The goals of informative speaking are to convey knowledge, create understanding,
and help listeners remember important points. Four types of informative speeches
were discussed in this chapter: - Definition speeches give an extended definition of a concept so that listeners
get a full, richly detailed picture of its meaning.
- Description speeches paint a vivid picture of a person, place, object,
or event.
- Process speeches explain the steps or stages by which something is done
or made.
- Expository speeches involve explaining a concept or situation to the audience. In-depth research should be conducted.
In developing an informative speech, keep these guidelines in mind: (1)
Relate the speech to the listeners' self-interest, if at all possible. Show
them explicitly the connection between your material and their personal lives.
(2) Make the information interesting by going beyond generalities to give lots
of specifics, such as examples and anecdotes. (3) Assess the knowledge of your
listeners. Don't give them information they already know, and don't talk over
their heads. (4) When you want to explain or describe something that is unfamiliar
to your audience, relate it to something that is familiar. |
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education