Informative Speeches Notes
Informative communication (formal and informal) has one goal: to make people understand
You need to shed light on a subject by sharing facts that you have learned through experience,
observation, listening, and reading
Strive to be accurate and clear
In the Real World:
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Give directions
Show grandma how to use her new phone
Tell your little sister why she can’t come into your bedroom
Most common: Describe something, Explain a process, or Clarify a concept
Types of Informative Speeches:
1. Public Lecture – as a result of a person’s special interest or expertise, he or she may be invited to
give a public lecture to a community group or club (Example: American Legion)
2. Status Report – Every business and social group must keep up to date on its various projects.
Periodically, the group will ask a knowledge person to give a report indicting what has been
accomplished so far and what plans exist for the future. (Example: Prom Plans to the Student
Council)
3. Briefing – used to tell members of a group about changes in policy or procedure (Example: How
to order t-shirts for swim team)
4. Fireside Chat – Group leader addressing the concerns, worries, and issues of the moment
(Example: Principal talking with parents to review school goals and policies)
5. Chalk Talk – Speaker relives on a visual aid (Example: Coaching reviewing plays before a game)
6 C’s of Informative Speaking:
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Is my speech so clear that everyone will understand?
Is my speech so concise that one one’s time will be wasted?
Is my speech complete?
Am I confident that my information is absolutely correct?
Have I provided concrete examples so that the audience can see my point?
Can I connect my speech with what I know about my audience?
Being concrete:
Provide a concrete example for the following sentences:
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I was never so terrified as when…
I was never so proud as when…
I was never so embarrassed as when…
I was never so confused as when…
I was never so panicked as when…
Turning a subject into a speech:
NO: I don’t know what to talk about!
Issues: Connecting the facts together so they don’t seem random or like a long list
Solution: Think outside of the box! Be Creative!
1. Finding a Subject:
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Personal Experience – what are you already an expert on?
What interests you? – what do you want to learn more about?
2. Narrow Your Subject:
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Narrowing your topic makes it more manageable and focused
o Limit your subject in time (Example: Cost of presidential elections – Pick 1 month during
2000 campaign)
o Limit your subject in space (Example: Recycling efforts – Pick Wheaton Community)
o Limit your subject in extent (Example: Well balanced diet – Pick one element like Fiber)
o Limit your subject using principle of divide and conquer (Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock
Holmes’ sense of smell)
3. Craft your purpose statement:
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Your research will help you write this statement
Thesis = a declarative sentence; most important message of your speech
o (Teenagers and fads) The slang teenagers use often comes from the latest popular
movies
4. Support your purpose statement:
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Facts – make sure they are true, actual, real
Statistics – make them audience friendly (… that’s about the size of an elephant.)
Story
Quotes
Define your terms
Descriptions
5. Weave your support:
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Add creditability
Easy for the audience to follow along
Delivery:
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Referring/Gesturing to the PowerPoint
No podium: 1 Notecard or printed copy of powerpoint with notes