I. Speaking to inform is a crucial skill for students to develop.
A. Informative speaking is essential for success in business.
- In a survey, informative speaking was ranked as the most important speech skill in the workplace.
- Another survey found that 62% of respondents used informative speaking “almost constantly.”
B. However, informative speaking is not limited to business environments.
- There are countless situations where people need to inform others.
- The ability to convey knowledge and understanding will benefit students throughout their lives.
C. Three criteria for effective informative speaking include clear communication, accurate information, and meaningfulness and interest to the audience. II. Informative speeches can be classified into four types: speeches about objects, speeches about processes, speeches about events, and speeches about concepts. A. Speeches about objects describe something that is visible, tangible, and stable in form. 1. Objects may have moving parts or be alive. b. They may include places, structures, animals, even people.
2. When giving a speech about an object, it is crucial to maintain focus and not try to cover every detail in a limited time. It is essential to select a specific purpose that can be achieved within the given timeframe.
3. Organizational patterns can vary in speeches about objects. For instance, a speech about the history or evolution of an object would typically follow a chronological order. On the other hand, a speech highlighting the main features of an object may employ a spatial order. The majority of informative speeches regarding objects usually adopt a topical order.
B. Informative speeches also encompass topics related to processes.
A process is a structured set of actions that result in a particular outcome or product. Speeches concerning processes involve explaining the manufacturing of something, illustrating the method of doing something, or elucidating how something functions. There are two types of informative speeches on processes. One type enhances the audience’s comprehension of a process, while the other type equips them with the ability to execute the process. Visual aids are often necessary when delivering speeches about processes, with charts serving as an effective means of outlining the steps involved.
When delivering a speech about a process, it is often necessary for the speaker to demonstrate the steps or techniques involved. This type of speech requires careful organization, whether it is explaining the process step by step in chronological order or focusing on the major principles or techniques in performing the process in a topical order. Regardless of the method chosen for organization, it is crucial that each step in the process is clear and easy for the listeners to follow. Additionally, some informative speeches can be about events. These types of speeches can cover a wide range of happenings or occurrences, including historical events like the Battle of Little Big Horn or the civil rights movement, as well as everyday occurrences like modern dance or chronic fatigue syndrome. There are various approaches to organizing a speech about an event, such as arranging it in chronological order to recount the event’s history.
b. Informative speeches that analyze the causes and effects of an event are organized in a sequential manner. c. Additionally, speeches that specifically address different aspects of an event are typically organized in a topical manner. d. Furthermore, informative speeches can also focus on concepts. These speeches aim to convey information relating to beliefs, theories, principles, or other abstract subjects. 2. Speeches concerning concepts are commonly structured in a topical order. a. An effective way to approach this is to list the primary features or elements of the concept. b. Alternatively, a more intricate method involves defining the concept, identifying its key components, and providing specific examples as illustrations. c. Yet another option is to expound upon different perspectives or theories surrounding the concept. 3. Speeches addressing concepts often exhibit a greater level of complexity compared to other types of informative speeches.
When discussing concepts, it is important for a speaker to avoid using technical language and instead define terms clearly. They should also use examples and comparisons to make concepts understandable to listeners. The lines dividing speeches about objects, processes, events, and concepts are not absolute; most topics can fit into more than one category depending on how the speech is developed. The key is for speakers to decide how they want to handle a topic and then develop the speech accordingly. There are five guidelines for effective informative speaking.
Informative speakers should be cautious about assuming the audience’s knowledge.
1. Typically, the audience will have a general understanding of the topic.
2. It is unwise for the speaker to presume that the audience is familiar with their intended meaning.
3. To prevent confusion, the speaker must provide comprehensive and lucid explanations.
4. A helpful approach is to assess whether the speech would be easily understood by someone encountering the topic for the first time.
5. Informative speakers should also consider adhering to the journalists’ code:
“Never overestimate the knowledge of your audience; never underestimate the intelligence of your audience. Informative speakers should find ways to relate the subject directly to the audience. Informative speakers must recognize that what is fascinating to them may not be fascinating to everybody. Effective informative speakers work to get the audience interested – and to keep them interested. They begin with a creative introduction that connects the topic with interests and concerns of the audience. They find way throughout the body of the speech to talk about the topic in terms of their listeners.”
“Never overestimate the knowledge of your audience; never underestimate the intelligence of your audience. Informative speakers should find ways to relate the subject directly to the audience. Informative speakers must recognize that what is fascinating to them may not be fascinating to everybody. Effective informative speakers work to get the audience interested – and to keep them interested. They begin with a creative introduction that connects the topic with interests and concerns of the audience. They find way throughout the body of the speech to talk about the topic in terms of their listeners.”
Informative speakers should avoid being overly technical by selecting topics that are not too specialized for the audience and avoiding the use of jargon or obscure language. They should recognize that language appropriate for specialists may confuse a general audience. Additionally, informative speakers should avoid abstractions by replacing them with specific details. This can be done through colorful descriptions of external events, as well as vividly communicating internal feelings. Comparisons can also be used to explain new ideas in concrete, familiar terms and draw listeners into the speech.
With contrast, avoiding abstractions becomes possible in a third way. a. Similar to comparisons, contrast can help make abstraction more concrete. b. Furthermore, contrast is an effective tool for providing listeners with a perspective on concepts and events. E. For informative speakers, personalizing ideas is crucial. 1. Personal illustrations greatly enhance the liveliness of informative speeches. 2. Whenever feasible, informative speakers should strive to present their ideas in human terms in order to captivate the audience. 3. The most effective method to achieve this is through examples – whether they are real or hypothetical – that give a personal touch to the subject matter. Exercises for Critical Thinking . Below is a list of subjects for informative speeches. Your objective is twofold: (1) Choose four topics and create a specific purpose statement for an informative speech about each one.
Make sure that your four specific purpose statements include at least one that deals with its topic as an object, one that deals with its topic as a process, one that deals with its topic as an event, and one that deals with its topic as a concept. (2) Explain what method of organization you would most likely use in structuring a speech about each of your specific purpose statements. omputerssports animalsmusic sciencecultural customs educationtechnology televisionhobbies Discussion: This example gets students to work on developing specific purpose statements for informative speeches. It also leads them to apply what is said in the text about methods of organizing informative speeches. If you include Chapter 4, “Selecting a Topic and Purpose,” or Chapter 8. “Organizing the Body of the Speech,” in the unit on informative speaking, you may wish to forego this exercise in favor of the exercises in Chapters 4 and 8.
