PROCESS/DEMONSTRATION
SPEECHES
Process/Demonstration Speeches

The terms “process” and “demonstration” work
together. “A process is a series of steps producing
an outcome” (Grice 345).
Process/Demonstration Speeches

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When speakers communicate with their audiences
about a process, they may often “explain or
demonstrate how something works, functions, or is
accomplished” (345).
Thus, the goal of a
process/demonstration
speech is to demonstrate
a process.
Process/Demonstration Speeches

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“Because a process is by definition a time-ordered
sequence, speeches about processes commonly use
chronological organization. They are not, however,
confined to this pattern” (345).
The best organizational
pattern for any speech
“is the one that achieves
the purpose of the
speech” (345).
Process/Demonstration Speeches

For example, if a speaker chooses to discuss the
topic good study habits lead to good grades, he will
probably discuss a series, or describe a process, of
helpful study habits organized in a way that will
lead students to achieve good grades.
Process/Demonstration Speeches

The organizational strategy may be somewhat
chronological, but the speaker may also choose to
organize his or her examples in a greatest to least,
or most effective to least effective, structure.
Process/Demonstration Speeches

In addition, while discussing the process to achieve
good grades, he will more than likely demonstrate
study strategies.
Process/Demonstration Speeches
There are two types of process/demonstration
strategies: the directional and the informational
process.

In the directional speech style,
speakers show and instruct the
steps of the process, so the
audience could actually recreate
the process after they have
been shown how.
Process/Demonstration Speeches
There are two types of process/demonstration strategies:
the directional and the informational process.


The informational process
speech style informs,
educates, analyzes and
explains.
Speakers who
use this speech style
describe the theory of
how something was done
or is done, is made, works
or happens.
Process/Demonstration Speeches

Speakers creating process/
demonstration speeches
should focus on educating
and helping their audiences
to understand their topic.
Process/Demonstration Speeches

The best strategy is to choose
process/demonstration
speech topics with which you
are relatively familiar, or
select a topic you would like
to research.
Here are some helpful tips for creating
process/demonstration speeches:


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Choose something you know about
Use visual aids to demonstrate a process
When debating on what topic to choose, ask
yourself this question:
 Does
this topic have
enough potential to
offer my audience
valuable information?
Here are some helpful tips for creating
process/demonstration speeches:

Remember the importance of understanding your
audience, and ask yourself these questions:
 Who
are they?
 What are their interests?
 What do they like?
 What are their needs?
Here are some helpful tips for creating
process/demonstration speeches:

Break your topic into presentable steps using key
phrases:
 How
To Make ...
 How To Fix ...
 How To Use ...
 How To Do ...
 How _____Works
 How_____ Is Done, Produced or Made
 Topic + verb
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies



Sequential: Your topic can be arranged in a time
sequence.
This strategy is useful for describing a process as a
series of steps or explaining a subject as a series of
historical landmark developments.
This strategy is also useful for
presenting a plan of
action in persuasive
speeches.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Sequential


A sequential design may be used to present the
steps of a process or to provide an historical
perspective on a subject.
When using a sequential design
to present the steps in a process,
you must first determine the
necessary steps and the order
in which they must take place.
These steps become the main
points of the speech.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Sequential

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For an oral presentation, you should not try to
discuss more than five steps.
If you have more than this, see if you can cluster
some of them into subpoints.
Be sure to enumerate the steps as you
present them so that the audience can
follow your message.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Sequential


When using a sequential design to present an
historical perspective on a subject, be sure to follow
a systematic chronological sequence.
Do not jump around in time (i.e. Start with 1990,
jump back to 1942, fast forward
to 1971), or the speech will be
hard for your listeners to follow.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Sequential

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You can either begin with the beginnings of a subject
and trace it to a later point in time or begin with the
present and trace the subject back to its origins.
When presenting an historical perspective, it is
important to narrow your topic to manageable
proportions by selecting the most important historical
occurrences. Your speech should telescope time.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Categorical

Use the ‘Categorical’ strategy if your topic has
natural or customary divisions. Each category
becomes a main point for development. This
strategy is useful when you need to organize large
amounts of material.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Categorical

For example, this
strategy in persuasive
speeches could be used
to demonstrate a plan
that is safe, inexpensive,
and effective, or to
demonstrate a cause/
effect scenario.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Categorical


You should use a categorical deign for subjects that
have natural or customary divisions. This design
allows you to organize large amounts of material
into manageable format.
Do not use a categorical design
by default—(Doing so may make you appear to be
you appear to be a lazy speech
writer because you have avoided
trying to create another way to
arrange your information).
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Categorical


When using a categorical design, each category
becomes a main point for the development of your
speech.
Limit yourself to five or
fewer main points in a
short speech.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Categorical

You should begin and end
with the most important
categories since the first
and last areas covered
are the most easily
remembered.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Spatial


Your topic can be discussed by how it is positioned
in a physical setting or natural environment.
This strategy allows you to take your audience on
an orderly “oral tour” of your topic as you move
from place to place.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Spatial

You should use spatial design when your subject
involves places or objects that can be put in a
physical arrangement.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Spatial

This design takes your listeners on a systematic and
orderly tour of your subject or systematically
describes an arrangement so that your audience
may visualize it accurately.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Spatial

To develop the body of a speech using a spatial
design, select a starting point and a direction of
movement for the verbal journey on which you will
take your listeners.
 Move
in an orderly manner.
 Start a route and stay with it.
 Try not to backtrack or jump
from place to place.
Process/Demonstration Speech
Organizational Strategies— Spatial

Your speech should build in
interest as you move along to
the last place which should
be the most interesting.
Using Visual Aids

“The primary use of visual aids is to clarify and
support the point being made orally by the
speaker, as well as to
better hold attention
and interest. One
should not think of
visual aids as a
substitute for oral
discourse, however”
(Zelko 93-94).
Using Visual Aids

“A well-designed, appropriate presentational aid
can add significantly to the effectiveness of the
speech and the speaker” (Grice and Skinner 314).
Using Visual Aids

Using visual aids in the speech communication
process can be very effective, especially today
when technology allows speakers to very easily
create highly effective multi-media presentations.
Using Visual Aids

However, not every facility is equipped to handle
this kind of technology, and, even if the speaker
brings his own equipment, he should have a back up
plan in the event of an unforeseen technical crisis.
“Guidelines for designing presentational aids”

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Focus on a few key points
Layout—landscape with text on top half
Highlighting—use bullets or numbering with as few
words as possible
Fonts—use strong and straight fonts
Color and art—use a limited number of colors to
enhance your presentational aid (328-329)
“During the Speech”
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Reveal the aid only when you are ready for it
Talk to your audience—not the aid
Refer to the aid
Keep your aid in view until
the audience understands
your point
Conceal the aid after you
have made your point
Use handouts with caution (330)
Using Handouts


Many speakers feel providing their audiences with
handouts will help them to further retain the
information being presented, but the time of their
distribution is critical.
As soon as the audience receives the handouts, even
during the time of distribution, they will not be able
to completely focus on the speaker.
Using Handouts


To manage this distraction, the speaker may want to
distribute these handouts prior to his presentation or
after he has finished.
The only other choice is to allow time to pause while
the audience reviews the material on their own, or
wait until all handouts have been distributed, and
then review them together.
Using Props

Another valuable visual aid is a prop, which allows
the speaker to use “fewer words [because the]
object speak[s] for itself” (183).
Using Props

Like a handout, however, remember the prop will
completely distract the audience, and the speaker
must allow them time to focus on and understand its
impact on the speech.
Using Props

First and foremost, the speaker must “be intimately
familiar with the object and prepared. [He should]
practice [using the prop] before a presentation”
(183).
Using a Prop

In using models or objects, hold them up in clear
view of the audience or place them on a table for
all to see. Walk toward or into the audience with
them as appropriate for closer viewing.
Using a Prop
Using props allows you to use “fewer words and lets
the object speak for itself.”
“The two most important elements of using props are:
 Be intimately familiar with the object.
 Be prepared. Practice before a presentation.”
(Clinton 183)
Other Visual Aids



Flip Charts
Overhead Projectors
Dry Erase Boards
 Each
presents its own challenges.
POWERPOINT

For your demonstration speech, you are required to
use PowerPoint (Prezi or some other electronic
visual), and the use of props or handouts is
completely optional.
KEY TO DEMONSTRATION SPEECH SUCCESS…

THE KEY TO ANY SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION
SPEECH IS:
PRACTICE,
PRACTICE,
PRACTICE,
PRACTICE……..
PROCESS/DEMONSTRATION
SPEECHES