WRITING GOOD EXPOSITORY SPEECHES
Expository speech topics aim to involve your listeners in such a way that they can
visualize the things you describe. Here you learn how to invent so-called Explain It,
What Is It and What Happened speeches.
There are two keys to a successfull expository. Offer information, specific and
concrete details, in a clear and precise order. And explain, enlighten, teach and
motivate the audience with ideas, new perceptions and information about for
example issues, persons, customs, trends, processes or events.
Categories Of Expository Speech Topics
Expository speech topics roughly can be divided in three categories. These are:
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Explain It - Explain or define the key factors of something: a process, design
or a thought.
Example: Explain how you solve a problem: how you collected all important
information about the problem, how you studied and judged all possible
solutions and how you implementated the best solution
What Happened - List main events in a historical or chronological order. Start
from the beginning.
Example: First, the workers prepared the ground. Second, they build the
stadium. Third, they attented the opening ceremony.
What Is It - Describe the features of a subject.
Example: What is a tsunami exactly? Describe the destructional powers.
Describe how it arises. Describe warningsystems.
Within these categories of speech topics you can approach your subject in three
ways. These categories are:
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The space and time chronological order - For instance, describe a train ride
from start to destination.
The emotional order - Pick one emotion related to your subject and describe it
in detail, in a way your audience can get the feeling.
The then-and-now order - Show how it was, and expose decay, change, or
improvement.
Find Your Expository Speech Topics
Even if you choose for controversial issues and you don't give an opinion that
someone could strongly agree or disagree with, then still they are expository speech
topics.
Of course there are millions of possible expository speech topics. The major guideline
is: stay close to your own interests. Try to pick out the topic for an expository that
you like. Nobody likes to hear you talking about a subject you're not enthusiastic
about.
Make up a short list by studying the expository speech topic ideas below. Judge them
with these selection criteria:
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Which topics you know a lot about in relation to your school, college,
community, job or hobby?
Are you an expert in something?
Can you think of worldwide, national, regional or local issues, or trends in
relation to the topics you like?
These questions also will help: What ..., When ..., Where ..., How ... or Why
...
E.g.: Describe how the world population increases, give the facts and context
figures, etc. But if you state that the overpopulation is very bad for the world, then it
isn't an informative speech but a persuasive.
Expository Speech Topic Examples
Pick an interesting and unique topic for an expository speech. One that has not been
used often before, where you will explain something and help people understand
what or how things happened or what things actually are. One that your audience
will want to hear and will gain new knowledge.
These examples are meant to help you inventing your own expository speech topic.
You can find more ideas for public speaking and examples at other pages of the
website.
EXPLAIN IT
WHAT HAPPENED
WHAT IS IT
Explain how an iPod works
How I start collecting Paris Hilton
pictures
What is an RSS-feed?
Explain how a car can drive
Explain how a tree grows
Explain how a vacuum cleaner
works
Explain what alcohol does in your
body
What is copyright protection?
How I raise funds for my
community
How I choose my extracurricular
activities
What is artificial intelligence?
How the Civil War started
What is autism?
The designing of a new bathroom
What is an eclipse?
The preparation of my trip to
Australia
What is fair trade?
Explain how computerviruses work
Explain the working of the
timezones in the world
Explain the working of electricity
What is podcasting?
What is an ISBN number?
My search for an expository speech
topic by using this web site. Why
not? Talking about creative speech
topics ... :-)
Refine Your Expository Speech Topics
Refine your short list of expository speech topics. Ask yourself:
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What does the audience want to know?
Is it relevant to my listeners?
If I were in the audience, and I didn't know anything about the topic, what
would me interest the most?
What does the audience already know?
Will the audience care about my topic?
Now make a reasoned final choice. Ask yourself:
Why do I want to talk about this expository speech topic?
Investigate Your Expository Speech Topics
Make a full investigation on the subject you have chosen and work on your
credibility.
Provide background and definitions of terms are appropriate, because sometimes
your audience doesn't know anything about your topic.
Look in refererence books for facts, evidence, statistics, examples and quotations.
These questions will help you in the right direction:
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What are different aspects of my topic?
Can I add new twist to common speech topics?
Are there new trends?
Who are affected by my topic?
How many people?
And how are they affected?
What ideas, stories, opinions, information and knowledge didn't my listeners
previously know?
Which of my personal experiences will motivate them to want to know more?
How did I do it? And why?
If your investigation efforts haven't the results you want, then try one of your other
expository speech topics of your short list.
The Format Of Expository Speech Topics
Structure your information and develop your expository speech topics according to
the classical scheme: introduction, body and conclusion. Like this:
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Introduction - An attention capturing introduction lists the main whats and
why's of your text to speech. Create an immediate interest by stating your
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central idea. Talk about an experience that you and the listeners have in
common in relation to the subject.
Body - In the strong outlined body you present each point separately.
Conclude the points by referring to your central idea.
Conclusion - In the conclusion you repeat your major points. End with a
powerful statement, joke or quotation.
Expository Speech Topics And Visual Aids
Visual aids can enrich your text to speech. Posters and pictures, or multi media aids
can illustrate what each step looks like. I advise you to thoroughly prepare and
practice yourself in delivering creative speech topics.
Four Tips For Preparing A Topic For An Expository
Speech
1. Always try to come up with a personal and creative way to shape your topic for an
expository speech.
2. Exercise in front of a friend, classmate or family member.
3. Let them be critical towards your ideas and exposition.
4. Listen carefully to their recommendations about your expository speech topics.
Good luck with explaining and visualizing your ideas!