Day Eight:
Speaking to Inform
by Yana Cornish
Hamilton Business College
Agenda:




Short Speeches
Review Homework
Chapter 15: Informative
Speech
Individual discussions
about speeches
Homework for Next Class




Read chapters 16 & 17
Ch. 16 Suggested Activities p. 377 (#1)
Ch. 17 Suggested Activities pp. 412-413 (#3)
Complete outline & bibliography for
persuasive speech
Speaking to Inform
Goals of Informative Speaking:




Speaking to
enhance
understanding
Speaking to
maintain interest
Speaking to
remember
Speaking to
describe or
demonstrate
Types of Informative Speeches:





Speeches about objects
Speeches about procedures
Speeches about people
Speeches about events
Speeches about ideas
An Informative Speech can…



Report new information
Explain difficult
concepts and complex
processes
Clarify and correct
misunderstood
information
Reporting New Information



Answers who, what, where,
when, how, and why questions
Explain the concept clearly with
various types of supporting
material so the audience can
grasp the new idea.
Include a value step (or reason
for the audience to listen) and
relate the information to
audience needs, interests, and
values.
Explaining Difficult Concepts




Define or list the concept’s essential features.
Explain how it differs from other related concepts.
Use typical examples.
Contrast examples and nonexamples (i.e.: The
opposite of communism is capitalism, not
democracy.)
Quiz the audience. Pose questions and give the
audience time to think about their responses. Then,
make sure you provide the correct answer to your
question.
Explaining Complex Processes




Provide clear key points and make sure you are
well organized.
Use analogies to compare the unfamiliar process
with one the audience already understands.
Use presentation aids such as models and
drawings to help your audience visualize the
process.
Use connectives - transitions, previews, and
summaries - frequently to help your audience
understand the relationships among key ideas.
Overcoming Confusion and
Misinformation




State the misconception
Acknowledge its believability
and why it’s believable.
Reject the misconception by
providing contrary evidence.
State and explain the more
acceptable and accurate belief.
Tips for Informative Speeches



Address audience needs: Find out what audience
members already know about your topic, and make
sure all information is related to your purpose.
Include a value step: A value step is at the beginning
of your speech and tells your audience why your
information should matter to them and how it can
affect their success or well-being. Don’t expect your
audience members to figure out why they should
listen.
Enhance your credibility: Let your audience know
you are an expert, or show that you care about them
in order to earn their respect, trust, and attention.
Tips for Informative Speeches


KISS (Keep It Simple, Speaker): Most audiences
cannot absorb and retain complex information.
Keep your topic focused and concentrate on one
or two important ideas instead of ten.
One Sensory Image: Make a presentation more
memorable by focusing on one sensory imagechoose a topic that taps one of the five senses.
-For example, a presentation about garlic
could focus on methods for getting rid of garlic
odor on your hands and breath.
Strategies to enhance understanding:




Define ideas clearly
Use principles and techniques of adult learning
Clarify complex processes
Use effective visual reinforcement
Strategies to enhance interest:



Establish a motive for the audience to
listen
Tell a story
Present information that relates to the
audience
Strategies to enhance recall:




Build in redundancy
Pace your information flow
Reinforce key ideas verbally
Reinforce key ideas nonverbally
Activity:

Suggested Activities:

#1 p. 354 in the book
Homework for next week




Read chapters 16 & 17
Ch. 16 Suggested Activities p. 377 (#1)
Ch. 17 Suggested Activities pp. 412-413 (#3)
Complete outline & bibliography for
persuasive speech