Types of Speeches Communications 1020 Instructor: Dave Gagon

Types of Speeches  Informative  Persuasive  Special occasion

Informative Speech  Provides: New information New insights New ways of thinking about a topic  It ’ s Goal: Increase understanding or awareness  Can be about objects, people, events, processes, concepts, issues

SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH TOPICS Hydrogen-powered Cars Staying Healthy on a Vegetarian Diet WikiWikiWikiWebs – Taking Interactive to a New Level SuperSlow Exercise Top Ten Conspiracy Theories Advances in Breast Cancer Treatments

Persuasive Speech  Intended to influence: Attitudes Beliefs Values Acts of others  Speech represents two viewpoints  Try to sway audience to your side through ethical means

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH TOPICS Become an Organ Donor Adopt a Foster Child Take Calcium Supplements for Health The NBA Draft Needs Fixing Procrastination Hurts Spay or Neuter Your Pets Treat the Disabled with Dignity, Respect and Fairness

Special Occasion Speech  Prepared for a specific occasion and for a purpose dictated by that occasion.  Can be either informative or persuasive – often a mix of both  Main function is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire, or set a social agenda

CHECKLIST: Identifying Speech Types Is your goal in speaking primarily to increase the audience ’ s knowledge of a topic or to share your point of view? (Your speech is informative in nature.) Is it primarily to effect some degree of change in the way your listeners view things? (Your speech is persuasive in nature.) Is it primarily to entertain, celebrate, commemorate, inspire or set a social agenda? (Your speech is a special occasion speech.)