Informative Speeches

Informative Speeches #1T/F- The techniques for providing information efficiently, gracefully, and in a way that will interest the listener are not well-known. #2T/F- A large portion of today’s talking is done to give instructions, provide facts, or clarify ideas. #3T/F- Being knowledgeable about a subject gives you confidence when you speak. #4T/F- Giving informative speeches has everything to do with real life.

Types of Informative Speeches #1IC- The types of informative speeches are Public lectures are formal speeches for the public; Status reports describe a group’s accomplishments; Briefings tell about changes in policies and procedures; Fireside chats discuss the public’s concerns about an issue; and Chalk talks rely on visuals. #5T/F- Informative speeches may be followed by a question and answer period.

Goals of Informative Speeches #2IC- The six goals of informative speeches are to be clear, concise, complete, correct, concrete, and connected to the audience. #6T/F- The value of being clear must be balanced with other competing values. You may need to define complicated terms to make sure your audience understands if your topic is complex to be clear. When trying to be clear, remember not to get too boring. To be concise, make sure each word counts by using specific and precise language. You may need to enlarge your vocabulary to get good at this. To be complete, you can use transition words such as “first” and “second” to give your audience a sense of completion. Advanced organizers are statements that tell the audience what to expect, so they can see that you have completed your discussion.

Goals of Informative Speeches To be concrete, talk in terms of people, places, and things instead of talking in abstractions. #7T/F- Individual cases are usually more interesting than generalities. #8T/F- An general statement does need an example to support it. To connect to the audience, we need to predict how an audience will interpret what we say. #9T/F- The more we can predict how an audience will interpret what we say, the better we will be able to communicate. You need to consider the age, gender, interests, attitudes, and beliefs of the audience. Cultural literacy refers to the information an average American person should know.

Finding a Subject The key to finding a good speech topic is to have a creative mind. #10T/F- It is possible to choose a speech to fit a particular audience. #11T/F- Audiences appreciate speakers who get to the point quickly. #12T/F- Most students do not know what they want to speak about. #13T/F- Knowledge alone is not enough to write a speech. #14T/F- It is sometimes necessary to use crazy, foolish, and impractical ideas as stepping stones to more realistic ones. #15T/F- It is likely a student is an expert on anything. #16T/F- It is easy to build a good speech around a small insight. Personal experiences, observations of your environment, surveys, and the interests of your audience are good sources for speech topics.

Finding a Subject Narrowing your subject means cutting your topic down to size so that you can cover it completely. #3IC- The four guidelines that will help you narrow your subject are limiting it to time, space, extent and to divide and conquer. #4IC- Limiting your subject helps you write a good speech in three ways: it forces you to say more about less, focus your research, and helps you know what to include and exclude.

Building Your Speech Be sure to state your thesis or purpose statement. This is the most important part of your speech. #34B- Facts should be used to support ideas. You can get these facts in the library, magazines, or the internet. #33B- The Library of Congress has about 36 million items. Statistics, anecdotes (short stories), quotes, definitions, and descriptions all provide supporting facts. #17T/F- Sometimes even the most interesting material must be left out to keep the speech focused and on track. #18T/F- Give rounded numbers, not exact, in a speech. #19T/F- Use humor in your speeches only if it is related to what you have to say.

Beginning and Ending Well The introduction of your speech is 5 to 10 percent of your speech. The conclusion is only 5 percent of your speech. Be sure your introduction establishes your credibility and sets the stage for your thesis. #20T/F- Previewing and reviewing keeps listeners in touch with your speech plan. A poor conclusion can ruin the impact of the entire speech. #5IC- Some ways that you can signal the audience that you are ready to close is to use transition words like “in conclusion”, pause longer and change positions, or let your tone become louder and grander.

Audio and Visual Aids #35B- Visual aids include anything the audience can look at. #36B- Audio aids include anything the audience can listen to. #37B- Two dimensional visual aids are any illustrations that can be represented on a flat surface. #38B- Types of projections include overhead projectors, slides, film, and videotape.

Audio and Visual Aids #21T/F- Audio and visual aids help the speaker and gain the audience’s interest and cause them to remember the speech. #22T/F- Seeing is our dominant sense. Research shows that we pay 25 times as much attention to visual aids. #23T/F- Visual aids cannot replace the speech. #24T/F- A speaker should never hold the visual aid. Put it on a stand or ask someone else to hold it. #25T/F- A good visual aid cannot hide a poorly prepared speech.

Audio and Visual Aids #6IC- Some guidelines for successfully using photographs, drawings, and cartoons include mounting them on heavy paper, using at least 8x10 inch size, and hiding/covering the visual until ready to use. #7IC- The advantages for using a chalkboard are they are easy to put up and erase; no one expects perfection; and they are flexible. The disadvantage is that you must turn your back to the audience. #27T/F- Chalk gives you more flexibility and spontaneity than any other visual aid. Graphs are great for showing relationships with statistics. Diagrams are useful when explaining a process. Maps are great geographical sketches.

Audio and Visual Aids #8IC- The advantages of using handouts are that they look professional and that the audience can take them home. The disadvantages are that they are distracting and break eye contact and they take time to distribute. #28T/F- An experienced speaker usually passes out handouts at the beginning or end of a speech. #9IC- The guidelines for successfully using an overhead projector are knowing how to run the machine, covering information until you’re ready to use it, avoiding just reading the information, and standing out of the way. #10IC- The advantages for using slides are they are vivid and have good size. The disadvantages are that too many is boring; dark rooms are tiring; and the audience will focus on the slides and not you.

Audio and Visual Aids Three dimensional aids are ones that have height, width, and depth. #39B- Sometimes an actual object, something with height, width, and depth, can make a greater impression than a picture or projection. Models are scaled down objects that are almost exact replicas of the actual objects. Cutaways are just models sliced into so that the inside is visual.

Audio and Visual Aids #26T/F- Modern computer graphic programs are available in most schools. #29T/F- Pay attention to making the visual aid large enough for the audience to see. #30T/F- Master the mechanics of any equipment you plan to use in a speech. #31T/F- Set up any equipment you need early. #32T/F- Do not look at the visual aid throughout your speech. Remember to have eye contact with your audience.

Audio and Visual Aids #11IC- Some hints for successfully using an audiotape in a speech include being sure the tape is clear and loud enough and cuing the tape in the correct position.