SPE 108The Informative Speech

Characteristics of the Informative

Speech•designed to convey knowledge and

understanding

•you act as a lecturer or teacher

•you absorb knowledge, and then communicate that knowledge effectively

Who makes informative speeches?•a business manager explaining next

year’s budget

•a teacher teaching a lesson

•a military officer briefing subordinates

•a union leader describing a new contract

•the church worker organizing a fundraiser

Three criteria:

•Is the information communicated accurately?

•Is the information communicated clearly?

•Is the information made meaningful and interesting to the audience?

Types of Speeches

•Speeches about Objects: anything that is visible, tangible and in stable form

•places, people, structures, animals

•must choose a specific purpose about this object for the speech

•How an object is used, what is a feature of the object, why is the object important?

Speeches about Processes

• This speech answers the HOW

• purpose: so the audience understands the process better

• chronological order or topical order?

Speeches about Events

• civil rights movement, figure skating, Cinco de Mayo, ADD

• chronological order, causal order (working from cause to effect), topical order

Speeches about Concepts

• beliefs, theories, ideas, principles

• topical order

The audience

•don’t over estimate what your audience knows

•relate subject to the audience

•don’t be too technical

•avoid abstractions (be specific)

•personalize your ideas