Whether you are giving an informative or persuasive speech, as the speaker you must consider what you want your audience to do with the information you are providing. According to O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein (2012), in an informative speech, you should challenge your audience members to make use of the information. You may extend an invitation to your listeners: “Please join me on Wednesday evening for a town hall meeting on this subject. Our local congressperson will be there to listen to our concerns. I will have the sign-up sheet in the back of the room for you at the end of my presentation.”

In most persuasive speeches, the challenge will come through a call to action that asks listeners to act in response to the speech, see the problem in a new way, or change their beliefs, actions, and behavior (O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein, 2012). For example, “Sign this petition. In doing so, you will make a difference in someone’s life and make our voices heard” or “Don’t forget to vote next Tuesday!”