Chapter 16 Review

“Effective informative speakers share accessible, understandable information in a compelling way.”

As the chapter’s opening example about the speech on influenza vaccines suggests, informative speaking is about teaching your listeners something and increasing their awareness of your topic. You probably use informative speaking many times during a typical day—whenever you’re defining, explaining, describing, demonstrating, or telling a story about something. Whether you’re speaking informatively in everyday situations or delivering a formal presentation to a class or another type of audience, you can greatly enhance your effectiveness by applying the key practices presented in this chapter.

First, know how and when to use the five techniques for informative speaking—definition, explanation, description, demonstration, and narrative. Second, decide on the type of informative speech you want to give—whether it will be about an object, an individual or a group, an event, a process, or an idea. Third, use audience analysis to decide which technique you should use to organize your speech and how much to simplify your message. And fourth, stay focused on informing and maintaining an objective viewpoint.

When you apply these practices, you improve the odds of achieving your purpose in giving an informative speech. You enable your audience members to learn something new and important, and you hone their understanding, awareness, or sensitivity to your topic.

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Key Terms

definition 468

explanation 471

description 471

demonstration 472

narrative 474

demographics 488

jargon 494

Review Questions

1. Question

   Name and explain five techniques for informing.

2. Question

   What five types of topics for informative speeches are offered in the chapter?

3. Question

   What basic steps must be considered as you develop your informative speech?

4. Question

   Name the six basic techniques you can use to clarify and simplify your informative message.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Question

   What subjects could you give an informative speech about without doing any research at all? How would you establish your credibility absent outside evidence?

2. Question

   Have you ever felt that someone who claimed to be informing you was in fact trying to persuade you? What was it about the speaker’s presentation that tipped you off? Did this feeling make you more or less receptive to the information he or she was presenting?

3. Question

   Is it possible to define and describe a controversial idea, such as assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, without becoming emotional? Can an informative speech be emotional without becoming persuasive?

4. Question

   If you had to give a speech that explains that your fellow college students are at risk by not getting flu shots and provides some options for them, what would you choose to say? Also, how would your audience analysis of your listeners (especially with respect to their age and generation) inform your choices?

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Activities

1. Question

   Take a look at any persuasive speech (you can find one at the end of Chapter 18 or search at the library or online for any political campaign speech). Edit it so that the focus of the speech is only on informing. How much of the speech is left?

   Chapter 16 - Activity Question 1

2. Question

   Do you know a topic well enough to prepare a fifteen-minute informative presentation on it? Create a quick outline showing how you would do it.

   Chapter 16 - Activity Question 2

3. Question

   Look up a “how-to” topic (such as how to make compost, play blackjack, or file your taxes) at the library or online. What kinds of sources do you find? Which ones do you find most helpful—and credible—and why?

   Chapter 16 - Activity Question 3