Informative speeches are sometimes categorized according to the types of subject matter they address. Thus an informative speech may be about objects or phenomena, people, events, processes, issues, or concepts. These are not hard-and-fast divisions—a speech can be about both the process of dance and the people who perform it, for example—but they show the range of informative subjects and can point to a logical organizational pattern (see Chapter 12).

Speeches about Objects or Phenomena

Speeches about objects or phenomena explore anything that isn’t human; it can be animate, as in the animal kingdom, or inanimate, as in electronic devices or sports equipment. Topics for such speeches run the gamut from ribbons used to raise awareness about diseases to therapy dogs and the making of a musical score. Phenomena such as new inventions, the history of graphic novels, and the evolution of “Texas English” belong to this broad category.

Speeches about People

Speeches about people inform audiences about individuals and groups who have made contributions to society (both positive and negative) or those who for one reason or another we simply find compelling. For example, what inspired Reshma Saujani to found Girls Who Code, and motivate more women to pursue careers in computing and engineering fields?

Speeches about people may also be autobiographical. Each of us has stories to tell, and if they express common themes—love, loss, growth, the overcoming of obstacles—audience members will be drawn in. The key to delivering an effective speech about yourself or another person is to provide a “lesson” that audience members can take away from the speech. How did the person face and overcome obstacles? What steps did the person take on the road to achievement? What human qualities harmed or helped the person? What turning points were noteworthy?

Speeches about Events

Speeches about events focus on noteworthy occurrences, past and present. What was the time line of the 2011 Egyptian opposition protests, and what is the state of freedom today in Egypt? Speeches about events rely on reportage—an account of the who, what, where, when, and why of the facts. The key to a speech about an event is to offer new insights and information about the event, and to shed light on its meaning. For example, what was the backstory—the story that leads up to the event that listeners might find interesting—that led to the online posting of NSA secrets by Edward Snowden involving thousands of classified U.S. military intelligence documents? Giving audience members “behind the scenes” information is a guaranteed way of catching their attention.

Speeches about Processes

Speeches about processes refer to a series of steps that lead to a finished product or end result. In this type of speech, you can talk about how something is done, how it is made, or how it works. How do hybrid cars operate? What steps are involved in interviewing for a job?

When discussing a process, you can either explain how something works or develops (How do baby penguins develop?) or actually teach audience members to perform the process (how to make a quilt). When describing how to do something, you might perform the actual task during the speech, demonstrating each step as you describe it, or use presentation aids to illustrate the steps involved. Presentation aids, from slides to models to the actual thing being demonstrated, often accompany speeches about processes (see Chapter 20, “Using Presentation Aids in the Speech”).

Speeches about Issues

An issue is a problem or a matter in dispute, one that people seek to bring to a conclusion. Informative speeches about issues provide an overview or a report of problems in order to raise awareness and deepen understanding. The high cost of college, and the obesity epidemic in the United States are examples of issues that might be addressed in an informative speech.

Of the various types of informative speeches, speeches about issues have the greatest potential of “crossing the line” into the persuasive realm. Yet as long as your goal is to inform rather than to advocate, you can legitimately address issues in an informative speech. Thus, in a speech on immigration law, you might describe current immigration laws at the state and federal levels and discuss Supreme Court rulings. On the other hand, you would refrain from advocating for or against reforms to existing immigration policy.

Speeches about Concepts

A final category, speeches about concepts, focuses on abstract or complex ideas, theories, or beliefs and attempt to make them concrete and understandable to an audience. What is chaos theory? What do Hindus believe? We’ve heard the term hate speech, but we’re confused because it seems to encompass everything from racist expressions to racist actions. Because they address abstract or complex ideas, speeches about concepts have the potential to confuse audience members. To ensure that this does not occur, follow the guidelines in “Take Steps to Reduce Confusion.”