1. Basic Concepts in Rhetoric
Informative Speaking that is Not for Dummies

2. Some Guidelines for the Info Speaking Assignment
Your audience is your audience
The topic must be business-related
Salience is key
Keep the presentation informative rather than persuasive

3. Informative Speaking Topic Ideas
Look for new trends/services/problems
Check business related web sites
Browse business related magazines—Fast Company, Fortune, Red Herring, Business Week, Harvard Business Review

4. Basic Rhetorical Concepts
Modes of Proof (Aristotle)
Ethos---credibility
Pathos--emotions
Logos--logical proof
Proof begins and ends with the audience
Five Canons of Rhetoric--Invention, Arrangement, Style, Delivery, Memory

5. Invention--the first among equals
Invention defined: “Energizing the truth” or “the discovery and adaptation of arguments and material for the speech”
Step 1--determining the universe of arguments available to the rhetor
Step 2--adapting that material to the particular audience

6. Audience Adaptation Situational Analysis Why are they here?
Size of group, time of day, size of room, amplification, availability of media?
Are they hostile, favorable or indifferent?
Demographic Analysis
Age, group affiliation, race or ethnicity, religion or creed, sex, socio-economic status

7. Arrangement and Organizational Patterns
The Connection with Invention
Topical
Spatial or Geographical
Chronological
Cause/Effect

8. Understanding Speech Anxiety
It is a natural physical reaction to stress
Understand the spiral of anxiety
Speech anxiety peaks at the beginning of a speech and then decreases
Studies show that audiences consistently underestimate speaker anxiety

9. Dealing With Speech Anxiety
Avoid avoidance
Avoid caffeine
Practice, practice, practice
Concentrate on the first two minutes
Deep breathing
Avoid bottling up nervous energy

10. Special considerations for informative speeches
Understand the knowledge level of your audience
Consider other time savers rather than jargon
Have other non-techies review your speech
Sensitize your audience to the issue and encourage interruptions for translation

11. Introductions--Goals and Methods
Gain Attention
Develop Rapport
Establish Credibility
Motivate Listeners
Preview Main Points
Methods
Startling Statistic
Personal Experience
Quote an Expert
Tell a humorous story
Preview of your main points

12. Transitions--getting from here to there...
Why are they necessary?
--oral v. written discourse
--signposting
When do you use them?
--moving between identifiable parts of the speech
When do you plan for them?
--prior to the speech!

13. Conclusions--Goals and Methods
Tie in to something from your Introduction
Provide an Explicit Review of Main Points
End with a Closing Thought or Final Statement
Goals
Review Speech Content
Provide a Sense of Closure
Motivate Your Audience