Preparing a Speech

Plus the different types of speeches

2006 © Andree’s Attic Created by: Andree Swanson

Different Types of Speeches

Informative Persuasive Speaking on a Special

Occasion

Different Types of Speeches

INFORMATIVE

SPEECH:

provides an audience with

new information

new insights

new ways of thinking

about a topic

- Aa

Inform your audience abouta special trip to Paris.

Different Types of Speeches

PERSUASIVE

SPEECH: The speakers intention is

to

Influence Attitudes

Beliefs

Values

Acts of others.

Different Types of Speeches

SPEAKING ON

SPECIAL OCCASION

it is one that is

prepared for a specific

occasion and for a

purpose dictated by

that occasion

- Aa

Informative Speech Types

Objects

Events

Process

People

Concepts

Issues

Informative Speech

“Speak properly, and in as few words as you

can, but always plainly; for the end of speech

is not ostentation, but to be understood.”

William Penn

Speeches About Objects Digital Cameras

Laptop computers

Cell phones

The brain

Survey of weight-loss diets

Diabetes

Engineering strategies

Speeches About People

Run-way Models Flood victims Saddam Hussein John Elway, becomes the Denver Broncos

first Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee

About any person or group of people that meets the informational goal.

Speeches About Events

The history of Colonial Americans 1929 Stock Market Crash March 19, 2003 President Bush

announces the start of the war with Iraq

Any current or historical event that meets the informational goal

Speeches About Processes

Pruning rose bushes Isolating DNA in cells How laughter improves health How tornadoes are formed How chocolate is good for you

About anything that is best explained in terms of how it is made, how it works, or

how it is performed.

Speeches About Concepts

Maslow’s Motivation Theory Employee motivation theory - -

Theory X and Y Understanding the status of

endangered species

About any abstract or complex concept that requires explanation

Speeches About Issues

Racial profiling Your legal rights Political issues in the

Middle East

About any issue or problem, as long as the speaker focuses on enlarging the

audience’s understanding and awareness rather than on advocating one position

versus another.

Strategy for Presenting Content

explaining what it does describing what it is not providing several concrete examples comparing it to something with which it is

synonymous illustrating the root meaning of the term in

question

Defining Information

Description – listeners want enough detail to allow them to form a mental picture of the person, place event or process under consideration.

Explanation – You provide reasons or causes, demonstrate relationships and offer interpretation and analysis.

Demonstration – To explain how something works or to actually demonstrate it, a model, visual aid, or actual object.

Arrange Main Points in a Pattern

Thesis Statements

Main Points: I. II. III.

Organizational Patterns

People—chronological, topical, narrative Events—chronological, cause-effect,

narrative Processes—chronological, narrative Issues—chronological, cause-effect, topical,

circle Objects—spatial, topical

Preview Main Points

Define your terms Include neither too much nor too little Present new and interesting information Reinforce your message through repetition

and parallelism Relate the unknown to the familiar Use visualization

Persuasive Speech

“Persuasion is often more effectual than force.”

Homer

Goals for a Persuasive Speech

Is to advocate, or to ask others to accept your views.

to influence the attitudes, beliefs, values, and acts of others.

Achieving your Persuasive Speech Goal

Make your message personally relevant to the audience

Clearly demonstrate how any change you propose will benefit the audience.

Expect minor rather than major changes in your listeners attitudes and behaviors.

Target issues that audience member feel strongly about.

Establish creditability with your audience.

Target Listener’s Needs

Physiological needs Safety needs Social needs

Self-esteem needs Self-actualization

Chart from http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/maslow.html

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological Needs

Plan for and accommodate the audience’s

physiological needs Are they likely to be hot, cold, hungry, or thirsty?

Basic sustenance, including food, water and air.

Safety Needs

Appeal to safety benefits how wearing seatbelts or voting for a bill to stop

pollution will remove a threat or protect the audience members from harm.

To feel protected and secure

Social Needs

Appeal to social benefits if you want teenagers to quit smoking, stress that

if they quit they will appear more physically fit and attractive to their peers.

To find acceptance; to have lasting, meaningful relationships.

Self-esteem Needs

Appeal to emotional benefits When proposing a change in attitudes or

behavior, stress that the proposed changed will make listeners feel better about themselves.

To feel good about ourselves; self-worth

Self-actualization Needs

Appeal to your listener’s need to fulfill their potential Stress how adopting your position will help them

be all that they can be.

To achieve goals; to reach our highest potential

Avoid Fallacies in Reasoning

Begging the question

Band-wagoning

Ad hominem argument

Red herring

Begging the question

If you ‘beg a question’, you assume

acceptance of a parameter that

may not apply.

Here is an example:

“You can trust me.”

“How do I know that?”

“Because I’m honest.”

Source: http://www.roomours.co.uk/ryder3.htm

Band-wagoning

The appeal may be to follow the crowd.

"Overwhelming support for looser controls on the legalization of

marijuana.“

"The public have indicated that.“

"All respondents." implies that everyone is doing it, those that

are not, are outsiders and should do the same.

“Let’s jump on the band-wagon.”

Ad hominem argument

Also known as attacking the

person argument.

This is an argument or

assertion that addresses the

person presenting the

argument or assertion rather

than the argument itself.

Source: http://users.rcn.com/rostmd/winace/pics/#ad_hom

Red herring

This is where an irrelevant topic is

presented in order to divert

attention from the original issue.

"We admit that the bill is not

popular. But we also urge you to

note that there are so many bond

issues on this ballot that the whole

thing is getting ridiculous."

Persuasive Strategies and Audience Type

Stress areas of agreement Address opposing views Don’t expect major change in attitudes. Consider the refutation pattern Wait until the end before asking audience

to act, if at all.

Hostile audience or those that strongly disagree

Strategies:

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Attention Need Satisfaction

Visualization Action

The five-step process that begins with arousing listeners’ attention and ends with

calling for action.

Step 1: Attention - Addresses listeners’ core concerns, making the speech highly relevant to them.

Step 2: Need – The need step isolates and describes the issue to be addressed

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Step 3: Satisfaction – Identifies the solution.

Step 4: Visualization – Provides the audience with vision of anticipation outcomes associated with the solution.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Step 5: Action – When the speaker asks audience members to act according to their acceptance of the message.

Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

Special Occasion Speech

“Don’t reserve your best behavior for special

occasions….”

Lillian Eichler Watson

Entertain Celebrate Commemorate

Inspire Set social agendas

One that is prepared for a specific occasion and for a purpose dictated by that occasion. They can be informative

or persuasive.

Special Occasion Speech

Speeches of Introduction

Describe the speaker’s background and qualifications.

Briefly preview the speaker’s topic. Ask the audience to welcome the speaker. Be brief.

Speeches of Acceptance

Prepare in advance Express what the award means to you. Express gratitude

Speeches of Presentation

Convey the meaning of the award Explain why the recipient is receiving the

award Plan the physical presentation

Roasts and Toasts

Prepare Highlight remarkable traits of the person

being honored Be positive Be brief

Eulogy

Balance delivery and emotion. Refer to the family of the deceased Be positive but realistic. Emphasize the

deceased’s positive qualities while avoiding excessive praise.

After-dinner Speeches

Recognize the occasion. Connect the speech with the occasion.

Keep remarks sufficiently low-key to accompany the digestion of a meal

Speeches of Inspiration

Appeal to audience member’s emotions. Use real-life stories By dynamic Make your goal clear Close with a dramatic ending.

Some additional sources

Allyn & Bacon Public Speaking Website http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_public_speaking_2 Designed as a companion to a textbook, this website

contains five modules on assessing, analyzing, researching, organizing, and delivering a speech. 

History Channel: Great Speeches http://www.historychannel.com/speeches/ Hear speeches by Hank Aaron, Irving Berlin, Charles

Lindbergh, Charles de Gaulle, and other notable individuals.