The Informative Speech (100 pts)
Purpose: In informative speaking situations, the speaker seeks to
deepen understanding, raise awareness, or increase knowledge about a topic.
When you speak to inform, you want audience members to learn something from
your speech. To do this, you share information with them.
At the root of all human communication is the connection people make when
they share information. When you speak informatively, you make this
important connection with your listeners. For this to happen, your listeners
must find the speech meaningful, the information accurate, and the message
clear. These three qualities form the basis of your competence as an
informative speaker. (Time Frame: 6-8 min.)
Preparation: There are five types of informative speeches: speeches about objects and places,
about people and other living creatures, about processes, about events, and about ideas and
concepts. See the back of this handout for many examples of each type.
After you have brainstormed for possible topics, ask yourself, What do I want my audience to
learn? What do they need to know? Keep in mind that your specific purpose and thesis should
clarify your topic for your audience, make it meaningful, express the main ideas accurately, and
pique the audience’s interests.
Finally, determine what organizational pattern will work best for you (Chronological? Spatial?
Topical? Narrative? Cause and Effect?). When choosing a pattern for your informative speech,
pick one that complements your topic and promotes your specific purpose. Also determine the
best ways to incorporate presentation media.
I will evaluate this informative speech based on your topic selection, evidence of careful
preparation/practice, organization, use of research, verbal and non-verbal communication skills,
your use of presentation media, and on your ability to receive and adapt to feedback.
Delivery: Before your speech, practice the relaxation and preparation techniques we learned
about in class. During your speech, monitor your pace, pitch, volume, etc., try to eliminate
vocalized pauses, and control your body movements.
Good luck!
Objects / Places
IMAX cinema
snowboarding equipment
extraterrestrials
Thai food
blogs
People / Other
Living Creatures
Michelle Wie
Koko, the “talking gorilla”
Stephen Colbert
dinosaurs
Prince William of England
Processes
matching DNA samples
selling an item on eBay
fighting wildfires
buying camping equipment
tracking climate change
Events
birthday parties
Chinese New Year
World Cup soccer
the Grammy Awards
Ramadan
Ideas / Concepts
religious fundamentalism
marriage
dance therapy
individual human rights
distance learning
“Beyond Cinerama: The IMAX Film”
“The Top Three IMAX Films Ever”
“Early Innovators of Snowboarding Equipment”
“Snowboarding Equipment Under $500”
“Ancient Beliefs in Extraterrestrials”
“Humorous Films about Extraterrestrials”
“The Secret Spices of Thai Food”
“Thai Food and Drink as Healthy Alternatives”
“What Makes a Successful Blog”
“The Daily Read: My Favorite Blogs”
“The Asian Wave in Women’s Golf”
“Michelle Wie: Professional Golf’s New Superstar”
“If Gorillas Talk, What Do They Say?”
“Learning about Human Speech from Koko”
“The Real World of Comedian Stephen Colbert”
“The Many Roles of Stephen Colbert”
“When Dinosaurs Ruled the World”
“Dinosaurs and the Great Extinction Debate”
“Prince William and England’s Succession to the Throne”
“Who is Prince William of England?”
“How DNA Affects Criminal Prosecutions”
“DNA and Genetics: Our Genes Tell Our Stories”
“How to Sell Your Stuff on eBay”
“The Do’s and Don’ts of Selling on eBay”
“Tactics and Techniques Used for Fighting Wildfires”
“What I Learned Fighting Wildfires”
“Buying Good Camping Equipment at a Low Price”
“Choosing Camping Equipment to Fit Your Budget”
“The Main Indicators of Global Climate Change”
“Tracking Global Climate Change Over the Centuries”
“Ten Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Birthday Party”
“Birthday Celebrations in Different Cultures”
“The Ancient Tradition of Chinese New Year”
“The Best Chinese New Year’s Parades in America”
“World Cup Soccer: Who Gets to Play?”
“”The Cultural Significance of World Cup Football”
“The Grammy Awards as a Pop Culture Ceremony”
“The Grammy Awards Yesterday and Today”
“Ramadan: The History of Islam’s Holy Ninth Month”
“The Importance of Fasting during Ramadan”
“The Roots of Religious Fundamentalism”
“What Does It Mean to be a Religious Fundamentalist?”
“Views of Marriage Across Cultures”
“How Marriage Has Changed with the Times”
“Dance Therapy as a Psychological Technique”
“Effective Dance Therapy Techniques”
“What Are Your Individual Human Rights?”
“Individual Human Rights: A Guarantee from the United
Nations”
“The Beginning of Distance Learning”
“Future Directions in Distance Learning