Chapter 16Chapter 16

Speeches to InformSpeeches to Inform

Section 1: Speeches that Section 1: Speeches that Instruct, Inform, and Instruct, Inform, and

ClarifyClarify

Types of Informative SpeechesTypes of Informative Speeches

public lecturepublic lecture – person is invited to – person is invited to lecture as result of special interest or lecture as result of special interest or expertise.expertise.

status reportstatus report – knowledgeable person – knowledgeable person gives report to group indicating what gives report to group indicating what has been accomplished so far and has been accomplished so far and what plans exist for the future.what plans exist for the future.

briefingbriefing – telling group about – telling group about changes in policy or changes in policy or procedure.procedure.

fireside chatfireside chat – group leader addresses – group leader addresses concerns, worries, and issues of the concerns, worries, and issues of the moment. (Franklin Roosevelt below)moment. (Franklin Roosevelt below)

chalk talkchalk talk – speaker relies on visual aid to – speaker relies on visual aid to show something to the group.show something to the group.

– Many informative speeches are followed Many informative speeches are followed by Q & A session.by Q & A session.

The Six Cs of Informative SpeakingThe Six Cs of Informative Speaking– Be ClearBe Clear

define new words to audiencedefine new words to audience make distinctions (what something is and what it is not)make distinctions (what something is and what it is not)

– Be ConciseBe Concise avoid redundancyavoid redundancy don’t be too wordydon’t be too wordy choose the best word for the meaning you intendchoose the best word for the meaning you intend

– Be CompleteBe Complete Tell the audience how many points you will make and then use words like Tell the audience how many points you will make and then use words like

“first”, “second”, “third”, so they will know when you are finished“first”, “second”, “third”, so they will know when you are finished Advance organizersAdvance organizers – statements that forecast what the audience can – statements that forecast what the audience can

expectexpect Have a plan (outline) and use transitions so your audience can followHave a plan (outline) and use transitions so your audience can follow

– Be CorrectBe Correct check & double-check your factscheck & double-check your facts identify your sourcesidentify your sources

– Be ConcreteBe Concrete be specific rather than generalbe specific rather than general talk about people, places, and things rather than general ideastalk about people, places, and things rather than general ideas give concrete examples of what you’re talking aboutgive concrete examples of what you’re talking about

– ConnectConnect analyze your audienceanalyze your audience use a checklistuse a checklist

– how many people will be present? What will be the ages of most of the people in how many people will be present? What will be the ages of most of the people in the audience? Will the audience be mostly male, female, or mixed?the audience? Will the audience be mostly male, female, or mixed?

– What are their interests, attitudes, and beliefs?What are their interests, attitudes, and beliefs?– What do they know about the subject?What do they know about the subject?– What is their attitude toward it?What is their attitude toward it?

cultural literacycultural literacy – the information that an average American citizen can be – the information that an average American citizen can be expected to knowexpected to know

Turning a Subject into a SpeechTurning a Subject into a Speech– Find a SubjectFind a Subject

Personal ExperiencePersonal Experience ObservationsObservations SurveysSurveys

– Narrow Your SubjectNarrow Your Subject Limit your subject in timeLimit your subject in time Limit your subject in spaceLimit your subject in space Limit your subject in extentLimit your subject in extent Limit your subject using the principle of divide and conquerLimit your subject using the principle of divide and conquer

– State Your ThesisState Your Thesis thesisthesis – a positive statement about your topic – a positive statement about your topic

– Support Your ThesisSupport Your Thesis FactsFacts Everyone loves a storyEveryone loves a story Quotable quotesQuotable quotes Defining your termsDefining your terms DescriptionsDescriptions

TopicsTopics ThesisThesis

Teenagers and fadsTeenagers and fads The slang teenagers use often comes from the latest popular movies.The slang teenagers use often comes from the latest popular movies.

Healthy lifestylesHealthy lifestyles Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day can Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day can dramatically reduce your chances of getting cancer.dramatically reduce your chances of getting cancer.

Famous musiciansFamous musicians Beethoven’s hearing loss may actually have helped him compose Beethoven’s hearing loss may actually have helped him compose music.music.

Audio and Visual AidsAudio and Visual Aids– Two-Dimensional Visual AidsTwo-Dimensional Visual Aids

Photographs, Drawings, and CartoonsPhotographs, Drawings, and Cartoons Graphic RepresentationsGraphic Representations Chalkboard aidsChalkboard aids HandoutsHandouts

– ProjectionsProjections Overhead projectorOverhead projector SlidesSlides VideotapeVideotape

– Three-Dimensional Visual AidsThree-Dimensional Visual Aids ModelsModels CutawaysCutaways

– Sound RecordingsSound Recordings– Guidelines for Using AidsGuidelines for Using Aids

be sure the aid is large enough to be seen or loud enough to be heardbe sure the aid is large enough to be seen or loud enough to be heard be sure the aid contributes to the idea being presented. If you can get be sure the aid contributes to the idea being presented. If you can get

along without it, don’t use it. It takes time away from the rest of your along without it, don’t use it. It takes time away from the rest of your presentation.presentation.

don’t stand in front of the aid.don’t stand in front of the aid. talk to your listeners, not to the visual aid.talk to your listeners, not to the visual aid. keep any visual aid out of sight until you are ready to use it, and then keep any visual aid out of sight until you are ready to use it, and then

put it away again when you have finished.put it away again when you have finished. don’t overdo a good thing. A long succession of slides or charts can don’t overdo a good thing. A long succession of slides or charts can

become boring.become boring. remember Murphy’s Law – if something can go wrong, it will. Have a remember Murphy’s Law – if something can go wrong, it will. Have a

backup plan in case your equipment failsbackup plan in case your equipment fails Practice, practice, practice.Practice, practice, practice.

Pop QuizPop Quiz

1.1. List the five types of informative List the five types of informative speeches.speeches.

2.2. List the six Cs of informative List the six Cs of informative speaking.speaking.

3.3. List four ways to narrow your List four ways to narrow your speech subject.speech subject.