Chapter 16

Informative
Speaking
Informative Speaking: Introduction
An informative presentation:
Teaches the audience something
Increases listeners understanding,
awareness, or sensitivity to your topic
May contain a bit of persuasive power
 Techniques for Informing
Definition: Explains the essence,
meaning, or purpose of something such
as a/an:
Object
Person or group
Event
Process
Idea or concept
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
Four types of definitions
Dictionary: presents the meaning of a term as it
appears in a dictionary
Expert: comes from a credible source in the field
Etymological: traces the word or concepts roots
in the same or other languages
Functional: defines a concept by examining how it
is applied or how it functions
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
 Techniques for Informing (cont.)
Explanation: Providing an analysis of
something to clarify it, or tracing a line of
causal connections between events
Works well on speeches that:
Present a process
Trace the end of an important event
Explain how an interesting object works
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
 Techniques for Informing (cont.)
Description: Using words to paint a
mental picture for the listeners
Achieve maximum impact by using:
Vivid language
Presentation aids
Details that evoke the senses of sight, sound,
smell, touch, and taste
 Techniques for Informing (cont.)
Demonstration: Teaching how a process
or a set of guidelines works
Speaker uses both physical modeling (often
with props) and verbal instruction to lead the
audience through the demonstration
Requires confidence and practice
Aids learning and memory-enhancement,
especially when coupled with repetition
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
 Techniques for Informing (cont.)

Narrative: A story used in an informative

speech to both share information and
capture the audiences attention
Can take the form of a:
Personal remembrance
Humorous anecdote
Serious account of an event that happened in
someone elses life
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
Used skillfully, narratives can help humanize
a speaker and enhance credibility or ethos.
Select stories and details based on audience
analysis.
Telling a compelling story in a way that also
informs and educates is an art.
You want to come across as casual and natural,
but also authoritative.
Requires preparation and practice.
Techniques for Informing (cont.)
 Types of Informative Speeches

Objects
The one thing all objects
have in common is that
they are not human.
Objects suitable for an
informative speech:
Mechanical/technological
Natural
Cultural
Personal
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Appropriate techniques for informative
speeches about objects:
Definition
Explanation
Demonstration
Narrative
An informative speech about an object may
also have elements of process in it.
 Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Individuals or groups
People are fascinated by human subjects.
Ideas include:
A famous politician, sports star, explorer, or artist
An unsung hero
A tragic figure whose life provides a cautionary tale
An influential political party, artistic movement, or
musical group
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Techniques for a speech on a person or
group:
Description
Narrative
Explanation
You can use life events to make a larger point
about a persons character.
A speech on a person or group might
incorporate information about an object or
process as well.
 Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Events
Notable or exceptional occurrences from the
present or past
Consider events that your audience will find
exciting, newsworthy, historically important, or
interesting because they are unfamiliar or
surprising.
Use narrative, description, or a blend of the
two.
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
 Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Processes
A series of steps or stages that lead to a
particular outcome
Informative speeches about processes can be
at the micro or macro level.
Some processes are poor choices because of
their sheer technical nature.
Focus on subject matter within your audiences
level of understanding.
Break the topic into smaller parts first.
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Walk the audience through the steps and their
sequence.
You can use a variety of techniques, depending
on your goal.
Avoid overused topics and topics related to
alcohol.
Think about processes that would be
interesting and fresh for your listeners.
Consider how you might discuss the impact of
an important process.
 Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
Ideas
Theory, principle, belief, or value
Relatively abstract
Some are loaded because people have
difficulty agreeing on their meaning.
Select an idea carefully.
Consider listeners interests and level of education.
Ask if they have had prior exposure to the idea.
Consider how you might make an abstract idea
more understandable.
Types of Informative Speeches
(cont.)
 Developing Your Informative
Speech
Analyzing your audience
Focus on:
Where and how your audience is situated for the
informative presentation
Your audiences specific demographics
Any common ground between you and your
audience
 Developing Your Informative
Speech (cont.)
Selecting a technique
Consider which technique would most help
you inform your audience about your topic:
Definition
Explanation
Description
Demonstration
Narrative
Combination of techniques
 Developing Your Informative
Speech (cont.)
Choice of technique helps you decide how to
develop main points and supporting materials.
Consider audience size and details of the
speaking forum when planning presentation
aids.
For a small audience in a cramped space, showing
objects or using handouts would be appropriate.
For a large audience in a large space, projecting
PowerPoint slides onto a large screen would be a
better option.
Developing Your Informative
Speech (cont.)
 Developing Your Informative
Speech (cont.)
Focusing on Your Goal to Inform
Remain focused on your rhetorical purpose at
every phase.
If you know your subject well enough not to
have to do research, establish your own
credentials.
Remember your responsibility to remain
objective.
 Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message
Strive for clarity in every
informative speech, no
matter what your topic is
or who your listeners
are.
Audience analysis
Will help you decide how
much you should simplify
your informative speech
 Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Techniques for clarifying or simplifying
complex messages
Move from general to specific.
Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Reduce the quantity of information you
present.
Look for ways to pare down details.
Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Make complex information seem familiar.
Use definition to explain difficult-to-follow terms
and ideas, and avoid jargon.
Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Use presentation aids.
Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Reiterate your message.
Refer to the complex message several times, but
with different words each time.
Clarifying and Simplifying Your
Message (cont.)
Repeat your message.
Conveying a key point several times using the
same words can help ensure listeners understand
your message.
 Sample Informative Speech
Rachel Parish, Spider Silk: A Miracle
Material Derived from. . . Goats?
Read the sample speech with comments in
your textbook.
Three main points:
Background and unique properties of spider silk
Role of the spider goat in producing spider silk
Current and future uses of spider silk