INFORMATIVE SPEECH ASSIGNMENT #2 (RESEARCHED CONCEPT,
PERSON, OBJECT, OR EVENT)*
SPEECH DUE DATE:
OUTLINE DUE DATE:
TIME REQUIREMENT: 6-7 minutes (May be 8 minutes maximum for complex
ideas.)
OBJECTIVES:
1. To increase the audience’s understanding and knowledge of a particular concept,
object, person, or event.
2. To use a variety of supporting materials (i.e. quotations, examples, statistics, etc.)
from a variety of sources (e.g. newspaper, magazine, book, webpage, scholarly
research journal, etc.) in order to add depth to your speech, to add evidence in
support of your ideas, and to maintain your audience’s interest in the topic.
3. To use descriptive language, effective delivery techniques, and self-evaluation in
order to increase speaker effectiveness.
4. To connect your topic of interest with the knowledge and/or theories used in
your major discipline.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Your second formal informative speech is designed to help you further develop
speech-making skills. You may give your speech on a concept (idea), object, person, or
event, but not on a process because that was the requirement for your first speech. A
variety of topics would be appropriate. For example, you might present a biographical
sketch on Winston Churchill or you might research and explain the causes and extent of
alcoholism or drug abuse, the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg, the causes of the
landslide election of 1932, or the growth of cable television.
Some topics might lend themselves to persuasive as well as informative
presentations. However, you should stick to INFORMING your audience for this
speech. (DO NOT tell the audience what they should do or believe or tell them that
something is a problem or is beneficial or “the best” action to take.) Visual aids should
be used for this speech as for all speeches in this class.
REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA:
1. Your speech should be effectively organized, outlined, introduced, and concluded as
you did for the last speech.
2. Your main points should be clearly supported by at least SEVEN (7) PIECES of
supporting material. Your 3 kinds of applications (examples, statistics, and quotations)
need to be cited in 1) Your speech itself aloud, 2) Both of your Speech Outlines, and 3)
Your Bibliography. You should use a minimum of THREE (3) DIFFERENT TYPES of
sources in your bibliography (book, magazine, webpage, journal, etc.). Be sure to use
proper APA (American Psychological Association) format for each citation.
3. Your preparation outline (including the bibliography) must be prepared and TYPED
following the formal outline format used in the textbook and class handouts. Your
preparation outline is the classweek before before all the speeches are scheduled. Your
speaking note cards (5”X8”) are due immediately following your presentation. Your sign-
in sheet from your major professor or advisor should be stapled to your final Preparation
Outline and handed in the day of your speech.
4. Your speech must be delivered extemporaneously from notes. Do NOT prepare a
speech manuscript; do NOT memorize a manuscript; do NOT read points word-for-word.
I advise limiting yourself to 3-5 note cards for your speaking notes. Practice your speech
several times using cards BEFORE the day of your presentation. Be sure top list your
citations on your cards so you remember to say them! (You may read the citations wordfor-word.)
5. On the day of your presentation, bring your video cassette VHS tape, labeled with
your name, to class. After your speech, pick up your cassette and do a self-evaluation of
your presentation. Your self-evaluation is due one week after your speech.
6. Evaluation criteria include: Introduction, Organization & Use of Transitions, Content
Development, Use of Supporting Material and Visual Aids, Use of Language,
Conclusion, Delivery, and Overall: Time limit, Audience-Centeredness, Oulines.
Speech #2 Checklist of Items Due
 Typed Preparation Outline Following ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS
Given Out in Class.
 Typed Bibliography: Can be Contiguous With Your Outline
 Sign up sheet: Stapled behind Bibliography
 Speaking Cards
*Adapted from Dwyer, K.D. (2002). Public Speaking Workbook, 7th Edition. Boston:
McGraw-Hill Primis Custom.
Name:____________________________________________________
ANALYZING & USING SUPPORTING MATERIAL
OBJECTIVE:
INSTRUCTIONS:
TYPES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL
1. EXAMPLES:
a. Brief
Source:
b. Extended
Source:
c. Hypothetical
Source:
2. STATISTICS
a. Numbers or Percentages
Source:
b. Dates
Source:
3. TESTIMONY (quotations or paraphrase):
a. Peer
Source:
b. Expert
Source:
*Adapted from Dwyer, K.D. (2002). Public Speaking Workbook, 7th Edition. Boston:
McGraw-Hill Primis Custom.