Public Speaking:
An Audience-Centered Approach – 7th edition
Chapter 15
Speaking
to
Inform
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Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
“Not
only
is there
an art
in knowing
a thing,
but also
a certain
art in
teaching
it.”
- Cicero
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Speeches to Inform
•
•
•
Aimed at educating listeners.
Convey information to others.
Speakers “teach;” they:
 define
 illustrate
 clarify
 elaborate
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Goals of Informative Speaking
•
•
•
To enhance understanding: convey
ideas that can easily be interpreted
and understood.
To maintain interest: keep listeners
engaged and intrigued.
To be remembered: have
listeners recall information
long after the speech has
ended.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Informative Speeches
•
•
•
•
•
About objects.
About procedures.
About people.
About events.
About ideas.
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Types of Informative Speeches
Objects
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Anything tangible, what
you could see or touch.
Could be arranged topically,
spatially, or chronologically.
Level of detail determined
by speech time length.
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Types of Informative Speeches
Procedures
•
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How something works.
Process leading to a
certain outcome.
Goal is to have audience
describe, understand or
follow procedure.
Typically chronological.
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Types of Informative Speeches
People
•
•
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•
Famous or not.
Be selective in
details of
person’s life.
Pick significant
aspects to discuss.
Could be topical or
chronological.
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Types of Informative Speeches
Events
•
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•
One you experienced
or read about.
Goal: to describe
in concrete terms.
Could be chronological
or cause-effect.
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Types of Informative Speeches
Ideas
•
•
•
More abstract than others.
Can address principles,
concepts or theories.
Can be topically arranged.
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Strategies to Enhance
Audience Understanding
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•
•
•
Speak with clarity.
Appeal to adult
learning.
Clarify complex
processes.
Use effective visual
reinforcement.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Understanding
Speak with clarity
•
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Preview ideas in introduction.
Show how ideas relate to each other.
Summarize key ideas.
Provide visual outline.
Provide handout and
room for notes.
Stay on message.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Understanding
Appeal to adult learning
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•
•
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Pedagogy: teaching children.
Andragogy: teaching adults.
Information is of immediate use.
Actively involve listeners.
Show how information
applies to listeners’ lives.
Information should solve problems.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Understanding
Clarify complex processes
•
•
•
Analogies: comparing something new to
something known, audience
better visualizes.
Vivid description: brings
ideas to life with crisp
details & concrete words.
Word pictures paint images
(appeal to senses).
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Understanding
Use effective visual reinforcement
•
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Pictures.
Graphs.
Posters.
DVDs, CDs.
Models.
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Strategies to Maintain
Audience Interest
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•
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Create motive for audience to listen.
Tell a story.
Present
information
that relates
to listeners.
Use the
unexpected.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Maintain
Audience Interest
Establish a motive for
the audience to listen
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•
Explain how topic is
relevant for them.
Pose rhetorical questions.
Use words to
engage listeners
(“you,” “your”).
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Maintain
Audience Interest
Tell a story
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Creates identification with listeners.
Can include conflict.
Can include action-packed details.
Can keep people on
the edge of their seats.
Can incorporate
humor.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Maintain
Audience Interest
Present information that relates
to your listeners
•
•
Discuss how
audience’s
community can
be affected.
Show how topic
relates to them presently or potentially.
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Strategies to Maintain
Audience Interest
Use the unexpected
•
•
•
Create surprise.
Build drama.
Rhetorical
questions
stimulate
suspense.
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Strategies to Enhance
Audience Recall
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Build in redundancy.
Make key ideas
short and simple.
Pace your
information flow.
Reinforce key ideas.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Recall
Build in redundancy
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•
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Statements in introduction.
Statements in conclusion.
Internal summaries.
Numeric signposts.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Recall
Make key ideas short and simple
•
•
One-statement
summary of
speech.
Audience more
likely to remember
shorter phrases.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Recall
Pace your information flow
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Too much too soon is bad.
Distribute support evenly.
Slow down.
Less is more: fewer main
points with more
development is better.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Strategies to Enhance
Audience Recall
Reinforce key ideas
•
•
Verbally
(“what I’m about to tell
you is important…”)
Nonverbally
(gesture, slow down,
speak louder)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
A Sample Informative Speech
Watch the video, and ask yourself:
1. What type of informative speech is this?
(About objects? People? Events?, etc.)
2. Does the speaker motivate people to
listen?
3. Does the speaker clarify complex ideas?
3. Are there appeals to adult learning?
4. Are ideas reinforced?
5. Is information well-paced?
6. Are ideas short and simple?
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
A Sample Informative Speech
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009