Objects

If you’re giving an informative speech about an object, you have a virtually unlimited range of possibilities to choose from. The one thing all objects have in common, though, is that they’re not human. The table below shows a small sampling of the much larger universe of possible objects your speech could address.

TYPES OF OBJECTS SUITABLE FOR AN INFORMATIVE SPEECH
Type Examples
Mechanical or technological

motorcycle

blender

cell phone

weapons system

Natural

flowering plant

river

elephant

planet

Cultural

painting

building

book

gourmet dish

Personal

jacket

credit card

ice skates

necklace

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In giving an informative speech about a particular object, you could use a number of techniques. For example, suppose you’re preparing a presentation about the benefits of chocolate—which is a food and therefore an object. In this case, you could easily use description to inform your audience. You might describe the smooth, creamy texture and sumptuous flavor of a high-quality chocolate truffle and the feeling of well-being that can come from eating it.

Depending on the purpose of your speech, you also could use one or more of the other techniques. For example, you might use

Finally, note that an informative speech about an object may also contain elements of process—especially if that object has moving parts. For instance, to deliver a presentation on how a motorcycle operates, you might explain how the bike’s fuel and transmission systems work together to create the process of acceleration.

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