1. Informative Speaking Goal is to impart knowledge to
Raise awareness;
Deepen understanding of some phenomenon.
Brings new topics to light
Offers new insights on familiar subjects
Provides novel ways of thinking

2. Gain and Sustain Involvement
Use audience analysis.
Used to gauge listeners’:
Knowledge of your topic
Likely interests and needs
Allows you to adjust your speech
Focus on most important information

3. Gain and Sustain Involvement (cont.)
Present new and interesting information
Seek out
Unusual angles;
Novel interpretations;
Moving stories;
Striking examples.

4. Gain and Sustain Involvement (cont.)
Help listeners follow along.
Prepare a well-organized introduction.
Make liberal use of transitions.
Use internal previews and internal summaries.
Use rhetorical devices to reinforce information.
Help listeners mentally organize ideas.

5. Subject Matter of Informative Speeches
Informative speeches can be about:
Objects or phenomena
Various aspects of nonhuman subjects
People
Impact of individuals/groups on society

6. Subject Matter of Informative Speeches (cont.)
Events
Noteworthy occurrences, past and present
Processes
How something is done
How something is made
How something works
It changed to something in last two bullets.

7. Subject Matter of Informative Speeches (cont.)
Concepts
Abstract or complex ideas, theories, beliefs
Issues
Problems or matters of dispute
Intended to raise awareness/deepen understanding
Not intended to advocate a position

8. Informative Speech – About an Object
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the major alternative-fuel cars now being developed. I. One kind of alternative-fuel car is powered by electricity. II. A second kind of alternative-fuel car is powered by methanol. III. A third kind of alternative-fuel car is powered by hydrogen.

9. Informative Speech – About a Process
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the common methods used by stage magicians to perform their tricks. I. Many magic tricks rely on mechanical devices that may require little skill by the magician. II. Other magic tricks depend on the magician’s skill in fooling people by sleight-of-hand manipulation

10. Informative Speech – About an Event
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the events in women’s gymnastics. I. The floor exercise combines dancing, acrobatics, and tumbling. II. The vault features explosive strength and dramatic midair maneuvers. III. The balance beam requires precise routines and perfect coordination. IV. The uneven parallel bars demand great strength, flexibility, and agility.

11. Informative Speech – About a Concept
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the basic principles of nonviolent resistance. I. The first major principle of nonviolent resistance is that social change must be achieved by moral means. II. The second major principle of nonviolent resistance is that one should not inflict violence on one’s enemies. III. The third major principle of nonviolent resistance is that suffering can be a powerful social force.

12. Guidelines for Info. Speaking
Don’t overestimate what the audience knows
Relate the subject directly to the audience
Don’t be too technical
Avoid abstractions
Personalize your ideas

13. Decide How to Communicate Your Information
Definition
Operational definition (what something does)
Definition by negation (what something is not)
Definition by example (providing solid examples)
Description
A statement that depicts a person, event, idea, or the like with clarity and vividness.
Provides an array of details
Paints a mental picture for listeners

14. Decide How to Communicate Your Information (cont.)
Demonstration (not for this class)
Verbal demonstration of steps involved
Comparison / Contrast
A statement of the similarities or differences among two or more people, events, ideas, etc.

15. Decide How to Communicate Your Information (cont.)
Explanation
Provides reasons or causes
Demonstrates relationships
Offers interpretation and analysis

16. Take Steps to Reduce Confusion
Use analogies to build on prior knowledge.
Relate to what listeners already know.
Demonstrate underlying causes.
Acknowledge common misconceptions.
Offer an explanation of underlying causes.

17. Take Steps to Reduce Confusion (cont.)
Appeal to different learning styles.
Visual (pictures, diagrams, charts, maps)
Aural (lectures, audio, group discussions, podcasts)
Read/write (handouts, text-based slides)
Kinesthetic (real-life demonstrations)
Audio tapes is dated. Changed to audio; podcasts added.

18. Take Steps to Reduce Confusion (cont.)
Multimodal learners have combined preferences.
Audience analysis
Provides sense of individuals’ learning styles
Multiple models needed to convey information

19. Arrange Points in a Pattern
Patterns used in informative speeches:
Topical
Chronological
Spatial
Cause-effect
Narrative