Informational Speeches:
The Introduction

• Get the attention and interest of your audience
• Reveal the topic of your speech
• Establish your credibility
• Preview the body of the speech

• Relate the topic to the audience
• State the importance of your topic
• Startle the audience
• Arouse the curiosity of the audience
• Question the audience
• Begin with a quotation
• Tell a story

• Clearly state the topic of your speech
TOPIC

• Help the audience know that you are credible by:
• Giving personal examples
• Citing research
• Conducting interviews
As a cancer survivor myself…
According to the Wall Street
Journal …
Mr. Fowler once told me that …

• If your speech is controversial, you should provide one or more solid reason why others should consider your point of view
Though you may disagree with stem cell research, I ask that you consider the benefits which include…

• Provide your audience with 3-5 key points that you will be discussing in the body of your speech
Key Point #1
Key Point #2
Key Point #3

• Prepare
• Think positively
• Visualize success
• Understand that most nervousness is not visible
• Don’t expect perfection

• Before speaking, tighten and relax your leg muscles or squeeze your hands together and release them
• Take a couple of slow, deep breaths
• Work especially hard on your introduction.
Your anxiety level will begin to drop after about 30 seconds.
• Make eye contact
• Use visual aids. They draw attention away from you and make you less self-conscious.

The biography of your favorite actor
The history of comic books
How NBECHS was founded
The history of your hometown
History of a favorite product brand
Description of life in another country
The 3 branches of U.S. government
The Seven Wonders of the World
Disneyland
Roadside attractions
Evolution of video games
All about your favorite vacation spot
The newspaper business
Tattoos
Body Piercings
All about a favorite radio show
Comparison of different religions
Cruise vacations
Electric cars
Life in the future
Working in the fast food industry
Origins of superstitions
Computer viruses
Internet dating
Cults
Dyslexia
Impact of media on society
Branches of the military
Famous advertising campaigns
Nursing homes
Sports card collecting
The history of the Bible
Sales tactics
Censorship in history
America’s fastest growing cities
World War II heroes
Exotic pets
Ballroom dancing
Near death experiences
Identity theft
Evolution of voting laws
Natural disasters
Breeds of dogs
Dream interpretation
Drinking problems
Drug problems
The FBI
Advancements in education
Spies
Evolution of the English language
National Parks
Young billionaires
Former child stars
Obesity epidemic
The History of The PC
The History of the Internet
Blogs
Alternative Fuels
Internet Crimes
Chemical Warfare
The Reality Show Phenomenon
Herbs as Medicine
The History of Tobacco Use
Liposuction
DNA Evidence
Nanotechnology
Lasik Surgery

History of Transplants
First Woman Astronaut
History of Makeup
The Origin of Alphabets
Tsunamis
Cloning
Botox
Women in The Military
Childhood Obesity
Genetically Modified Crops
REM Sleep (Dreaming)
History of Smoking In Movies
Benefits of the internet
How the internet has harmed mankind
Global Warming
Civil Rights
Climate Change Policy
Depression
Dieting
Drunk Driving
Endangered Species
Fat Tax on Food
Foster Care
Fraud
Genetically Engineered Foods
Hate Crime
Health Care Policy
Home Schooling
Homeland Security
Homeless in America
Immigration
The effect of the internet on teens
Infectious Diseases
Facebook and teens
Inner City Poverty
Internet Chatrooms
Online addiction
Juvenile Crime
Marriage and Divorce
Media Violence
Minimum Wage
Missile Defense System
The computer in 10 years
Nuclear Technology
Racial Profiling
Rain Forests
Recycling
Religious Right
School Violence
Social Welfare
Space Exploration
Stem Cell Research
Tax Reform
Chat line addiction
Vaccinations
Violent Video Games
Voluntary National Testing
How Google affects our lives
War Crimes
War on Drugs
Water Resources
Welfare Reform
Come up with your own idea and have it approved

Informational Speeches:
The Body of the Speech
AVID Standard 2.8 Refine oral language skills

• Brief examples (also called specific instances) used to illustrate a point.
• Extended example (story) used to illustrate a point
• Hypothetical example (an imaginary situation)

Brief Example:
The advancements made in technology over the past
10 years are evident in the fact that cell phones are now capable of much more than those developed in the early 90s; texting wasn’t even in our vernacular.
Extended Example:
It was 30 years ago when my life was turned upside down. With the crashing of metal and shrill screaming,
I knew my life as a professional football player was over. Two years later…
Hypothetical Example:
Imagine for a moment what life would be like if you were a alien from another planet. What would you…

• Concrete words that evoke images of sights, sounds, touch, smell, or taste
• Simile (a comparison using the words
“like” or “as”)
• Metaphor (a comparison that does not use the words “like” or “as”)

Concrete Words:
The crisp morning dew glittered in the warmth of the rising sun….
Simile:
His anger was like a tsunami crashing against the shores of Japan
Metaphor:
Socialism is a cancer that eats away at the very fabric of a nation.

• Parallelism (the similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrase, or sentences)
• Repetition (repeating the same word or set of words)
• Alliteration (repeating the initial consonant sound of words)
• Antithesis (contrasting ideas)

Parallelism:
Young and old, happy and sad, listless and content – life is full of contrasts.
Repetition:
The Bridge is a school. The Bridge is a community.
The Bridge is a family.
Alliteration:
Concern, caring, and charisma are characteristics of capable congressmen.
Antithesis:
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” -John F. Kennedy

Informational Speeches:
The Conclusion
AVID Standard 2.8 Refine oral language skills

• Let the audience know that your speech is about to end
• Reinforce 3 of the main points you made in the body of your speech
• Make ‘em think

In conclusion… In summary… In closing…
Let me end by saying…
As I conclude, let me reiterate…
My purpose has been…
Overall…
Let me leave you with…

Key Point #1
Key Point #2
Key Point #3

• End with a quotation
• Make a dramatic statement
• Refer back to the ideas from the introduction
• Ask a rhetorical question
• Answer a question
• Show a benefit or valuable application
• Challenge the audience to take action

• Keep conclusions brief
• End well. Your conclusion is what people will remember most.