Chapter 12 Informative Speaking

An Informative Speech… Is one whose goal is to explain or describe facts, truths, and principles in a way that: Stimulates interest Facilitates understanding Increases the likelihood of remembering

An informative Speech… Helps listeners understand a topic by increasing their knowledge of a topic Answers questions about your topic such as “who,” “when,” “what,” “where,” “why,” “how to,” and “how does.” Is essentially TEACHING!!  INFORMS the audience about a topic…it does NOT persuade!!

Effective Informative Speeches Are… 1. Intellectually Stimulating information is either new to the audience, or explained in a way that piques audience’s curiosity or excites their interest. Provide new insights to an already familiar topic For example: Explaining how women have influenced rock and roll over the years.

Effective Informative Speeches Are… 2. Relevant Don’t assume your audience will understand how your topic relates to them, or why they should listen. Use listener relevance links: statements that clarify how a particular point may be important to a listener. Compare an unfamiliar topic with something the audience is familiar with. Ask yourself: how will the information make your audience happier, healthier, etc.

Effective Informative Speeches Are… 3. Creative Produce original ideas and insight. The MORE you know about your topic, the more likely you will have creative ideas about it. Creativity takes TIME, and thought!! Productive thinking: thinking about something from a variety of perspectives.

Effective Informative Speeches Are… 4. Memorable Emphasize thesis and main points Use clear and effective transitions Use vivid language Use repetition Use figures of speech Use humor

Effective Informative Speeches… 5. Address Diverse Learning Styles Feeling: vivid imagery that evokes emotions through examples and stories Watching: visual aids, your own facial expressions and gestures Thinking: clear organization, as well as definitions, explanations, and statistics Doing: have your audience do something

Methods of Informing Description method: create an accurate, vivid, verbal picture of an object or image. Definition method: explain something by identifying its meaning. Comparison and Contrast method: explain something by focusing on how it is similar to or different from other things. Narration method: explain something by recounting events.

Process Speeches!!!! One of the most common informative speeches, which explains how something is done, made or works. The speaker must outline the steps of the process and the order in which they occur. The speaker must then develop concrete, clear explanations of each step. The steps are the main points. Organized using TIME order

An Expository Speech: Is an informative presentation that provides carefully researched in-depth knowledge about a complex topic. Uses various methods of informing for developing material: descriptions, definitions, comparisons and contrasts, and narration. Uses oral footnotes: oral references to the original source of particular information at the point of presenting it during a speech.

Types of Expository Speeches p.246 Exposition of political, economic, social, religious, or ethical issues. Exposition of historical events and forces. Exposition of a theory, principle, or law. Exposition of a creative work.

Specific Goal Examples Yes: I would like to inform my audience about 3 cases of steroid use in major league baseball. No: I would like to inform my audience of how steroid use has negatively impacted major league baseball. Yes: I would like to inform my audience about the life of Michael Jackson. No: I would like to inform my audience of why Michael Jackson was one of the best performers ever.

Specific Goal Examples Yes: I would like to inform my audience about how home schooling works. No: I would like to inform my audience of about benefits of home schooling. Yes: I would like to inform my audience about the suffrage movement. No: I would like to inform my audience about how the suffrage movement was one of the most important events in US history.

Expository Speech Tips Brainstorm!!! Google “expository speech topics.” Think about your hobbies/interests. Consider what you know a lot about. Think about topics you are learning about in your other classes. Consider current events.

Keep it Informative!!! Avoid “value” words/phrases: better, best, great, most important, etc. Keep your opinions, judgments, and biases out of it! Use objective sources/information. Remember, you are essentially teaching your audience about a topic—so provide details, examples, facts, descriptions, explanations, etc. Read over your speech and actively look for any opinions, biases, or persuasive points. 