Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
Informative Speech
Guidelines and Criteria
Your primary goal in this speech is to impart knowledge or to teach the audience about
something they know little or nothing about. Your topic should be narrow enough so
that it could be discussed fully in three to five minutes. You will be using the same
speech topic for the persuasive speech (the goal of the second speech is to motivate
your audience to take an action they wouldn’t normally take).
Worth: 100 points
Deadline for speech approval: Monday, October 22, 2012
Speech Presentation Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Requirements




Speaking Time: 3-5 minutes; going over or under will drop your grade by 10
points.
Key phrase outline (typed, APA format, and due on speech day). See p. 267269 for format.
Reference Page: (typed, APA format, and due on speech day). Must list 5
researched sources that cannot exceed 7 years; they will be your oral footnotes
stated throughout your speech.
o Use a variety of sources; however, you cannot use more than two websites.
Example: 1 book, 2 newspaper articles, 1 journal, 1 website
o Unacceptable Sources: About.com, www.wikipedia.org, yahoo.com etc.
Visit the university library! If you do not use five sources and turn in a
completed bibliography, it will result in an automatic zero.
Presentational Aides: two different types; PowerPoint may only be used for
charts, graphs, or photographs. Refrain from using sound and animations on
because they consume your speech time.
LIMITATIONS ON TOPIC IDEAS
Your speeches should not include material that is:
 illegal, immoral, or unethical
 overly religious (please refrain from sharing testimonies, witnessing)
 dealing with abortion (too emotional and cannot be discussed fully in 3-5
minutes)
 will involve pets or other live animals
 will involve guns, weapons, knives, explosives or other live ammunition
 will involve alcohol/drugs/paraphernalia
 will involve legalizing marijuana or any other types of illegal drugs
 will involve demonstrations of exercise/aerobics
 will involve smoking of any substance (illegal or not)
 will involve recycling
 will involve blood/organ donation
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Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
APPEARANCE
 Be mindful of your appearance, and dress for success.
 Dress neatly and appropriately. The rule of thumb is to dress one level nicer than
the audience dressed
 Ladies please refrain from micro mini dresses/skirts/shorts or super low cut
tops/sleeping head wraps.
 Men please refrain from wearing a hat of any kind.
 All students: no pajamas or house shoes)
APA HELP
The Writing Center: CLO 265. See your syllabus for contact information.
WEBSITES
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_apa_format_examples.shtml
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
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Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
Instructor Approval & Brainstorming
Select your topic, fill in the information below, and get it approved by me no later than,
Monday, October 22, 2012. You will not be able to present if your topic has not been
approved.
Topic
Instructor Approval Signature
Inform Audience
(INFORMATIVE SPEECH)
Attention Getter
(INFORMATIVE SPEECH)
Thesis Statement
(INFORMATIVE SPEECH)
1.
2.
3.
Call to Action
(PERSUASIVE SPEECH)
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Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
INFORMATIVE & PERSUASIVE SPEECH IDEAS
#1: The Place Speech.
Most people like to travel and will enjoy hearing an informative speech about a place
they've never been. Give a speech about your summer trip to Iceland, or talk about a
nearby tourist destination that your fellow students might enjoy. A speech about your
hometown might be interesting as well. When you give a place speech, be sure to
discuss activities and details you think your fellow students will enjoy. They might not
care about the great new senior center in your hometown, but they might be interested
in the night life and hiking trails.
#2: The College Speech.
Your fellow students and you all have one thing in common: you are students at the
same school! Therefore, if you give a speech about your school, you won't have to work
hard to make the speech relevant to everybody. Research something interesting that
most people don't know about your school. Talk about some famous alumni or some
interesting historical trivia.
#3: The Current Event Speech.
Students often wish they had more time to keep up with current events, so many will
find this kind of speech useful. Discuss the historical background of a conflict. Explain a
new government policy. Introduce students to a political candidate. Remember; keep
your opinions out, because this is not a persuasive speech.
#4: The Local Current Event Speech.
Inform your fellow students about what's going on in your community or what's going on
around campus. If there's a local election, provide some information about the
candidates. If there's some local legislation that affects students, your speech on the
issue will be very relevant.
#5: The Band Speech.
Talk about the history of a popular band or about some of your local bands. Or discuss
a new musical trend. Be sure to play some music as part of your speech.
#6: The Career Speech.
This may not sound so exciting but nonetheless, students are genuinely concerned
about their futures, and a speech about a career they might consider can be very useful.
#7: The Medical Condition Speech.
No, don't give a graphic speech about those huge warts on the bottom of your feet. But
if you have a medical condition and feel comfortable sharing this with the class, this can
be a great speech topic. You might also talk about a loved one's medical struggles.
#8: The Food Speech.
An especially good idea if your speech class is right before lunch! Talk about a type of
cuisine, or about ways to make healthy food. Bring food along to share!
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Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
#9: The Food Speech.
An especially good idea if your speech class is right before lunch! Talk about a type of
cuisine, or about ways to make healthy food.
#10: The Sports Speech.
Discuss the history of a local team or a popular sport. Just remember: not everyone is
as knowledgeable as sports as you might be, so be sure to explain unfamiliar terms so
you don't lose part of your audience.
Running head: PREVENTING OBESITY IN CHILDREN
6
Reference Page Example
Brownell, K. D., & Horgen, K. B. (2004). Food fight: The inside story of the food industry, America’s
obesity crisis, and what we can do about it. Chicago: Contemporary Publishing.
Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M.D., Ogden, C. L., & Johnson, C. L. (2002). Prevalence and trends in obesity
among U.S. adults, 1999-2000. Journal of the American Medical Association 288(14), pp.17231727.
Klegas, R.C., Shelton, M. L. & Kleges, L.M. (1993). Effects of television on metabolic rate: Potential
implications for childhood obesity. Pediatrics 91,281-286. Retrieved from Expanded Academic
ASAP database.
Lee, T., & Oliver, J. E. (2002, May). Public opinion and the politics of America’s obesity epidemic.
Retrieved from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government,
ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP02-017/$File/rwp02_017_lee.pdf
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Purdue University Calumet
The Place Speech
Alcatraz
Chinese Provinces/Major Cities
Effects of Tourism on Culture
Haunted Cemeteries
Indianapolis, IN
Istanbul, Turkey
Kathmandu, Nepal
Lake County Jail
Madison, WI
New York City
Portland, OR
Scranton, PA
Seneca Falls, New York
The Grand Canyon
The Panama Canal
The South Pole
Toronto, Canada
Washington, DC
Yellowstone National Park
Your Home Town
The College Speech
Applying to Graduate School
Finding Scholarships/Grants
Internships
Networking Techniques
PUC Cross Country Team
PUC Equestrian Club
PUC Girls Basketball Team
PUC Intramurals
PUC’s Improved HTM Program
Student Government
Association
Student Jobs on Campus
Studying Abroad
Useful Services on Campus
The Current Event Speech
Deaf Culture
Education in the US
Effects of Hurricane Katrina
Internet Policing
Marriage in the US
Maternal Mortality
Pollution in the Gulf of Mexico
COM 114
Social Media in National
Election
Special Olympics
The Occupy Movement
Women’s Rights
Local Current Event Speech
Activities in Millennium Park
Boy Scouts
Deer Call in Ogden Dunes
Feast of the Hunter’s Moon
Girl Scouts
Habitat for Humanity
Local Art Shows/Galleries
New Local Restaurant
Occupy Chicago
Pierogi Fest
The Dunes Conservation
The United Way of NWI
Volunteering
The Music Speech
80’s Glam Rock
Dolly Parton
Folk Music
Influential Latino/a Musicians
John Coltrane
Michael Jackson
New York Symphony Orchestra
Opera
Patsy Cline
Pop Feminist Music in the 90s
Popular Music in Africa
Punk Culture/Music
Randy Newman (Toy Story)
Rap vs. Hip Hop
The Blues
The Wizard of Oz
Wicked the Musical
Willy Wonka / Chocolate
Factory
The Career Speech
Actor
Circus Performer
College Professor
Computer Science
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Informative Speech
Crime Scene Investigator
Dangerous Careers
Dentist
Entrepreneur
Filmmaker
Highest Paid Careers
Journalist
Marine Biologist
Mechanical Engineering
Most Exciting Careers
Novelist
Personal Trainer
Psychic
Public Relations
Teacher (subject-specific)
Veterinarian
The Medical Condition Speech
Alcoholism
Allergies
Attention Deficit Disorder
Diabetes
Hyperactive Thyroid
Insomnia
Light Pollution
Nyctophobia (Fear of Dark)
PMS
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Vaccine Controversy
The Food Speech
Culinary School
Edible Insects (e.g. snails)
French Desserts
Going Meatless
Italian Food in Chicago
Organic Food
Popular Russian Cuisine
Popularity of Cooking Shows
Southern Food
Thanksgiving Dinner
The Psychology of Food
Traditional Arabic Cuisine
Traditional Southeast Asian
Cuisine
Vegetarian Cuisine
Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
Checklist for the Informative Speech
What is my topic in a word or two?
Is my topic narrow enough to be given in 3-5 minutes?
Is my speech informative or persuasive?
Why am I giving this speech? Is it something I am close to or that I
love?
Will I share my excitement with the audience? How?
Will my topic appeal to most audience members? Is it clear?
Am I using visuals/audio?




Are they clear?
Will they help my speech or take away from it?
Am I clear on the set-up?
Does something extra need to be reserved?
Have I thoroughly researched my topic?
Does my speech have the following:
 An attention getting opening?
 Credibility?
 A clear thesis?
 Strong transitions?
 Two or three strong points in the body?
 A summary at the end?
 A final thought?
 Five outside sources cited in APA form on the typed
reference page
 Oral footnotes for all ideas that are not mine?
 A typed outline ready to turn in on speech day?
Have I practiced the delivery of my speech? Is it within the time limit?
Is my attire appropriate?
Am I ready to approach the speech with confidence?
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Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Common Transitions
ADDITION
in addition
more over
furthermore
CAUSE/EFFECT
thus
accordingly
so
as a result
hence
because of
since
due to
therefore
consequently
TIME
eventually
meanwhile
until
since
previously
eventually
earlier
later
in the past
in the future
tomorrow
following
finally
first
second
third
in the first place
initially
next
To begin with
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Informative Speech
Purdue University Calumet
COM 114
Informative Speech
Informative Speech Feedback Sheet
Student
Topic
Time
I.
Introduction (17 points total)
a. Gained audience attention (3 points)
b. Audience analysis (3 point)
c. Credibility is established (4 point)
d. Thesis statement (5 points)
e. Transition (2 points)
/03
/03
/04
/05
/02
/17
II. Body (31 points total)
a. Clear main points (10 points)
b. Supporting material (10 points)
c. Sources cited in speech (5 points) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
d. Appropriate language usage (3 points)
e. Transition (3 points)
/10
/10
/05
/03
/03
/31
III. Conclusion (12 points total)
a. Signpost ending (3 points)
b. Thesis restated (5 points)
c. Appreciation shown (1 point)
d. Overall speech preparation evident (3 points)
/03
/05
/01
/03
/12
IV. Delivery (20 points total)
a. Eye contact (5 points)
b. Bodily movements (4 points)
c. Voice quality (4 points)
d. Extemporaneous delivery (5 points)
e. Appropriate appearance (2 points)
/05
/04
/04
/05
/02
/20
V. Presentational Aids (10 points total)
a. Two aids (4 points)
b. Clarify/explain aids (4 points)
c. Professionalism of aids (2 points)
/04
/04
/02
/10
VI. Outline (5 points total)
/05
VII. Reference Page (5 points total)
/05
Total Points:
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/100