SPE 108: Speaking to Inform

1. SPE 108
The Informative Speech

2. Characteristics of the
Informative Speech
•designed to convey knowledge and
understanding
•you act as a lecturer or teacher
•you absorb knowledge, and then
communicate that knowledge effectively

3. Who makes informative
speeches?
•a business manager explaining next year’s
budget
•a teacher teaching a lesson
•a military officer briefing subordinates
•a union leader describing a new contract
•the church worker organizing a fundraiser

4. Three criteria:
•Is the information communicated accurately?
•Is the information communicated clearly?
•Is the information made meaningful and
interesting to the audience?

5. Types of Speeches
•Speeches about Objects: anything that is
visible, tangible and in stable form
•places, people, structures, animals
•must choose a specific purpose about this
object for the speech
•How an object is used, what is a feature of
the object, why is the object important?

6. Speeches about
Processes
•This speech answers the HOW
•purpose: so the audience understands the process better
•chronological order or topical order?

7. Speeches about Events
•civil rights movement, figure skating, Cinco de Mayo, ADD
•chronological order, causal order (working from cause to effect),
topical order

8. Speeches about
Concepts
•beliefs, theories, ideas, principles
•topical order

9. The audience
•don’t over estimate what your audience
knows
•relate subject to the audience
•don’t be too technical
•avoid abstractions (be specific)
•personalize your ideas