Concepts
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Whereas people, places, objects, events, and processes are concrete things that we can readily visualize, concepts are abstract or complex ideas or even theories, like “art,” “patriotism,” “artificial intelligence,” or “free speech,” which are much more difficult for us to understand. The challenge of a concept speech, then, is to take a general idea, theory, or thought and make it concrete and meaningful for your audience.
Although the challenge is great, many worthwhile informative speeches focus on the explanation of a concept. The idea of ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s cultural ways are superior to those of other cultures, would be an informative speech about a concept (Armstrong & Kaplowitz, 2001). You could then make reference to important historical events that were influenced by ethnocentrism: the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, or responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Imagine a process you do every day, such as driving a car. Think about how you would explain the process to someone who’s never done it or even seen it done before. List different ways you could make the level of the presentation appropriate for different audiences. Talking to a child, for example, you might simply say that pressing on the gas pedal makes the car go; you might offer more detail when speaking to adults, explaining how the car works.