The Different Types of Speeches

By: Barsallo Zahid

Index• Introduction.• Types of Speaches• The Informative Speech

Concept Different Topics

Speech About Objects Speech About Events Speech About Concepts Speech About Processes

• The Persuasive Speech. Concept Types of Persuasive Speeches

Questions of Fact Questions of Policy Questions of Value

• Speeches for Special Occasions

Introduction

•The three main types of speeches are the informative, the persuasive, and the special occasion. Before deciding which best suits their purposes, however, speakers should first establish their objective in delivering the speech.

The Informative Speech

As the word “informative” implies, an informative speech “informs” those in attendance by providing them with information.

Different Topics

• Speeches About Objects

Objects are things that are tangible and, thus, recognized through sight, hearing, taste, or touch; so speeches about objects include those about people, places, animals, structures, etc.

Speeches About Events

•Events are happenings or occurrences, both past and present, so possible speech topics.

Speeches About Concepts

• Concepts are ideas, philosophies, hypotheses, and arguments, etc, so informative speeches might address topics such as these: The Big Bang Theory Karl Marx’s concept of socialism.

Speech About Processes

•A process is how something is made, how something is done, or how something works; therefore, possible topics include these:How pearls develop in oysters.How to administer the Heimlich maneuver.

The Persuasive Speech•A persuasive speech usually challenges an

audience’s beliefs and/or tries to move those in attendance to change existing viewpoints or at least recognize the validity of opposing viewpoints.

•Questions of Fact Will the stock market rally in 2010?Did

Lee Harvey Oswald act alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy?

Types of Persuaive Speech

Questions of Policy

•Should pro-athletes have mandatory tests for performance-enhancing drugs?

•Are smokers being unfairly singled out for higher taxation?

Questions of Value

•Do people have the right to choose to die with dignity?

•Should dogfights be legalized?

Speech for Special Occasions• There are myriad special occasions in life, for example,

birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, bar mitzvahs etc.

However, whatever the occasions, chances are that someone will be asked to deliver a speech, which could be anything from a toast to a couple who have been married for 50 years to the eulogy for a departed loved one.

Important Points to Keep in Mind.

•The speech must fit the occasion.•The speech must meet the allotted

time. •Intended remarks must be accurate.