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An informative speech communicates knowledge and understanding about a process, an event, a person or place, an object, or a concept.

Informative speakers share what they know or have researched to familiarize an audience with a topic an audience wants or needs to understand.

Types of Informative Speeches Expository Speech – gives information

about a specific topic Process speech – explains how to do

something, how to make something, or how something works

Choosing a Topic Select a topic you are interested in and know

something about Expository Examples:

Cliff Dwellings of the AnasaziCartoon images in American Pop CultureClothing of the 1700’s in the U.S.

Process Speech Examples:How to use a power drillHow to make origami flowersHow to prepare healthy snacks

General Purpose Your general purpose is to inform your

audience. Your specific purpose relates to your topic

and to specific information you want to convey.

Examples of Specific Purposes For an expository speech, you might state

your specific purpose as “I want to explain the three major steps in the evolution of the computer.”

For a process speech, you could state your specific purpose as “I want to explain how to perform a soccer-style place kick.”

Gathering Information The more convincingly you can show your

listeners that you know about your topic, the more likely they are to pay attention and to remember what you say.

To locate more information, use library information, credible Internet sources, and interviews with knowledgeable people.

ALWAYS CITE YOUR SOURCES!

Preparing Your Introduction Your introduction should:

1. attract the audience’s attention2. focus attention on the subject3. gain the audience’s goodwill

Organizing the Body There are several ways to organize the body

of your speech:Chronologically – details and events in the order in which they occur in time. This method is good for informing about histories of topics

Organizing by Topical Order In topical order, a topic is broken down into its

parts and then arranged in an order determined by the speaker and stated in the specific purpose like, “I want to explain the three major types of extrasensory perception.”

I. One type is telepathy2. A second type is clairvoyance3. A third type is precognition

Organizing by Climatic Order Climatic order arranges items according to

their order of importance, usually starting with the least important and ending with the most.

Climatic Order Example The specific purpose could be, “I want to

explain three requirements for being a good football coach.

1.A good coach recognizes raw talent.2.More important, a good coach understands

the mechanics of the sport.3.Most importantly, a good coach must be able

to motivate a player to do his best.

Cause and Effect Order In cause and effect order, information is

arranged to show causes or conditions and the effects or results of those conditions.

Example of Cause and Effect Specific purpose: “I want to explain (fill in

the blank).”1. This happens2. So this happens3. And the result is this

Remember Your Audience Consider who you are speaking to and their

level of familiarity with the topic you are speaking about.

Avoid using technical details and terms that are meaningful only to an expert

Be Memorable! You can use a number of methods and devices

to help your audience understand and remember the information you are presenting.

Mnemonic Devices Mnemonic Devices help the memory by

providing easy-to-remember associations.

Example: H. O. M. E. S. (to remember the names of the five great lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior)

Audiovisual Materials Audiovisual Materials are resources that a

speaker uses to save time in explanation, clarify a point and help an audience remember important material

Ex: charts, diagrams, photographs, graphs, maps

Demonstrations Demonstrations are essential for process

speeches. This is simply demonstrating for the audience the process that you are describing.

First Speech: Informative Your speech must be 3 to 5 minutes in length Be sure to ask yourself:1. Have I selected & limited an appropriate

topic?2. Have I clearly stated a specific purpose?3. Have I gathered information from a variety of

sources?4. Does the topic relate to my audience?

More ?’s to ask yourself . . .

1. Is the material well organized?2. Is the information new, or does it offer new

insights?3. Did I use helpful devices and audiovisual

materials?4. Does the introduction spark my audience’s

interest in learning more about my topic?