Chapter 15 Outline

• The Goals of Informative Speaking
• Topics for Informative Presentations
• Approaches to Conveying Information
• Guidelines for Informative Speeches

1. Informative speaking exists to increase an audience’s understanding or knowledge about a particular topic.
   1. Effective speakers use strategies to make an informative speech meet the audience’s informational needs.
      1. Gauge what the audience already knows.
      2. Decide on an appropriate approach to the topic.
      3. Make the topic relevant to each member of the audience.
   2. Informative speaking must inform, not persuade.
      1. An informative speech is intended to be objective, presenting facts and information in a straightforward, evenhanded way.
      2. A persuasive speech is expected to be subjective, presenting facts and information from a particular point of view.
   3. Informative speaking should be appropriate and ethical.
      1. First, choose an appropriate topic.
      2. Provide the audience with information that is relevant and reliable.
      3. Present material in a way that is respectful to the audience and the subject.
      4. Avoid plagiarism by orally citing sources and providing a complete list of references at the end of your speech outline.

   Ask Yourself:

   • What is a topic that could be both informative and persuasive?
   • How might you clarify your purpose to avoid confusion?
2. Countless topics are appropriate for informative speeches.
   1. People (people you know, famous people, obscure people who achieved greatness)
   2. Places (general places, specific places, imaginary places)
   3. Objects and phenomena (animals, inanimate objects, the solar system, imaginary or hypothetical things)
   4. Events (noteworthy occurrences, a collection or series of events)
   5. Processes—a series of actions, changes, or functions that bring about a particular result (how to bake brownies, how the brain processes sound)
   6. Concepts—abstract or complex ideas or theories that are difficult to understand (liberty, terrorism, freedom, equality)
   7. Issues—problems or matters of dispute (depression, the obesity epidemic)
   8. Plans and policies—the important dimensions of potential courses of action (legalizing marijuana, implementing a school code of conduct)

   Ask Yourself:

   • Are there any other types of informative speeches you can think of?
   • Which of these might be most appropriate for your chosen topic?
3. There are four primary approaches to conveying information in an informative speech.
   1. A descriptive presentation paints a mental picture for the audience, portraying places, events, persons, objects, or processes clearly and vividly.
      1. Descriptive presentations are most effective when the topic is personally connected to the speaker.
   2. Demonstration speeches combine explanatory narration and physical demonstration. They often answer “how” questions (for example, how to perform CPR or the Heimlich maneuver).
      1. The key to delivering an effective demonstration speech is to begin with a clear statement of purpose and to follow a very straightforward organizational pattern.
   3. Definitional speeches define a term or idea and provide answers to “what” questions (for example, “What constitutes terrorism?”).
      1. An operational definition defines something by explaining what it is or what it does.
      2. Definition by negation defines something by telling what it is not.
      3. Definition by example defines something by offering concrete examples of what it is.
      4. Definition by synonym defines something by using words that mean nearly the same thing.
      5. Definition by etymology defines something by using the origin of a word or phrase.
   4. Explanatory speeches are complex and provide reasons or causes and demonstrate relationships; they answer “why” questions. When giving explanatory speeches, three goals must be kept in mind.
      1. Clarify concepts with elucidating explanations—details that illuminate the concept’s meaning and use—which help illuminate a concept’s meaning and use.
      2. Explain the big picture with a quasi-scientific explanation that models key dimensions of some phenomenon for a typical audience.
      3. Challenge intuition with transformative explanations designed to help speakers transform theories about phenomena into more accepted notions. These help people understand ideas that are counterintuitive.

   Ask Yourself:

   • What approach to conveying information is best for your topic and purpose?
4. Following specific guidelines can enhance informative presentations.
   1. Create information hunger.
      1. Arouse the audience’s interest in or curiosity about the topic.
   2. Work your topic by making the subject matter relevant to the audience.
      1. Unless you present a clear benefit that people can derive from listening to you, you will not get or keep their attention.
      2. If you cannot find the subject’s relevance, you may need to refine or revise the topic.
   3. Try to make the presentation easy to listen to.
      1. Choose a clear organization and structure.
      2. Emphasize important points.
      3. Do not overwhelm the audience.
      4. Build on prior knowledge.
      5. Define terms that the audience may be unfamiliar with.
      6. Use interesting and appropriate supporting material.
      7. Use appropriate presentation aids.

   Ask Yourself:

   • Why are these guidelines important?
   • How can they be incorporated into your speech?