How to Informative Aka Expos Aka the One with the Boards By Me (Hannah Aiken)

Wait are there actually people watching this?

What is Informative/ Expos ? According to the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association): An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject. The general purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Any other purpose such as to entertain or to convince shall be secondary. The use of audio/visual aids is optional. Effective speeches provide new information or perspectives on a topic, including those that are widely known. The responsibility for choosing a worthwhile topic rests with the contestant. A fabricated topic may not be used. Any non-factual reference, including a personal reference, must be so identified.

Basically

Informative/Expos Simplified An informative speech is an informative (duh) speech with the main goal to inform the audience (duh). The topic of the speech must be something that is real. Informative speeches typically utilize visual aids. The topic of your speech is up to you. Try and make it as widely interesting as possible!

Rules!!! 10 minute max speech with a 30 second grace period No electronics or animals (living or dead) may be used The topic cannot be made up by you (like you can’t give a speech on the pemeliapottomus) but a widely recognized not real object (like a unicorn or bigfoot) can be a topic. You Must have a script!!!!! (I literally didn't think I needed a script when I wrote my first expos)

What can you Speak About?? Basically anything! Samples (please don’t do any of these): History of Dance Puns Senioritis Plastic Surgery Bill Nye Atlatls Unsolved Mysteries Humorology Alexander Hamilton Memes Glasses Soda

How do I choose my topic??? Make sure it's something that interests you! You’re going to be speaking about it A LOT, this speech is your baby. 2. Try and be unique and Original! You want the judges to notice you, but you that won't happen if your talking about the same thing as everyone else. If i had a dollar for every speech I’ve heard about potatoes i would have more money than I should. Other common topics include: Disneyland and being short (that was my first expos too)

How do I become a fire Exposer??? BE YOURSELF No one wants to listen to someone give a speech that even the speaker doesn't seem interested in. Have confidence and don’t be afraid! You don’t have to be all stiff and professional. Be fun and interesting while still professional. Most informative speeches can get boring really quickly if the speaker doesn't have some life to them. You should be able to capture the audience's attention not from whether or not they are interested in the topic of your speech, but simply because your personality draws them in. Essentially you should be able to make a speech about cat food interesting.

Boards Make your boards as pretty and eye catching as possible without being too much of a distraction Each board should relate to what you're talking about Try not to have plain, boring, boards judges do take things like the quality and effort put into boards into consideration when judging Due to a new rule boards are not required anymore but if you choose to do a speech without boards you must be able to explain to Symmonds and your captain why your speech is better without them. Boards are meant to enhance your speech, not overshadow it!

Properly formatted script

Properly Formatted Script If you ever think “I don’t need to write that blocking/joke/piece of information in my script” then stop, turn around and go write it in your script. Your script should and will change often. The same script you wrote at the beginning of the year will not be the same one you end with. Make sure you write your blocking and movements in a way so you can distinguish them from the rest of your script.

Overall C- confident H- humble E- enthusiastic F- fun Informative/Expos can be a very fun event, but it definitely a lot of work. Don't let this scare you though! Very few other events give you the opportunity to share your personality and what you're interested in like this one. The most important thing to remember is to be a C.H.E.F. C- confident H- humble E- enthusiastic F- fun