Chapter Twenty-Three The Informative Speech. Chapter Twenty-Three Table of Contents zInformative Speaking Goals and Strategies zApproaches to Presenting

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Informative

Speech

Chapter Twenty-Three

Table of ContentsInformative Speaking Goals and

StrategiesApproaches to Presenting InformationCategories of Informative SpeechesGuidelines for Effective Informative

Speeches*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies

Building Understanding and Awareness

Gauging the Audience’s Informational Needs*

Informative Speaking Goals and Strategies:


Before we can retain information, we must be able to recognize and understand it.*



The audience’s comprehension is aided by: Selecting an appropriate

organizational pattern. Providing effective previews and

transitions. Using language skillfully. Using presentation aids.*


Gauging Audience Needs

As in all types of speeches, an understanding of the audience and the factors affecting it are critical to delivering an effective informative speech.

Listeners must be able to see the relevance of the topic—nobody wants to hear a speech in which one already knows what the speaker has to say.*

Approaches to Presenting Information

Defining Information Describing Information Explaining Information Demonstrating Information*

Approaches to Presenting Information

Operational definitionDefines something by explaining what it does

Definition by negation Defines something by explaining what it is not

Definition by exampleProvides examples of the subject

Definition by synonymDefines one term by comparing it to another

Definition by etymologyIllustrates the definition by explaining the root

of the term*

Approaches to Presenting Information:

Describing Information

Be as vivid as you can in your descriptions of people, places, events, processes, and objects.*


Explaining Information

Rather than merely clarifying information, explanations focus on reasons or causes, and demonstrate relationships by relying on interpretation and analysis.*


Demonstrating Information

Demonstrations generally focus on how to do something or how something works.*

Categories of Informative Speeches

Speeches about ObjectsSpeeches about PeopleSpeeches about EventsSpeeches about ProcessesSpeeches about ConceptsSpeeches about Issues*

Categories of Informative Speeches:

Speeches about Objects

Discuss anything that is not human, including both animate and inanimate objects*


Speeches about People

Inform about historically significant individuals and groups, those who have made contributions to society, or those whom we find compelling*


Speeches about Events

Focus on noteworthy occurrences, past and present*


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, or how it works*


Speeches about Concepts

Focus on abstract or complex ideas or theories and an attempt to make them concrete and understandable*


Speeches about Issues

Provide a report or overview of problems in order to increase understanding and awareness*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches

Strive for BalanceEmphasize the

Topic’s Relevance to Your Audience

Define Your TermsReinforce Your

Message through Repetition

Relate Old Ideas to New Ones

Present New and Interesting Information

Strive for ClarityUse VisualizationIncorporate

Presentation Aids*

Guidelines for Effective Informative Speeches:

Strive for Balance

When planning a speech, critically evaluate the amount of content you will include in terms of your listener’s interests and needs.*


Emphasize the Topic’s Relevance to Your Audience

Demonstrate to your listeners how they can use the information you are giving and how that knowledge will be beneficial to them.*


Define Your Terms

If you are at all unsure of whether audience members will know the meaning of a term, define it in the speech.*


Reinforce Your Message through Repetition

Repeating key words or phrases at various intervals creates a distinctive rhythm and thereby implants important ideas in listeners’ minds.*


Relate Old Ideas to New Ones

Draw comparisons to concepts with which audience members are familiar, so they can better understand the information you are giving.*


Present New and Interesting Information

As you research your informative speech, try to uncover information that is fresh and compelling.*


Strive for Clarity

Tell the audience exactly what you want them to get out of the speech.*


Use Visualization

Visualization is an effective way to ensure that audience members have a solid grasp of what you are talking about before moving on to the next point.

Visualization helps build interest.*


Incorporate Presentation Aids

Informative messages that are visually and otherwise reinforced with objects, models, pictures, graphs, charts, video, audio, and multimedia are often more understandable and believable than those that are simply verbalized.*

Documents

Chapter Twenty-Three The Informative Speech. Chapter Twenty-Three Table of Contents zInformative Speaking Goals and Strategies zApproaches to Presenting