1
INFORMATION SPEECH
I.
DEFINED: increase audience knowledge or clarify, reinforce
existing knowledge TEACH
A.
Four Purposes: (ways to do this)
1.
Explain
2.
Define
3.
Describe
4.
Analyze
B.
Impartial
1.
Speaker state NO PERSONAL OPINION
2.
Advocates NO ACTION
3.
Makes NO RECOMMENDATIONS
C.
Listener’s Choice
1.
Audience decides individually if change is needed
or necessary
2.
Listeners evaluate through choice what to do with
information
D.
Factual
1.
Research required
2.
Non biased – impartial
3.
Four R’s Criteria
a.
Relevant to topic
b.
Most recent
c.
Reliable, recognized source – professional
credentials (Beware Internet)
d.
Reinforce main point (sufficient)
Think newspaper – who, what, when, where, why,
how
5.
CREDIT SOURCES WITHIN SPEECH TO
INCREASE CREDIBILITY
EX: “According to Joe Schmoe, author of…” “In
June, 1997 issue of Newsweek…” “From the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Index…”
Goals for information Speech
A.
Message clear
1.
Introduction states purpose – what you want
audience to know or understand
4.
II.
2
2.
B.
C.
III.
IV.
introduction states thesis/main idea in complete
sentence form (includes topic and what you want to
say about topic)
Message accurate
1.
No jargon, abbreviations, technospeak (consider
audience knowledge on topic, consider audience
educational level
2.
Information factual (Four R’s)
3.
Language clear, specific, concrete
Message vivid
1.
Attention getter – intro; No “Tonight I’m going to talk
about…” or “My topic is on…”
2.
Consider visual aid
3.
Language techniques
a.
Repetition
b.
Cadence – rhythm
c. parallelism (pattern and repetition)
4.
Delivery techniques
posture, eye contact, energy, no distracting
mannerisms, BREATHE
5.
Vocal techniques
rate, pause, diction, emphasis, volume
D.
Message interesting *AUDIENCE CENTERED*
1.
WIIFM – appeals, values (Maslow’s pyramid of
needs)
2.
Relevant, applicable to lives, needs – how use
3.
Beneficial – why know
Types of Topics/Examples
A.
Objects – cars, computers, toys, a collection, places –
Vietnam Memorial, Grand Canyon, books
B.
Ideas – affirmative action, law, religious belief, right to die,
home schooling
C.
Procedure – how to or how happens – tornadoes, develop
pictures, resume, diet
D.
People – biographical (be careful to be factual, not
testimonial)
E.
Events – holocaust, flood of ’97, Gulf War, job interviews
Organization for Informative
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A.
B.
C.
D.
V.
Chronological – events as occurred, steps in sequence
(history of Civil Rights Movement, discovery of AIDS
virus, advances in treatment of cancer, development of
space program, completing a form, filling out taxes)
Spatial – physical, visual placement, direction (how to
organize a closet, how to plan a garden, understand
insurance form, design tee shirt)
Cause/Effect – reasons why something happens(ed) and
results (low reading skills, poor test performance, single
parenting, AIDS, rising college costs)
Topical – most versatile, examine aspect of broad topic
1.
Pros/cons (home schooling, concealed weapons
law, school prayer, affirmative action)
2.
similarities/differences (types of hamburgers or
pizza, textbooks, colleges, places)
3.
compare/contrast (cars, grocery stores, products –
vacuum cleaners, appliances, homes, banks
4.
qualities (successful business person, student,
athlete, product – computer, car)
5.
contributions (ways United Way used, Red Cross or
Helping Hand, city parks – places, people
organizations – libraries, Boy/Girl Scouts
6.
Natural divisions or qualifications (PG-13, college
freshman, adult students, mystery novels, fantasy
video games, kicking sports (soccer, football)
7.
Advantages/disadvantages (balanced budget,
investing, types of life insurance policies, home
schooling, home business, welfare reforms)
Strategies
A.
Explain – how or why or evaluate (balanced budges,
chemical weapons, insulin’s effect on health)
1.
Topical organization
2.
Chronological
3.
Cause/effect
4.
Spatial
B.
Describe (working on crisis line, gang member, single
parenting, hobby, place)
1.
Spatial – visual, physical
2.
Topical
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VI.
3.
Language techniques (word pictures, senses)
C.
Define – clarify (profile, pro-choice, affirmative action,
sexual harassment, hypertension, child abuse)
1.
Example
2.
Dictionary
3.
Own words – own experience
4.
Operational – situational
5.
Topical (comparison, similarities/differences,
qualities)
D.
Analyze (why ads work, fat in diet related to heart
disease, role of computers, increase in teen violence)
1.
Topical
2.
Cause/effect
Memorable
A.
Audience Centered
1.
Relevant to audience interests, needs
2.
Beneficial to lives of listeners
3.
Relate new information to known information
4.
Analyze audience – demographics, location,
occasion
5.
How apply information to lives
B.
Help audience remember information
1.
Build in redundancy – repeat key points especially
in conclusion
2.
Make clear main idea and purpose – mention three
times; intro, body, conclusion
3.
Vocal emphasis, gestures
4.
Language techniques
C.
Narrow topic – aspect (not all you know)
1.
Time frame
2.
Three to Four main points
3.
Simple ideas, clear language – use visual aids for
complex ideas
D.
Pace information
1.
Process three to four main points and evidence
2.
Use techniques of transitions to help keep track of
information
a.
Preview
b.
Review
c.
Internal summaries
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VII.
d.
Summarize
3.
Sources of evidence credited in speech
4.
Allow time to process numbers, percents, statistics
– don’t overwhelm with too many
Credibility Techniques
A.
Components of Four C’s
1.
Competence
a.
Practice!
b.
Eye contact
c.
Knowledgeable (research – four R’s)
d.
Organized
e.
Clear topic
f.
Responds to questions and comments
2.
Composure
a.
Breathe
b.
Covers mistakes
c.
Controlled
d.
Poised
3.
Commitment
a.
Energy
b.
Eye contact
c.
Relates topic to self, experience
d.
Sincerity
4.
Character
a.
Approachable
b.
Pleasant, not intimidating
c.
Trustworthy
B.
Techniques
1.
Initial (when leave seat) credibility
2.
a.
Appearance – appropriate for occasion
b.
Eye contact
c.
Posture
d.
BSLB – get audience attention before begin
e.
Your credentials, relate to topic
Derived (middle)
a.
WIIFM
b.
Relate info to what’s known
c.
Knowledgeable – evidence – sources credited
in speech
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3.
d.
Organized clearly
e.
Clear main idea, purpose
f.
No distracting mannerisms
g.
Delivery techniques, vocal, gestures
h.
Eye contact – glance at notes
i.
TALK TO audience, not AT
Terminal (when return to seat)
a.
Eye contact
b.
Summarize info, repeat main idea
c.
Appeals
d.
Posture
e.
End on effective note NO “Well, that’s all I
have…” or “This concludes…”
f.
Willing to respond to questions, comments
CHECKLIST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Create desire to listen – WIIFM
Help audience understand information
Help audience remember information
Apply information
Attention getter introduction
Your relation to topic – credibility
Relate information to old or known information
Organized
Credit sources in speech
Visual aids if appropriate
Repeat main idea three times
Conclude on strong note – attention getter technique
FIVE P’S
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pick topic believe
Practice
Picture friends
Position physical
Pace
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I.
Persuasion Speech
A.
Goal – definition
1.
Convince listeners that speaker is right
2.
“Believe as I do”
3.
Influence, change or reinforce values, attitudes,
beliefs or behavior
B.
Differences – between information and persuasive.
1.
Information – Speakers goals  knowledge
a.
Purpose – define, describe, analyze or explain
topic
b.
Listeners should know more after speech or
confirm known information
c.
Listeners decide if action or change needed or
necessary; listeners evaluate through choice
d.
Speaker advocates no action, states no
opinion, makes no recommendations
e.
information impartial – facts only (who, what,
when, where, why – newspaper backed up by
sources of information/facts
2.
Persuasion
a.
Emphasis on change, action
b.
listener should believe or do speakers claim
c.
listener should think, feel, act or believe
differently after speech
d.
both sides of issue presented but goal is to
convince audience that one side is better
e.
evidence is partisan, favors speaker’s intent
C.
Types of persuasion speeches
1.
Inspire – influence, change or reinforce desired
feelings, beliefs or behavior (MLK’s “I Have a
Dream,” ministers, RFK – on MLK’s Death)
2.
Convince – position – “believe or do as I do”
influence, change, reinforce beliefs, attitudes
3.
Actuate – change or reinforce behavior
a.
Passive agreement – head nod, this is good
idea
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Active agreement – immediate or soon
physical, active response (sign petition,
donate money, participate in something)
Questions (proposal, claim, argument, proposition, statement)
*Thesis/Main idea
A.
Fact – true or false, did or did not happen (courtroom)
prove one side over another side examples:
JFK was killed by one person; there was no “conspiracy
theory.”
The U. S. Knew Pearl Harbor was going to be bombed
but allowed it to happen so that the American people
would support the U. S. entry into World War II
“OJ” murdered his wife and Ron Goldman.
UFO’s exist and have landed in the U. S. but the
government has covered up these occurrences.
The destruction of tropical rain forests has had a
devastating effect on worldwide economy
PROCESS
1.
Each main point is reason why claim is true
2.
Evidence (facts, quotes, statistics, definitions,
graphs, etc.) supports – proves main points
3.
Credibility important
a.
Four R’s – relevant, reliable, recent, reinforce
pt. of sources
b.
Personal credibility (initial, derived, terminal)
1.
Your experience, training
2.
Perceived competency (knowledge of
subject, organization)
3.
Composure (control) – emotions
4.
Delivery skills (techniques – worksheet)
5.
Conviction – commitment, energy,
sincerity)
4.
Refute opposing views (main reasons against claim)
a.
Acknowledge opposing views Respectfully to
avoid listener’s inner dialogue “yeah but…”
b.
Present evidence which negates opposing
view
5.
Conclude by repeating claim
6.
Best Organization Techniques
a.
Hierarchy – order of importance
b.
II.
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b.
Topical (categorical)
1.
Advantages/disadvantages
2.
Pros/cons
3.
Similarities/differences
4.
Qualities
5.
Classification – section
c.
Refutation (especially if topic is well known
and controversial)
1.
Identify opposing views
2.
Explain how you will refute
3.
State your claim, position
4.
Present evidence
5.
Conclude by restating original claim
B. Question of Value – evaluate worth of something (“better,”
“best”) moral judgements – good, bad moral, immoral, right/wrong –
based on personal opinions, values, beliefs, standards, motives,
cultural background
Examples:
Abortion, after the first trimester is wrong.
Abortion is legalized murder.
Capital punishment is morally wrong.
Bicycling is the best form of exercise.
Animal rights are just as important as human rights.
Rap music has become too violent and does not
teens moral values.
Spirituality is not taken seriously by society which
encourages a materialistic viewpoint.
Private schools offer a better education than public
schools.
PROCESS
1.
Justify claim by defining terms
2.
Establish standard to evaluate claim
3.
Present evidence to support claim
4.
PATHOS important – emotions, credibility,
appeals
5.
Emphasize emotional, mythical and personal
proof
6.
Briefly refute opposing views
7.
Conclude by justifying your claim
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8.
C.
End with vivid, attention getting technique
(dramatic example, transcendence, call to
action)
9.
BEST Organization Techniques
a.
Hierarchy
b.
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
1.
Attention getter
2.
Present problem or need (thesis)
3.
Solution
4.
Visualization (vivid description of
positive benefits of claim/solution
5.
Action approval – specifies to
achieve goal – MLK, RFK,
commercials
c.
Cause/effect
d.
Refutation
e.
Topical
Claims of Policy – concerns future action, how to solve
problem for specific situation, advocates change in policy,
procedure or behavior, words “must” or “should” usually in
claim
Examples:
The concealed weapons law should be repeated because
it encourages “vigilante” violence and is dangerous to law
enforcement officials.
You must learn to turn stress into energy to improve your
health.
Three convictions of sexual abuse should result in
castration.
Names of sports teams and use of mascots involving
Native Americans must be changed because it is
demeaning to Indian tribes.
School prayer should not be permitted in the public school
systems.
Public speaking classes should be mandatory for all
college students.
PROCESS
1.
identify problem or need
2.
Define terms, give necessary background
3.
Recommend solution
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4.
5.
6.
III.
IV.
Explain specifics (who, what, when, where)
Refute (discredit) other plans
Conclude with positive benefits or negative benefits
( if…then…) then positive benefits
7.
BEST Organization
a.
Monroe’s sequence
b.
Need/plan
1.
Need
2.
Plan
3.
How plan meets/resolves need
4.
Implement plan (specifics)
c.
Problem/solution
8.
Emphasize logical proof
Proof – how speakers support claims
A.
Extrinsic – objective, tangible facts found through
research (Four R’s – quotes, definition, laws, contracts,
statistics, graphs, etc.)
B.
Intrinsic – “inner” justify change in behavior, attitudes,
beliefs, feelings
Types of Proof
A.
Emotional (pathos) evoke strong emotional response
(anger, shock, inspiration, admiration)
1.
Appeals – Maslow’s pyramid of needs, values
2.
Idealism – the world as it could be, the highest
expectations of humanity – MLK, Mother Theresa
3.
Transcendence – rise above differences to find
unity, bonded by similarities, in common
4.
Determination – long term struggle, deep
commitment to cause over time, success at last by
never giving up hope or abandoning struggle, even
though cause is hopeless
5.
Conviction – passionate belief in truth of claim, deep
feeling of certainty that claim is just, righteous
6.
Dramatic example – narrative, story or personal
experience which illustrates message and stirs
emotion (telethons – Crusade for Children)
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Vivid descriptive language (poetic devices –
similes, metaphors, alliteration, cadence, etc.)
b.
Word structures
1.
Repetition (FDR “last night…”)
2.
Antithesis (JFK “ask not what you…”
3.
Parallelism (LBJ “Americans of every…”
c.
Delivery techniques (rate, pitch, volume,
variety, pitch)
Personal proof (ethos, credibility)
1.
Competence (perceived by audience)
a.
Organization
b.
Sources
c.
Willing and able to answer questions or
respond to comments
2.
Character (sincere, honest, integrity)
3.
Sociability (approachable, not snobby or
intimidating, pleasant, friendly)
4.
Composure (control, covers mistakes, poised,
confident)
5.
Energy (commitment, passion, intensity or sincerity)
6.
Initial – leave seat to podium
a.
Appearance, suitable for occasion
b.
Eye contact
c.
BSLB
d.
Credentials
7.
Derived (middle)
a.
Common ground if necessary
b.
Relate topic to audience’s needs (appeals)
c.
Knowledgeable – organized, proofs, main idea
clear
8.
Terminal (ending – back to seat)
a.
Eye contact
b.
Confident, effective ending
c.
Poised – in control
d.
Willingness to answer questions, respond to
comments
Logical Proof – reasoning techniques and arguments to
prove claim, rational evidence, 3 parts: claim which must
be proved, evidence which proves claim, conclusion
which binds claim and evidence
a.
B.
C.
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Deductive – reasoning from general to specific;
major premise + minor premise = conclusion
2.
Inductive – reasoning from specific to general
conclusion (FDR “last night…Japan has therefore
undertaken…”)
3.
Analogy – comparison of two cases
4.
Cause – effect
Smoking causes cancer. Missing classes lowers
grades
Mythical Proof – commonly accepted beliefs; stereotypes,
not based on facts; social attitudes, cultural values;
attitudes, beliefs which characterize a group or society.
Redneck
Christians
Marines
Men (Mars)
Women (Venus)
1.
D.