Chapter Twenty-Three The Informative Speech

Chapter Twenty-Three Table of Contents zInformative Speaking Goals and Strategies zApproaches to Presenting Information zCategories of Informative Speeches zGuidelines for Effective Informative Speeches*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies zBuilding Understanding and Awareness zGauging the Audience’s Informational Needs*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies: Building Understanding and Awareness zBefore we can retain information, we must be able to recognize and understand it.*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies: Building Understanding and Awareness zThe audience’s comprehension is aided by: ySelecting an appropriate organizational pattern. yProviding effective previews and transitions. yUsing language skillfully. yUsing presentation aids.*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies: Gauging Audience Needs zAs in all types of speeches, an understanding of the audience and the factors affecting it are critical to delivering an effective informative speech. zListeners must be able to see the relevance of the topic—nobody wants to hear a speech in which one already knows what the speaker has to say.*

Approaches to Presenting Information yDefining Information yDescribing Information yExplaining Information yDemonstrating Information*

Approaches to Presenting Information yOperational definition xDefines something by explaining what it does yDefinition by negation xDefines something by explaining what it is not yDefinition by example xProvides examples of the subject yDefinition by synonym xDefines one term by comparing it to another yDefinition by etymology xIllustrates the definition by explaining the root of the term*

Approaches to Presenting Information: Describing Information zBe as vivid as you can in your descriptions of people, places, events, processes, and objects.*

Approaches to Presenting Information: Explaining Information zRather than merely clarifying information, explanations focus on reasons or causes, and demonstrate relationships by relying on interpretation and analysis.*

Approaches to Presenting Information: Demonstrating Information zDemonstrations generally focus on how to do something or how something works.*

Categories of Informative Speeches zSpeeches about Objects zSpeeches about People zSpeeches about Events zSpeeches about Processes zSpeeches about Concepts zSpeeches about Issues*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Objects zDiscuss anything that is not human, including both animate and inanimate objects*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about People zInform about historically significant individuals and groups, those who have made contributions to society, or those whom we find compelling*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Events zFocus on noteworthy occurrences, past and present*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Processes zRefer to a series of steps that lead to a finished product or end result; how something is done, how it is made, or how it works*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Concepts zFocus on abstract or complex ideas or theories and an attempt to make them concrete and understandable*

Categories of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Issues zProvide a report or overview of problems in order to increase understanding and awareness*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches zStrive for Balance zEmphasize the Topic’s Relevance to Your Audience zDefine Your Terms zReinforce Your Message through Repetition z Relate Old Ideas to New Ones z Present New and Interesting Information z Strive for Clarity z Use Visualization z Incorporate Presentation Aids*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Strive for Balance zWhen planning a speech, critically evaluate the amount of content you will include in terms of your listener’s interests and needs.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Emphasize the Topic’s Relevance to Your Audience zDemonstrate to your listeners how they can use the information you are giving and how that knowledge will be beneficial to them.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Define Your Terms zIf you are at all unsure of whether audience members will know the meaning of a term, define it in the speech.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Reinforce Your Message through Repetition zRepeating key words or phrases at various intervals creates a distinctive rhythm and thereby implants important ideas in listeners’ minds.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Relate Old Ideas to New Ones zDraw comparisons to concepts with which audience members are familiar, so they can better understand the information you are giving.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Present New and Interesting Information zAs you research your informative speech, try to uncover information that is fresh and compelling.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Strive for Clarity zTell the audience exactly what you want them to get out of the speech.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Use Visualization zVisualization is an effective way to ensure that audience members have a solid grasp of what you are talking about before moving on to the next point. zVisualization helps build interest.*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Incorporate Presentation Aids zInformative messages that are visually and otherwise reinforced with objects, models, pictures, graphs, charts, video, audio, and multimedia are often more understandable and believable than those that are simply verbalized.*