against"

Information Sheet 3.2 CHAPTER 3

PUBLIC SPEAKING
Public speaking is a process of speaking in a structured, deliberate manner to inform, influence
or entertain an audience.
Speech is the term used to refer to the body spoken expressions of information and ideas. A
speech may be delivered in any of the following modes: read from a manuscript, memorized
and delivered extemporaneous or impromptu. The choice of mode of speech delivery is
determined by factors such as length of preparation, complexity of message, purpose, and
occasion.
Reading from a Manuscript is appropriate when the speech is long and when details are
complicated and essential such as that they need to be given completely. Reading is also
appropriate when one is asked to deliver a prepared speech on behalf of another speaker.
Memorized speech requires a speaker to commit everything to memory. This method is
excellent for short messages although it is also used for long pieces in oratorical, declamation
and other literary contests.
Extemporaneous speaking may have a short or a long preparation. The speaker may use an
outline to guide him through his speech to achieve better organization and to avoid leaving out
details. IT IS A PALNNED AND PREPARED SPEECH UNLIKE MANUSCRIPT SPEECHES AND
MEMORIZED SPEECH IT IS DELIVERED WORD FOR WORD. EXTEMPORAENOUS SPEECH IS
DELIVRED WITH THE HELP OF SHORT NOTES AND OUTLINE. IT GIVES YOU THE ADVENTAGE OF
TALKING POINTS VS. IMPROPTU
NOTES/OUTLINE VS. MEMORIZED
QUOTATIONS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND STATISTIC OF RESEARCH VS. IMPROPMTU
PLANNING FOR A MOST SPONTAENOUS AND NATURAL ORAL PRESNTATION VS. MEMORIZED
Impromptu means speaking at the spur of the moment. Since there is very minimal or no time
for preparation given for impromptu, the content and organization may suffer. Impromptu may
not deliver the best thought in the best way but it brings out the most natural thing to say at
the moment.
SELF-CHECK 1.1 MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. You are stating the facts, often backed by scientific research or other references to
opinions by acknowledged experts
a. persuasive
b. informative
c. impromptu
d. argumentative
2. You are stating the pros of your side and the cons of the other side, doing you best to
put the other side in its place.
a. Persuasive
b. Argumentative
c. Informative
d. Speech
3. You are doing your best to convince other to support your own view of the situation.
a. Speech
b. Impromptu
c. Persuasive
d. Argumentative
4. There is no attempt to sway others to your point of view, and in fact you do not even
give your own view
a. Informative
b. Persuasive
c. Argumentative
d. Speech
5. __________ is a process of speaking in a structured, deliberate manner to inform,
influence or entertain an audience.
a. Speech
b. Impromptu
c. Manuscript
d. Public speaking
 6. It is appropriate when the speech is long and when details are complicated and essential
such as that they need to be given completely.
a. Memorized
b. Reading
c. Reading a manuscript
d. Reading a speech
7. It means speaking at the spur of the moment.
a. Impromptu
b. Speech
c. Reading
d. Speaking
8. The focus is on your own perspective and not on putting down the other side.
a. Argumentative
b. Persuasive
c. Speech
d. Public speaking
9. ________ is the term used to refer to the body spoken expressions of information and
ideas.
a. Reading
b. Speech
c. Public speaking
d. persuasive
10. It requires a speaker to commit everything to memory. This method is excellent for
short messages although it is also used for long pieces in oratorical, declamation and
other literary contests.
a. Impromptu
b. Memorized
c. Public speaking
d. speech

KEY ANSWER MODULE 8

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. D
6. C
7. A
8. B
9. B
10. B