Focusing on Your Goal to Inform

When developing an informative speech, it’s particularly important to remain focused on your rhetorical purpose—to inform—at every phase (see the table on p. 492). If you know your subject well enough not to have to do research, be sure to establish your own credentials—noting, for example, “As someone who’s played in poolrooms all over this state for more than two decades, I am fairly well schooled in the rules of the game.” You also should remember that it’s your responsibility to remain objective. If you find yourself choosing evidence that supports a particular point of view, you are going beyond informing. Remember that it’s easy to remain objective on some subjects (such as knitting or explaining how an engine works), but other topics (such as defining terrorism or freedom of speech) invariably wander into more persuasive territory. We discuss persuasion further in Chapters 17 and 18.

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ORGANIZING YOUR INFORMATIVE SPEECH
Organizational Pattern Pattern Description Example
Spatial Describes or explains elements or events as they occur in space A speech to explain the trajectory of a meteor that may come dangerously close to Earth
Chronological (temporal) Moves from the beginning to the end by referencing points in time A speech that describes a negotiation process, breaking down each bargaining step as it occurs
Causal Explains the roots of a phenomenon or process A presentation that explains how plate tectonics causes earthquakes and tsunamis
Comparison Presents major similarities and differences between two items A speech that compares the global reach and power of twenty-first-century United States with that of ancient Rome
Categorical (topical) Main points constitute separate topics, each of which supports the thesis A presentation to explain running a marathon, breaking it down into separate categories for training, nutrition, technique and style, and mental preparation