Informative Speech An informative speech is one that

Informative Speech An informative speech is one that presents or describes information. It helps an audience understand a topic and remember details about it.

Goals of an Informative Speech: • understanding • remembering

Kinds of Informative Speeches Some informative speeches describe a place, person, or object. Other informative speeches involve definitions. For example, you may use a speech to define what family or friendship means to you.

Speeches to inform can also be used to explain an idea such as the importance of electricity on the development of factories or the impact of computers on our schools.

Make your information interesting--u u Humor: “Did you hear about the speech teacher who…” Clever comparisons: “If you were to make a pile of all the books a student needs during his educational career, they’d reach up to the…”

Make your information interesting… Ø Compelling contrasts: “On the one hand, we have the bank president trying to…; on the other hand, we have the 14 -year-old computer whiz who…” Ø Curious quotes: “Remember the words of the psychologist who was declared insane. He said…”

Make your information interesting… Visual aids: “The graph shows you…” n Audio aids: “Listen to this recording I made of what that store manager told me on the phone. ” n Drama: “There, at midnight, in the center of the cemetery, we all heard…” n

Make your information interesting… n n Movement: “As I step over to this chart…” Voice: “Softly, quietly, the protesters waited --then suddenly YELLED ---then YELLED AGAIN. ”

Methods of Presenting Information • Narration: A narration is an account of the details of a story or an event. The information you use to develop a narration is usually obtained through direct personal experience. A narration is a story.

Methods of Presenting Information l Description: A description gives a vivid word picture of something, such as a building, a place, an object, an animal, or a person. A description can include details such as size, weight, shape, color, age, condition, and arrangement.

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech Chronological order: Consider using chronological order when you present a process (how something is done, how something is made, or how something works) or when you present a history of something. Transitional words to use: first, next, finally

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech Spatial order: This is a pattern of organization in which items are arranged according to their position in space. You are likely to use spatial order for any description. Transitional words to use: up/down, right/left, north/south/east/west, prepositional phrases that tell where

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech § Topical Order: This is a pattern of organization in which a topic is broken down into parts that are arranged in an order determined by the speaker and stated in the specific purpose. Topical order is the most common pattern for information speeches.

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech l Order of importance: This starts with the least important information and ends with the most important.

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech Cause-and-effect: Information is arranged to show causes or conditions and the effects or results of those causes or conditions.

Organizing the Body of the Informative Speech ► Comparison-and-Contrast order: Items of information are organized to show similarities and differences between the items.

Principles for Informing § People who feel a “need to know” listen better, so analyze your listeners’ needs and create a need to know.

Principles for Informing u Connected information is more easily received that unconnected information, so a good speaker uses information that connects to what the listeners already know.

Principles for Informing o Well-organized information is more easily understood, so start at the beginning and discuss each step in sequence until you read the end of the process.

Principles for Informing n Repeated information is more easily understood and remembered, so choose two or three of the most important ideas in your speech and use repetition to emphasize those points.

Principles for Informing Information tied to feelings is easier to remember, so use memorable examples, illustrations, and stories to help your audience remember your main idea.

Principles for Informing n Too much information reduces understanding, so avoid information overload. Most people can understand remember only five to nine pieces of information at one time.

Outline for Informative Speech I. Introduction A. Begin with an attention-getter (Don’t say, “Today I’m going to tell you how to…” B. State exactly what your topic is and why it is important.

Outline for Informative Speech II. Body A. B. C. 1. facts 2. statistics 3. examples

Outline for Informative Speech III. Conclusion Close with a memorable statement.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Giving an Informative Speech Have I selected a good topic? u Have I written a clear specific purpose? u Have I gathered information from a variety of sources? u Does my topic relate to my audience’s experience? u Is my material well organized? u

Outline for Informative Speech Ø Does my introduction pique my audience’s interest in learning more about my topic? Ø Is the information new, or does it offer new insights? Ø Can I use humor to make my delivery more effective? Ø Can I use audiovisual aids to help my audience understand remember?

Possible Speech Topics The region (area, country, state) I come from; its people; its traditions. n The kind of education I want (need). n My chosen profession; why I have chosen it and how I plan to prepare for it. n The person I most admire. n My first impressions of this town. n

Possible Speech Topics n n n My favorite city, and why The “art” of persuading parents Big cities vs. small towns A moment (day, time) I will never forget My first airplane (boat, train, etc. ) ride My favorite sport

Possible Speech Topics • Things that have helped shape my life • My most memorable experience • My happiest (saddest, most frightening) memory • Flirting with death • My most embarrassing moment • Man’s greatest achievement

Possible Speech Topics Money as a measure of success (or is it? ) l The book (or books) that has influenced me the most l Public enemy #1 l If I were President for one week, I would… l What democracy (patriotism, liberty, freedom) means to me l What America means to me l

Possible Speech Topics n n n Why I am proud to be an American What I can do to be a good school citizen The duties, obligations, and responsibilities of citizenship What “self-motivation” means to me The world in the year 2050

Possible Speech Topics § The four most important changes since 1900 § Some American ideals that we must hold fast § Why I plan (or do not plan) to go to college § How the news media influences people § What school spirit means to me

Possible Speech Topics § My favorite American § Why I am responsible for my own education, and how I can meet that responsibility § The effect of racial prejudices on our country § Why schools msut have rules § An experience that helped me “grow up”

Possible Speech Topics l If you had one day in your life to live over, which one would it be? Why? l What one value do you cherish most? Why? l Who has been the most influential person in your life so far? Why?

Informative Speech Grading Rubric Organization Is the speech’s purpose clear? Is the introduction interesting enough to capture audience’s attention? Are key ideas easily understandable? Does the conclusion summarize key ideas? Is material well organized?

Informative Speech Grading Rubric Content ► Does topic relate to audience’s experience? ► Is there adequate information?

Informative Speech Grading Rubric Delivery § Does student use humor to make delivery more effective? § Does student use audiovisual aids to help audience understand remember? § Does student seem confident and enthusiastic?

Informative Speech Grading Rubric u Does the speaker have good eye contact? u Are the speaker’s facial expressions, gestures, and movements natural? u Are the speaker’s articulation, enunciation, and pronunciation correct? u Does the speaker use “um, ” “like, ” “and stuff, ” “and everything, ” or other vague expressions?

Personal Experience Speech Grading Rubric Organization o Is the speech’s purpose clear? o Is the introduction interesting enough to capture audience’s attention? o Is material well organized?

Personal Experience Speech Grading Rubric Content n Is topic appropriate for audience? Delivery n Does student use humor to make delivery more effective? n Does student seem confident and enthusiastic?

Personal Experience Speech Grading Rubric • Does the speaker have good eye contact? • Are the speaker’s facial expressions, gestures, and movements natural? • Are the speaker’s articulation, enunciation, and pronunciation correct? • Does the speaker use “um, ” “like, ” “and stuff, ” “and everything, ” or other vague expressions? • Is the speaker easily understood? (volume, rate)

Personal Experience Speech Grading Rubric Length n Is the speech a full three minutes?