1. Essentials of Public Speaking
Informative
Speaking
Chapter 11
Essentials of Public Speaking
Cheryl Hamilton
5th Edition
Cheryl Hamilton, Ph.D.
Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking

2. Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking
Key Ideas
Define an informative presentation
How informative speaking differs from persuasive speaking
Tools to aid understanding and memory
Steps and strategies of informative speech preparation
Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking

3. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Flashback . . .
When a boat moves at full steam, it continues moving in the same direction—even when the crew stops rowing. Right?
Cicero believed that careful writing of an introduction caused the speech that followed (even when extemporaneous) to “proceed in unchanging style.” (De Oratore, Book I, Section XXXIII)
Question: Is this advice still good for today’s
speaker?
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

4. What is an Informative Speech?
Promotes understanding of an idea
Conveys a body of related facts
Demonstrates how to do something
Difference between informative and persuasive speaking
Goal of informative speaking is understanding instruction and teaching
Goal of persuasive speaking is to gain agreement sell a product or encourage action
Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking

5. What Effective Informative Speakers Do
Present information in a truthful, fair and objective manner
Avoids exaggerated, embellished, or distorted facts
Designs visuals that represent facts and relationships without distortion
Expresses Ideas and concepts are clear and easy to understand
Uses tack to allow audience to retain feelings of self-worth
Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking

6. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Demonstration speech
Promotes a skill (making or doing)
Shows how to accomplish a task step-by-step
Visual aids clarify the development of a skill
Supporting materials add interest clarification and proof
Organizational format best meets the needs of the audience
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

7. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Informational Speech
Introduces latest information about a topic
Promotes understanding (knowing) of a complicated idea, term or concept
Focuses on content & ideas, not on a demonstration
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

8. Tools to Aid Understanding and memory
Definition
Description
Explaination
Narration
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

9. Aiding Understanding: Definition
An explicit statement to clarify an unclear or complicated term, concept or process.
Often followed by the following:
A comparison or contrast
One or two examples
A synonym (word with similar meaning)
An antonym (word with opposite meaning)
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

10. Aiding Understanding: Description
Painting a vivid, detailed picture using concrete words and figures of speech, such as:
Similes—using the word like or as.
Metaphors—implied comparisons (avoid like or as)
Onomatopoeia—words that sound like their meaning.
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

11. Aiding Understanding: Explaination
A statement about the relationship between items:
Often answers how, what, & why.
If topic complex, begin with the “big picture.”
If audience likely to be skeptical, begin with why belief seems plausible (but really isn’t).
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

12. Aiding Understanding: Narration
A story told with detail and enthusiasm (about real or imagined things, people, or events)
Characterizes of a good narrative
Fidelity: story rings true.
Probability: story is easy to follow & makes sense.
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

13. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Tips to Aid Memory
Begin the speech with an attention-getter
Use acronyms and other mnemonic devices
Repeat information often
Join the audience in reflecting on a situation or problem
Get your audience involved in answering questions
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

14. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Tips to Aid Memory
Use emotional appeals
Relate new information to information the audience knows
Use visuals
Compare ideas to audience experiences
Encourage the audience to share what they have learned
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

15. Preparing An Informative Speech
Analyze audience
Determine topic, purpose & main points
Rough-out an outline
Look for quality supporting materials
Determine how to best organize main points
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

16. Preparing An Informative Speech
Plan Introduction and Conclusion
Make preparation outline
Prepare visual aids
Practice physically and technologically
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

17. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Analyze the Audience
Situational characteristics
Demographic Characteristics
Psychological characteristics
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

18. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Selecting a Topic
Fits requirements of assignment.
Showcases your experience & knowledge
Stimulates your own interests.
Will interest & motivate your audience
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

19. Determine the Exact Purpose
Narrow your topic
Write out exact purpose as follows:
After hearing my speech the audience
will . . .
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

20. Prepare Rough Draft Outline
List of possible main points
Supporting information
Do rough draft outline before doing research
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

21. Look for Quality Supporting Materials
Look for a variety of supporting materials
Look for printed as well as electronic materials
When appropriate conduct personal interview to get personal experiences
Your task
Provide maximum amount of information
Present information in shortest amount of time
Make information clear, interesting and believable
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

22. Organizing Main Points
Topical
Chronological
Spatial or Geographical
Causal
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

23. Topical Outline Example
Title: Ways to stay healthy
Making good food choices
Exercising daily
Getting enough sleep
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

24. Topical Outline Example
Title: Ways to stay healthy
Making good food choices
Exercising daily
Getting enough sleep
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

25. Chonological Outline Example
Title: Staying heathly at any age
What children can do to stay healthy
What youth can do to stay heathy
What adults can do to stay healthy
What senior citizen can to so stay healthy
Chapter 12– Informative Speaking

26. Causal Outline Example
Title: Not taking care of your body
Cause: Many people have poor health habits and simply do not take care of their body.
Effect: Two major effects can result from not taking care of your body. These are heart disease and stroke.
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

27. Plan Introduction and Conclusion
Begin with an attention-getter
End the speech by using a memorable attention-getter that makes the audience think
Make sure humor is not negative
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

28. Prepare Preparation Outline
Polish preparation outline
Avoid writing out word for word
Ensure main points and supporting materials have clarity, are significant and accurate
Check preparation outline carefully for plagiarism
Polish speaking notes
Brief with key words
Underline or use color for important words
Include action notes and cues for visuals
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

29. Prepare Preparation Outline
Polish preparation outline
Avoid writing out word for word
Ensure main points and supporting materials have clarity, are significant and accurate
Check preparation outline carefully for plagiarism
Reduce outline to speaking notes
Brief with key words
Underline or use color for important words
Include action notes and cues for visuals
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

30. Chapter 11– Informative Speaking
Prepare Visual Aids
Make sure visuals don’t distract
Make sure it takes no more than 3-6 seconds to comprehend PowerPoint slides
Make sure titles are one line only
Check graphic slides for grouping of data
Check graphic slides to ensure gridlines are removed
Check to see if you have the appropriate number of slides for presentation length
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

31. Practice Physically and Technologically
Practice standing up using your speaking notes
Practice alone then with family and friends
Make sure your voice is loud enough
Make sure the speech flows well and language is simple, brief and vivid
Practice with your PowerPoint slides and other equipment you may use
Chapter 11– Informative Speaking

32. Essentials of Public Speaking
Informative
Speaking
Chapter 11
Essentials of Public Speaking
Cheryl Hamilton
5th Edition
Cheryl Hamilton, Ph.D.
Chapter 11 – Informative Speaking