Communication for Various Purposes

Developing and Delivering an Informative Speech

As students, and even as professionals, speaking to inform people is inevitable. You may
be asked to describe an event or object, explain a concept or idea, show how things work,
and introduce yourself. There are almost infinite situations and topics that you can talk
about to inform others. Though there is a gamut of topics you can choose from, the key
point is pick a topic that is new to the audience or discuss a common topic in a fresher
perspective.
Informative speech as the term implies, is a type of speech that aims to inform the audience
and not to advocate a cause or influence people to act and think as you want them to be.
The information that you will convey will be judged based on accuracy, completeness,
clarity, and meaningfulness. Hence, it is important to develop your skill in informative
speaking; that is to achieve personal and professional success. A successful informative
speech can empower the audience through the new ideas and skills that you can impart to
them. It can also shape their perception and clarity options for action.
Before delivering your informative speech, you must ensure that your topic is significant
enough to merit a speech. You must also identify the level of information that your
audience already know and the information that they need to know about the chosen topic.
Lastly, ensure that you clearly understand the intricacies of your topic to establish
credibility and confidence.
Types of Informative Speech
1. Speech about objects
Object refers to something that is visible, tangible, and stable in form that can be experienced
through physical senses. Objects can be living or non-living. Speech organization about objects
can be chronological, spatial, or topical.
Here are some examples of speeches about objects:
 Mayon Volcano
 3D glasses
 The poodle
 Light Rail Transit
 A Syringe

2. Speech about processes

Process refers to sequence of actions or steps that lead to a specific product or income.
Processes may involve people – people interacting with machines, and forces of nature. Your
goal in this type of speech is for the audience to understand and/or perform the process.
Generally, you need to have the following elements when delivering this speech: input
 (materials), tools or forces (operate on the inputs), sequence of steps from start to finish,
output or product, and skills (Bovee, 2003).
Speech organization about processes is chronological. You can apply the following tips when
delivering a speech about processes:
1. Give an overview about the whole process.
2. Subgroup complicated processes for better comprehension. Make sure that subgrouping
is logically arranged. For example, when demonstrating how to cook Italian spaghetti,
you may group the procedure according to ingredients and materials needed, actual
cooking, and garnishing.
3. Review frequently to ensure that the audience are still with you.
4. Summarize the procedure.
5. Use visual aids.
Here are some examples of speeches about processes:
 How a tornado develops
 How papaya soap is made
 How to play the piano
 How to cook adobo

3. Speech about people

Speech about people is like speech about objects – except of course, they should be
represented as human beings. This type of speech allows the speaker to describe how people
look like, how they act, how they deal with life, and the like.
Here are some examples of speeches about people.
 The Sacrifices of Mother Teresa
 The Legacy of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
 President Rodrigo Duterte: The Road to the Malacanang Palace

4. Speech about events

An event refers to anything that happens or is happening. Speech Organization about events can
be by chronology, by cause-effect, or by category. It must be subdivided consistently and logically.
Here are some examples of speeches about events:
 Miss Universe 2018
 Recent Philippine Elections
 National SCUAA
5. Speech about issues
An issue refers to a point or matter of discussion, dispute, and public concern. To clarify such an
issue, a speech may be delivered. The following are some of the issues that can be discussed for
better understanding:
 Truancy among students
 Professional Conflicts
 Sexual Harassment
 Corruption in the Philippines

6. Speech about concepts

A concept refers to beliefs, theories, principles, and ideas. One characteristic of a concept is its
abstract state. A speech about concepts can be arranged by topics or by comparison and contrast.
Here are some examples of speeches about concepts:
 Feminism
 Financial Freedom
 Capitalism
 Leadership
Ways in Organizing Informative Speech
Chronological
If you intend to describe a process or discuss changes and developments, consider using the
chronological arrangement which involves sequencing of events or steps. The topics that may need
this approach are the following:
 How to print a document from a computer
 How to cook spaghetti
 The Life of Oprah Winfrey
Spatial
If you need to organize your speech according to physical space and relationships between and
among locations, consider using a spatial arrangement which allows the audience to visualize
locations, appearance, distances, and arrangement of objects. The topics that may need this
approach are the following:
 Asia’s best tourist spots
 Describing a newly built condominium
 Different regions in the Philippines
Categorical or Topical
If you intend to s
how the audience the classification of subjects, consider using this approach which allows the
audience to see how the subject is divided into subgroups or subtopics. Though this approach is
very flexible, it may also bore the audience because of the absence of actions. The topics that may
need this approach are the following:
 Types of learners
 Different branches of science
 Body systems (i.e circulatory, digestive, respiratory)
Cause and Effect
If you intend to show reasons why a phenomenon occurred and/or what the outcomes are, consider
using the cause-and-effect approach. It allows the audience to see the causal relationship of events.
The topics that may need this approach are the following:
 Dangers of alcohol drinking
 Dangers of smoking
 Causes and effects of abortion
Comparison and Contrast
If you intend to show the differences and similarities of an event, place, person, things, and other
concepts and objects, consider using comparison and contrast approach. It helps the audience
choose between two items being compared. The topics that may need this approach are the
following:
 Mobile phone vs. landline
 Where to spend a vacation: Singapore or Hongkong?
 A comparison and contrast between Globe and Smart

Additional Tips for an Effective Informative Speech

1. Use plain language. Avoid jargons, clichés, highfalutin, and legalistic terms unless it is
totally necessary.
2. Relate your topic to the audience. Talk to them not at them.
3. Do not overestimate not underestimate your audience’s knowledge about the topic. Your
main purpose is to inform.
4. Use active and concrete language over abstract. Since you are writing to inform, be clear
in what you want your readers to understand.
5. Enlighten and entertain your audience simultaneously. A happy soul absorbs more
information.

Developing and Delivering a Persuasive Speech

Your parents encourage you to take another course.

Your friends invite you to join them even when you have a prior
 commitment.
Sales agents talk to you to buy their products.
Your doctor persuades you to quit your vices.
Politicians persuade you to vote for them.
Billboards try to convince you to use the services they advertise.

These are just few of the hundred persuasive messages that you encounter everyday. How many
times have you turned down some offers? For what reasons? How many times have you accepted
offers because of an effective message delivery? Whether you are the one persuading or the one
being persuaded, persuasion is a complex process that involved multiple factors.
Persuasive speech has the primary purpose of influencing the attitudes or actions of the audience.
It is different from informative speech in many ways as shown in the following table (Osborn
and Osborn, 2006).

Informative Speech Persuasive Speech

Presents options Pushes for a choice among options

Speaker acts as the teacher
Uses supporting materials to enlighten
the audience
Asks for little audience commitment
Speaker’s credibility is relevant
Fewer appeals to emotions
High ethical obligation
Speaker acts as an advocate
Uses supporting materials to justify
advice
Asks for strong audience commitment
Speaker’s credibility is more important
Strong appeals to emotions
Higher ethical obligation

Four Types of Persuasive Speech

1. Speech to Convince
In this type of speech, no direct action is needed from the audience. Its focus is to change
attitude and perception. For example, when a president of one country asks or persuades
you to believe that there are fewer incidence of corruption in the government, he is
delivering a speech to convince.
2. Speech to Actuate
In this type of speech, an action is needed from the audience. A good example of
speeches to actuate are those of the sales agents convincing you to buy their products or
politicians who ask for your vote during the elections.
3. Speech to Inspire
 In this type of speech, the audience usually share the same beliefs and thoughts with the
speaker. Its purpose is to make the audience more enthusiastic on something. An example
of this is when a team leader motivates her/his members to never give up and continue on
doing their job no matter how hard it is. Speaking during commencement exercises,
award ceremonies, and tribute have the purpose to inspire the audience.
4. Debates and Public Argumentation
In this type of speech, two groups of people or two individuals discuss a certain
proposition; one is “for’ and the other one is ‘’against’. This can also be in a form of a
meeting or panel with members giving their own points of view.
Persuasion process
Understanding the process of persuasion will further develop your persuasion skills. According
to William J. McGuire, persuasion, through the Information Processing Model, involves six
steps: Presentation, Attention, Comprehension, Yielding, Retention, and Behavior.
This model assumes that the receiver in a persuasive communication is a problem solver or
information processor.
Involves exposure to
Presentation
communication
Involves attending to
Attention the message and liking
it
Involves learning the
Comprehension “what” and the “how”
of the message
Involves attitude
Yielding
change
Involves memory
Retention storage and/or
argument
Involves acting out of
Behaviour
desired behaviour

Tips in Dealing with a Reluctant Audience or a “Tough Crowd”

1. Establish goodwill early in your speech.
2. Begin with points of agreement.
3. Make good eye contact but not aggressive.
4. Speak with conviction.
 5. Emphasize positive motives and emotions, such as fairness, safety, sympathy, love,
ambition, respect, and patriotism.
6. Give emphasis on explanation rather than being argumentative.
7. Mention experts and authorities that the audience respects.
8. Do not push your audience to believe in all of your arguments.
9. Compare your views with others but make sure your comparison is favourable on your
side.
10. Anticipate possible questions from the audience and then supply them as you talk.
11. Never threaten the values of the audience. instead, reason out on the perspective of your
listener’s values.
12. Demonstrate a clear and specific plan of action.
13. Be enthusiastic and sincere.

Designs for a Persuasive Speech

Problem-Solution Method
Using this model, a speaker presents a problem then proposes a solution. He/she tries to convince
the audience that a problem exists and that the audience needs to act on it and make a change.
Step I. Persuade the audience that a problem exists. Problems may range from the easiest to
the most difficult. They may be familiar to the audience or new for them. In case your
audience is not familiar to the problem, take time o make the problem understood by
them.
Step II. Persuade the Audience that your solution is the best. Tailor the speech in a way that
your proposed solution is worth their time, effort and money.

Talking That Fits the Occasion

The test of an excellent public speaker is to challenge himself or herself to have an on-the-spot or
impromptu speech. To deliver such speech, a speaker needs to have great organizational skills,
wit, and composure. Speaking in front of people is a fearsome task, more so if you have very
little time to prepare. We are sometimes asked to “say a few words” in an event that usually
rattles us especially when we are not used to it.

Impromptu Speech
The feature that distinguishes impromptu from other types of speech is time. Impromptu speech
involves unrehearsed speaking with very short time for preparation. In fact, many of the speeches
you give are impromptu. You can be asked to speak to introduce, to thank, to inspire, to
welcome, to entertain, and to congratulate. No matter what the purpose is, all entails little time to
prepare. The challenge is how you can deliver such speech effectively.

Methods or Patterns of Organizing an Impromptu Speech:

 1. PREP method
Point: State your position on the topic.
Reason: State your reason for taking the position.
Example: Provide an example that helps explain your reason.
Restatement of Point: Summarize and Restate your position.
P The point I wish to make is that Impromptu Speaking is an essential skill to
have.
R Being able to speak effectively with little preparation is very empowering
E I can remember my sister being called to speak in front of her colleagues. At first
she struggled; but because she knows some techniques in delivering an impromptu
speech, the struggles were turned into opportunities – opportunities to showcase her
speaking skills and wit. Now, she is more confident, more vibrant, more alive, more
willing to take risks not only in speaking but also in whatever she does.
P When a person becomes more comfortable in speaking even with less
preparation, he or she becomes empowered and stronger.

2. Point-Support-Conclusion (PSC) Method

Point: Provide your point of view, key idea, or objective.
Support: Provide stories or examples that help prove your point.
Conclusion: End by restating your point of view or key idea and by making your call to
action.

3. Past-Present-Future (PPF) Method

Point: State your Key Point
Past: Discuss what happened in the past.
Future: Tell your audience about what will or could happen in the future.
Point: Summarize by restating your key point.

Delivering Functional Speeches

No matter what the situation is, we need to consider these points:
1. Functional speeches must be brief.
2. Functional speeches concern emotions.
3. Functional speeches, especially the language used, must be appropriate to the situation.
You do not want a highly entertaining speech during a funeral.

Introducing a Speaker
Generally, introducing speakers should not be longer than two minutes. Do not be a catalyst to
the boredom of the audience by enumerating the full biography of the speaker. Use the following
sequence when introducing a speaker:
 1. What is the topic?
2. Why is it important to the audience?
3. Why is the speaker qualified to talk about the topic?
4. Who is the speaker?

Welcoming Attendees and Guests

The purpose of a welcoming address is to make the participants feel comfortable. As the person
designated to welcome the quest, you stand as the representative of the organizer. Your
credibility and performance may influence how the guests perceive the whole event. Use the
following tips when welcoming the participants:
1. Limit the speech between three to five minutes.
2. Mention the organizer, the type of participants, and the important locations and
facilities.
3. Start with a high note.
4. Describe some highlights of the event.

Accepting and Thanking

Use the following tips when thanking those who recognize us:
1. Keep the speech short, usually not more than two minutes.
2. Do not forge to thank the Award-giving organization
3. Do not forget to thank those who are instrumental to your success.
Wedding Wishes
A wedding is a day of hope, love and celebration. Giving wedding wishes to the couples need not
be fancy; however, you can be creative. Here are some tips on how you can give your warm wishes
to the newlyweds:
1. Be sincere.
2. A love poem or quotation can be a good way to begin the speech.
3. Speak about your personal thoughts and relate to the couples.
4. You may use humor.