Informing Your Audience

What are some goals of informative Speaking?

1-Instruction-Increase audience understanding and awareness through new information

2-Explanation-Defining information and giving meaning to something, clarify ideas already known but maybe not understood well.

3-Enlighten rather than advocate

Show audience early on why they should care Social significance

Present NEW and interesting information-stats, facts, etc.

Use appropriate org. pattern-chronology, spatial, etc.

Use clear transitions between ideas Include Introduction, Body, Conclusion Use credible sources and cite sources

1. Objects -anything not human-anything tangible (you can see or

touch)-Ex. new medical devices, new

technology

Can Discuss…Their origin, construction, function, symbolic

or concrete meaning.

2. People Biographic speeches Significant individuals (historic people, groups)

-Ex. Martin Luther King Jr.

Be selective in material you present Avoid reciting facts a

Can Discuss…Their basic biographies, compelling characteristics,

noteworthy achievements, anecdotes about overcoming obstacles, impact and contributions they have made

3. Events-noteworthy occurrences from past or present-Ex. Political, economic or social

events(Holocaust)

Can Discuss…causes of event, importance of it, outcomes,

etc..

4. Processes -a speech that describes a series of steps that lead to an end result or product-how something is done or works

Ex. How state laws are made Human circulatory system How the U.S. patent system works How stem cells work

5. Issues-overview of problem in dispute, one

that we seek conclusion for

Ex. Global warming US border security

6. Concepts or ideas Speeches about ideas or concepts are usually

more abstract than other types of speeches. They are usually on theories or abstract concepts

Ex. Theories of evolution Communication theories

Theories on economics Freedom of speech

Information is communicated by defining, describing, demonstrating, and explaining

These are the 4 approaches

Some speeches rely on one approach but there can be a combination of strategies

A- Definition- Conveying information by defining. -Focuses on addressing the meaning of a

new or complex concept-Defining can take at least 5 forms

 • 1-operational definition

 • 2-definition by negation

• 3-definition by example

• 4-definition by synonym

• 5-definition by etymology

B-Description-conveying info through a vivid portrayal of the subject

-details that paint a mental picture

C-Demonstration-give step by step lesson on how something works

  D-Explanation-involves providing reasons or

causes and demonstrating relationships, offering interpretation and analysis

Organization of Informative Speech= topical, chronological, spatial, cause and effect

Events-topical, chronological, causal, narrative

Processes-chronological, spatial, causal

Concepts-topical, causal, circular

Issues-topical, chronological, causal, circular