1. The Informative Speech
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Informative Speech

2. Chapter Twenty-Three Table of Contents
Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies
Categories of Informative Speeches
Subject Matter of Informative Speeches
Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches

3. Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies
Building Understanding and Awareness
Gauging the Audience’s Informational Needs

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

5. The audience’s comprehension is aided by: Organizational pattern
Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies: Building Understanding and Awareness
The audience’s comprehension is aided by:
Organizational pattern
Effective previews and transitions
Language
Presentation aids

6. Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies: Gauging Audience Needs
An understanding of the audience and the factors affecting it are important.
Listeners must be able to see the relevance of the topic.

7. Categories of Informative Speeches
Speech of Definition
Speech of Description
Speech of Explanation
Speech of Demonstration

8. Categories of Informative Speeches Speech of Definition
Operational definition: defines something by explaining what it does
Definition by negation: defines something by explaining what it is not
Continued on next slide

9. Categories of Informative Speeches Speech of Definition
Definition by example: provides examples of the subject
Definition by synonym: defines one term by comparing it to another
Definition by etymology: illustrates the definition by explaining the root of the term

10. Categories of Informative Speeches: Speech of Description
Be as vivid as you can in your descriptions of people, places, events, processes, and objects.

11. Categories of Informative Speeches: Speech of Explanation
Explanations focus on reasons or causes, and demonstrate relationships by relying on interpretation and analysis.

12. Categories of Informative Speeches: Speech of Demonstration
Demonstrations generally focus on how to do something or how something works.

13. Subject matter of informative speeches
Speeches about Objects
Speeches about People
Speeches about Events
Speeches about Processes
Speeches about Concepts
Speeches about Issues

14. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Objects
Discuss anything that is not human, including both animate and inanimate objects.

15. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about People
Inform about historically significant individuals and groups, those who have made contributions to society, or those whom we find compelling.

16. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Events
Focus on noteworthy occurrences, past and present

17. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Processes
Refer to a series of steps that lead to a finished product or end result
how something is done
how it is made
how it works

18. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Concepts
Focus on abstract or complex ideas or theories and an attempt to make them concrete and understandable

19. Subject matter of Informative Speeches: Speeches about Issues
Provide a report or overview of problems

20. Informative Speeches
Guidelines for Effective Speeches

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

22. Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Define Your Terms
Define terms if you are unsure if the audience knows what you are talking about.

23. Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Reinforce Your Message through Repetition
Repeat key words or phrases to create a distinctive rhythm and thereby implant important ideas in listeners’ minds.

24. Draw comparisons to concepts the audience is familiar with.
Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Relate Old Ideas to New Ones
Draw comparisons to concepts the audience is familiar with.

25. Try to uncover information that is fresh and compelling.
Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Present New and Interesting Information
Try to uncover information that is fresh and compelling.

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

27. Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Use Visualization
Visualization is an effective way to ensure the audience has a solid grasp of what you are talking about.
Visualization helps build interest.

28. Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches: Incorporate Presentation Aids
Informative messages that are visually reinforced are often more understandable and believable.