1. Chapter 16: Informative Speaking
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Verderber, Sellnow, and Verderber
© 2014 Cengage Learning

2. Learning Outcomes
LO Identify the characteristics of effective informative speaking
LO Describe methods for conveying information
LO Discuss common patterns for informative speeches
© 2014 Cengage Learning

3. Informative Speeches
An informative speech is one whose goal is to explain or describe facts, truths, and principles in a way that stimulates interest, facilitates understanding, and increases the likelihood of remembering.
© 2014 Cengage Learning

4. Be Intellectually Stimulating
Learning Outcome 16-1
Be Intellectually Stimulating
Your audience will perceive information to be intellectually stimulating when it is new to them and when it is explained in a way that piques their curiosity and interest.
Depth involves going into more detail than people’s general knowledge of the topic.
Breadth involves looking at how your topic relates to associated topics.
© 2014 Cengage Learning

5. Learning Outcome 16-1
Be Relevant
Incorporate listener relevance links throughout your informative speech.
As you prepare each main point, ask and answer the question: How would knowing this information make my listeners happier, healthier, wealthier, wiser, and so forth?
© 2014 Cengage Learning

6. Be Creative Creative speeches yield innovative ideas.
Learning Outcome 16-1
Be Creative
Creative speeches yield innovative ideas.
Creative informative speeches begin with good research. The more you learn about a topic, the more you will have to work with to develop it creatively.
The creative process depends on having time to mull over ideas.
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7. Learning Outcome 16-1
Be Memorable
Your audience will need help remembering your speech’s most important concepts. Emphasize:
Your specific goal
Main points
Key facts
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8. Address Diverse Learning Styles
Learning Outcome 16-1
Address Diverse Learning Styles
You will be most successful when you address diverse learning styles.
Rounding the learning cycle ensures that you address the diverse learning style preferences of your audience and make the speech understandable, meaningful, and memorable for all.
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9. Learning Outcome 16-2
Description
Description is an informative method used to create an accurate, vivid, verbal picture of an object, geographic feature, setting, event, person, or image.
This method usually answers an overarching who, what, or where question.
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10. Learning Outcome 16-2
Definition
Definition is an informative method that explains the meaning of something. There are four ways to define something:
You can classify it and differentiating it from similar words or ideas
You can explain its derivation or history
You can explain its use or function
You can use a familiar synonym or antonym
A synonym is a word that has the same or a similar meaning
An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning
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11. Comparison and Contrast
Learning Outcome 16-2
Comparison and Contrast
Comparison and contrast is an informative method that focuses on how something is similar to and different from other things.
Because comparisons and contrasts can be figurative or literal, you can use metaphors and analogies as well as making direct comparisons.
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12. Learning Outcome 16-2
Narration
Narration is an informative method that recounts an autobiographical or biographical event, a myth, a story, or some other account.
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13. Learning Outcome 16-2
Demonstration
Demonstration is an informative method that shows how something is done, displays the stages of a process, or depicts how something works.
In a demonstration, your experience with what you are demonstrating is critical.
© 2014 Cengage Learning

14. Learning Outcome 16-3
Process Speeches
The goal of a process speech is to demonstrate how something is done, is made, or works.
Effective process speeches require you to delineate the steps and the order in which they occur.
Process speeches rely heavily on the demonstration method of informing.
© 2014 Cengage Learning

15. Learning Outcome 16-3
Expository Speeches
The goal of an expository speech is to provide carefully researched, in-depth knowledge about a complex topic.
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16. Expository Speeches Expository speeches explain:
Learning Outcome 16-3
Expository Speeches
Expository speeches explain:
A political, economic, social, religious, or ethical issue
Forces of history
A theory, principle, or law
A creative work
© 2014 Cengage Learning

17. Informative Speech Evaluation Checklist
Figure 16.7
Informative Speech Evaluation Checklist
© 2014 Cengage Learning