Informative Speaking Chapter 10
How do Informative & Persuasive Speeches Differ?
Three Types of Informative Speaking Speeches that report (an account or description of events, places, objects, people, etc.) Speeches that instruct (helping audience learn about or understand a process; a “how to” speech) Speeches that explain (providing examples, descriptions, familiar experiences to connect to abstract ideas)
A “Practical” List of Informative Speech Topics Speeches about a person or people Speeches about ideas Speeches about objects Speeches about procedures Speeches about events Speeches about places Speeches about conditions
Strategies for Developing an Informative Speech Comparing the known to the unknown Serial Learning Reinforcing Ideas
Reinforcement Strategies That Work! Verbal cues: “Now this is important,” “For example,” “I want you to hear this” (etc.) Three distributed repetitions Repetition (early & late in the speech) Speaking slowly (for emphasis) Pauses Gestures/movement
Aim for Clarity: Don’t try to cover too much material. U se concrete (specific) language. Use language that is appropriate for an audience’s intellectual level. Be organized.
Aim for Interest: Use examples to be specific. Be novel (different, unusual). Ask questions to arouse curiosity. Connect to your audience (immediacy) Give your audience a reason to listen (connect to “vital concerns”). Use humor--appropriately.
Guidelines for a Good Informative Topic in COM1010 Genuinely informative (teaching new information) Researchable (at least 4 sources) Appropriate for time limit (narrowed/focused for 4-6 minutes)