Chapter 10 – Speaking to Inform

Informative Speech – Will impart new knowledge or more in depth information on the topic.

A speech is informative when its primary purpose is to impart new knowledge.

Speeches may be informative and persuasive. You must ask what the primary purpose is for the speaker.

I. Beginning an informative speech – The introduction (Speech introductions should account for about 10 % of the total speech).

A. Attract the audiences attention – Attention devices.

1. Humor – can be used to grab attention and make transitions to the body of the speech. Try to relate the humor to the audience and topic, as well as the occasion

You must be an effective humorist.

Bad humor does more harm than good.

Don’t overuse humor.

Humor must be in good taste.

2. Narrative – tell a story with a connection to your topic.

Avoid making the story too detailed or too lengthy.

3. Common ground technique – identify common interest with the listeners.

Don’t force weak similarities.

4. Shock Technique – used to demand quick, almost instantaneous attention from the audience – it is an unusual, frightening or hard to believe fact, statement or statistic.

5. Suspense – withholding specific information from the audience.

Suspense must be built quickly to be effective.

B. Build interest in the topic – some of the same techniques mentioned to attract the audience’s attention can be used.

Can start by asking questions.

Rhetorical Questions – The speaker does not expect an “Out Loud”

answer from the listeners.

Real Questions – This is risky because the speaker may not get the

expected answer (may be caught off guard).

Quotation – Identifies the general topic areas for the listeners and can create suspense.

Challenge your audience – see pg. 417.

C. Preview the Topic – State the purpose of the speech to the audience (must build interest).

D. Apply the message to the audience.

Know your audience.

E. Establish Ethos – as a speaker you must establish character and credibility.

Is the speaker knowledgeable on the subject.

Is the speaker being open and honest.

Do you enjoy listening to the speaker.

You can mention your expertise and experience.

Tell how you qualify as an expert.

II. Imparting the message of an informative speech – The Body of the Speech.

A. Maintain attention

Use attention devices throughout the speech.

An audience sitting closer together usually maintains their attention longer

Try to have comfortable conditions for the audience.

B. React to feedback – Usually nonverbal feedback.

A public speech involves two way communication.

Must be able to interpret feedback.

Don’t overreact to a few audience members.

C. Make smooth transitions.

Transition – Allows a speaker to change from one aspect of a topic to another.

Best to plan and rehearse transitions.

III. Concluding an informative speech (Conclusions are usually brief, about 5 % of the speech) – The last thing the audience hears is the conclusion.

A. Include a summary – Present the basic message again in a brief form.

B. Always have a conclusion to an informative speech.

IV. Conducting a question-and-answer period.

A. Invite questions – can mention during your speech that you will answer questions- gives the audience time to prepare questions.

B. Answer questions.

Provide the direct answer then the explanation.

Be complete with your answers and avoid one word answers.

V. Using Visual Aids.

Are helpful for the speaker as well as the listener.

Provide the speaker with a natural excuse to move on the platform, to gesture and point.

The audience – Visual aids can deepen their perception and understanding of the speaker’s message.

Can cause problems with the speech.

1- Can disrupt the verbal flow.

2- Require more careful preparation.

A. Decide when to use visual aids.

1- Will it help get your point across.

2- Will the visual aid make your point more meaningful.

B. Don’t overuse visual aids.

1- Don’t make them the center of the speech – the speech then becomes a presentation.

C. Types of visual aids.

1- Charts – A drawing showing the relationships among the parts of a whole.

2- Graphs – Picture large amounts of information at a single glance.

3- Diagram – Show the relationship of a part to a whole.

4- Maps

5- Posters

6- Cartoons

7- Pictures

8- Objects – Three dimensional

9- Models – Three dimensional

10- Cutaways – A model with a section of the outer cover removed.

11- Handouts

D. Preparing speeches using visual aids requires preparation and practice.

1- Must be capable of being seen by the entire room.

2- Must be neat and attractive.

3- Plan how to display the visual aid.

4- Decide how you are going to point at the aid.

Hand

Pointer

Laser

5- Must decide when to use the visual aid.

6- How long will you use the visual aid.

The aid can be a distraction when not being used.

7- Practice using the visual aid.

Practice in the same room if possible.

Practice when to display the visual aid.

8- Make sure the audience has time to view the visual aid.

Normally 10 – 12 seconds.

E. Using equipment with visual aids (video, projector).

1- Rehearse with the equipment.

2- Prepare and check equipment.