Types of Speeches According to Purpose: Expository/Informative

Informative Speech
An informative speech is a type that is intended to give information like lectures, demonstrations, briefings,
trainings where the audience learns something from the speech.
Speech Guru.com (2005) describes that "an informative speech is a speech on a realistic factual matter destined to
raise the informative and cultural level of listeners. An informative speech should be based upon a wide range of adequate
and credible sources."

5 Types of informative speeches according to lardbucket.org (2012)

1. Object-based speeches give information about objects. This type is usually made during the inaugurations of
buildings or other projects.
2. People-based speeches tend to be biography oriented. The speech outlines the life, works and achievement of a
person who is given a certain award like a person who is conferred the doctoral degree in honoris causa due to his
contribution to society or a cause.
3. Concept-based speeches explain the significance of specific events, which may either be historical or
contemporary. Such speeches are usually presented by an organization that promotes a cause like healthy living,
environmental preservation, anti-drug campaign, and the like.
4. Abstract speeches may be about the difficult ideas or theories. There are several abstract topics that one can
discuss like how to become a successful person, building up your dreams, faith and God, building nationalism,
diminishing the feelings of guilt and depression
5. Process speeches are those types which would talk about functions and the how- to-do- process about products or
things.

Other types of Informative speeches according to Grice and Skinner (2007)

1. Place-based speeches. These types of speeches are similar to the object-based speeches. However, this type
centers on a place.
2. Activities and events-based speeches. Examples of these speeches are wedding, anniversary, baptismal, a
marathon, anniversary or an opening of a sports event. They are delivered during a program of the activity.
3. Conditions-based speeches. These kinds of speeches present the condition of either a project or a certain place.
4. Issues-based speeches. When the speech talks about urgent issues about society, organization or institution, they
mean that they are critical and pressing and immediate actions should be done. It is done so as to put into focus
the said issue and that action could be made.

A well-organized speech has three parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion

Let us discuss these parts and their uses. A speaker uses the introduction to gain attention and good will to the
audience. The body presents the main points in an organized pattern and gives supporting information for the main points.
Finally, the conclusion emphasizes the key idea or ideas of the speech and leaves the audience with the greater interest in
the topic.

An introduction serves three very important purposes:

a. gets the attention of the audience (sustained interest)

b. gains the goodwill of the audience (audience respect or positive feeling of the speaker as a person)
c. develop the audience's interest in the topic of the speech (involvement concern your audience shows
about the topic). Include fact, examples and other information that would hold your audience's attention.
Logical Patterns that could be used in Informative Speeches

Chronological Order-This type of pattern arranges details or events according to the order in which they occurred in
time. Usually, it uses the transitional devices like first, second, last, finally, etc. to show the sequential order of events
or details.

Topical Order-In the topical order, a topic is broken down into its parts and then arranged in an order determined by
the speaker and stated in the specific purpose.

Spatial Order -This type dwells on details that are arranged according to their position in space. It is often used for
descriptions.

Climactic Order-The climactic order arranges items according to their order of importance. So, the discussion of the
speaker could be from the least important to the most important details he would like to emphasize.

Cause and Effect Order-In this type of order, information is arranged to show causes or conditions and their
corresponding effects or results.

Comparison and Contrast Order-This type of order arranges the topic to show similarities and differences between
items the speaker would want to discuss. There are two ways to present this type of order. First, a speaker could do the
point-by-point discussion, where he shows similarity and difference per point. Another is when he presents all the
similarities first. Then this is followed by the discussion of the differences.

The Department of Communication of University of 'Pittsburg suggests the following tips for informative
speaking:

 Analyze the audience.

 Use appropriate language.
 Explain the importance of the topic.
 Express interest in the subject material.
 Show how; don't tell.
 Be specific.

SIX IMPORTANT WAYS TO DELIVER YOUR SPEECH WELL:

 Credibility
In order to establish yourself as a speaker whom the audience can trust to give accurate information, tell
the audience a little of your background or experience to let them know what makes you qualified to talk about
your topic. Be thoroughly prepared.
 Enthusiasm
According to Microsoft Encarta 2009, enthusiasm is an excited interest. It means that there is a passionate
interest in or eagerness to do something. To talk with enthusiasm means arousing the interest of your audience.
The more enthusiasm you show, the more likely you are to get and hold the audience's attention. Show your
audience excitement and interest in sharing your ideas
 Eye contact
Look at your audience so you get their attention and so that they would not wander elsewhere. An eye
contact would show that you would like to connect with your audience and that you are particularly interested in
sharing your thoughts.
 Vocal variety and emphasis
Use varied tones, rate, volume and pitch so your speech would not be monotonous.
 Clear articulation and enunciation
Remember how to articulate the words and project your voice so that you may be heard by the audience
located at the back portion of the hall. When the hall is huge and the sound is not very audible, it is important to
enunciate especially the ending consonants so you could better be understood.
 Good pronunciation
A speaker should remember the correct pronunciation of words that he will use in his speech. If he is not
so sure, it is important to look for the correct pronunciation guide. He could surf the internet and hear how these
words are pronounced in several sites. If the internet is not available, a dictionary will do.
When speaking to a huge crowd, one has to remember to pronounce the ending consonants of words so
that even the farthest person can understand the message in your speech.