Chapter 16 Informative Speaking Informative Speaking Introduction An

Chapter 16 Informative Speaking

Informative Speaking: Introduction • An informative presentation: – Teaches the audience something – Increases listeners’ understanding, awareness, or sensitivity to your topic – May contain a bit of persuasive power

Techniques for Informing • Definition: Explains the essence, meaning, or purpose of something such as a/an: – Object – Person or group – Event – Process – Idea or concept

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) – Four types of definitions • Dictionary: presents the meaning of a term as it appears in a dictionary • Expert: comes from a credible source in the field • Etymological: traces the word or concept’s roots in the same or other languages • Functional: defines a concept by examining how it is applied or how it functions

Techniques for Informing (cont. )

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) • Explanation: Providing an analysis of something to clarify it, or tracing a line of causal connections between events – Works well on speeches that: • Present a process • Trace the end of an important event • Explain how an interesting object works

Techniques for Informing (cont. )

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) • Description: Using words to paint a mental picture for the listeners – Achieve maximum impact by using: • Vivid language • Presentation aids • Details that evoke the senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) • Demonstration: Teaching how a process or a set of guidelines works – Speaker uses both physical modeling (often with props) and verbal instruction to lead the audience through the demonstration – Requires confidence and practice – Aids learning and memory-enhancement, especially when coupled with repetition

Techniques for Informing (cont. )

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) • Narrative: A story used in an informative speech to both share information and capture the audience’s attention – Can take the form of a: • Personal remembrance • Humorous anecdote • Serious account of an event that happened in someone else’s life

Techniques for Informing (cont. ) – Used skillfully, narratives can help “humanize” a speaker and enhance credibility or ethos. – Select stories and details based on audience analysis. – Telling a compelling story in a way that also informs and educates is an art. • You want to come across as casual and natural, but also authoritative. • Requires preparation and practice.

Techniques for Informing (cont. )

Types of Informative Speeches • Objects – The one thing all objects have in common is that they are not human. – Objects suitable for an informative speech: • • Mechanical/technological Natural Cultural Personal

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) – Appropriate techniques for informative speeches about objects: • • Definition Explanation Demonstration Narrative – An informative speech about an object may also have elements of process in it.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) • Individuals or groups – People are fascinated by human subjects. – Ideas include: • • A famous politician, sports star, explorer, or artist An unsung hero A tragic figure whose life provides a cautionary tale An influential political party, artistic movement, or musical group

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. )

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. )

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) – Techniques for a speech on a person or group: • Description • Narrative • Explanation – You can use life events to make a larger point about a person’s character. – A speech on a person or group might incorporate information about an object or process as well.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) • Events – Notable or exceptional occurrences from the present or past – Consider events that your audience will find exciting, newsworthy, historically important, or interesting because they are unfamiliar or surprising. – Use narrative, description, or a blend of the two.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. )

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) • Processes – A series of steps or stages that lead to a particular outcome – Informative speeches about processes can be at the micro or macro level. – Some processes are poor choices because of their sheer technical nature. • Focus on subject matter within your audience’s level of understanding. • Break the topic into smaller parts first.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) – Walk the audience through the steps and their sequence. – You can use a variety of techniques, depending on your goal. – Avoid overused topics and topics related to alcohol. – Think about processes that would be interesting and fresh for your listeners. – Consider how you might discuss the impact of an important process.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. ) • Ideas – Theory, principle, belief, or value – Relatively abstract – Some are loaded because people have difficulty agreeing on their meaning. – Select an idea carefully. • Consider listeners’ interests and level of education. • Ask if they have had prior exposure to the idea. • Consider how you might make an abstract idea more understandable.

Types of Informative Speeches (cont. )

Developing Your Informative Speech • Analyzing your audience – Focus on: • Where and how your audience is situated for the informative presentation • Your audience’s specific demographics • Any common ground between you and your audience

Developing Your Informative Speech (cont. ) • Selecting a technique – Consider which technique would most help you inform your audience about your topic: • • • Definition Explanation Description Demonstration Narrative Combination of techniques

Developing Your Informative Speech (cont. ) – Choice of technique helps you decide how to develop main points and supporting materials. – Consider audience size and details of the speaking forum when planning presentation aids. • For a small audience in a cramped space, showing objects or using handouts would be appropriate. • For a large audience in a large space, projecting Power. Point slides onto a large screen would be a better option.

Developing Your Informative Speech (cont. )

Developing Your Informative Speech (cont. ) • Focusing on Your Goal to Inform – Remain focused on your rhetorical purpose at every phase. – If you know your subject well enough not to have to do research, establish your own credentials. – Remember your responsibility to remain objective.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message • Strive for clarity in every informative speech, no matter what your topic is or who your listeners are. • Audience analysis – Will help you decide how much you should simplify your informative speech

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) • Techniques for clarifying or simplifying complex messages – Move from general to specific.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) – Reduce the quantity of information you present. • Look for ways to pare down details.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) – Make complex information seem familiar. • Use definition to explain difficult-to-follow terms and ideas, and avoid jargon.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) – Use presentation aids.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) – Reiterate your message. • Refer to the complex message several times, but with different words each time.

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message (cont. ) – Repeat your message. • Conveying a key point several times using the same words can help ensure listeners understand your message.

Sample Informative Speech • Rachel Parish, “Spider Silk: A Miracle Material Derived from. . . Goats? ” – Read the sample speech with comments in your textbook. – Three main points: • Background and unique properties of spider silk • Role of the “spider goat” in producing spider silk • Current and future uses of spider silk