Communication Strategies-Informative Speech

Informative Speech

The speech should be informative, not persuasive. According to the text, “Informative speeches are designed to convey knowledge and understanding. It is not to actuate change.” To accomplish this assignment, you will need to analyze your audience and ADAPT your speech to them.

As mentioned above the topic for the informative speech will focus on an informative topic (e.g. Michael Jordan, Avocados, Ping Pong, Chile Peppers, Panic Attacks, the Castro District, Black Metal, etc.). Please do not submit a persuasive topic (e.g. teenage driving, gun control, gay marriage, mercy killing, legalization of marijuana, death penalty, etc.).

Preparation Outline Requirements:

1. Research, outline, and deliver a 5-6 minute informative speech . The speech should be informative, not persuasive.
2. State the specific purpose of the speech in a single infinitive phrase. Label the specific purpose.
3. State the central idea of the speech in a complete sentence. Label the central idea.
4. Label the introduction, body, and conclusion.
5. Label each part of the introduction and the conclusion. Label the main points, sub-points and support.
6. Use a consistent pattern of symbolization and indentation.
7. Write the main points and sub points in complete, declarative, simple sentences.
8. Include detailed support under each main point/sub-point.
9. Write and label connectives (transitions, internal summaries, internal previews) for the introduction/body and body/conclusion.
10. Include/attach a reference page with at least 7 high quality sources. Two of your seven sources must be less than two years old.
11. Cite five high quality sources in the outline. Follow this example when citing sources:
    “The 2008 World Almanac reports that…”
    b. According to the January 2009 issue of Time magazine, “include quote here….”
    c. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown is quoted in yesterday’s S.F. Chronicle as saying, “…”
    d. According to the Center for Disease Controls Website, last accessed June 23, 2009, …
12. Must correctly orally cite at least three high quality sources used in the references of the outline.

 

 

Preliminary Outline for the Informative Speech- Three (3) pages for the outline

Based on 12^th Edition of Lucas,

The Art of Public Speaking

After you have handed-in the Topic Homework Assignment and your topic has been approved you are then ready to begin working on your outline. Refer to Chapters 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 15 for more information on developing and organizing your speech. Use the structure below to begin outlining your speech. Your outline and speech contain all of the same parts as are listed below. All main points and sub-points must be complete declarative sentences with subjects and verbs. No fragments or questions are allowed.

SPECIFIC PURPOSE :

(Please see Chapters 10 &11)

CENTRAL IDEA: (Please see Chapter 10 & 11)

INTRODUCTION (Please see Chapters 10 & 11)

1. ATTENTION GRABBER(Please see 10 & 11)
2. REVEAL THE TOPIC(Please see 10 & 11)

III. ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY AND GOODWILL (Please see Ch. 10 & 11)

1. I PREVIEW STATEMENT(Please see  10 & 11)

Connective (Please see Chapter 9)

BODY (Chapters 9 &11, 2-5 main points)

1. I. MAIN POINT(Please see Chapter 9; Chapter 11)
2. SUB-POINT
3. SUPPORT (Refer to Chapter 8 about supporting material. Cite sources here.)
4. SUPPORT B. SUB-POINT
5. SUPPORT
6. SUPPORT

(Transition, Please see Chapter 9)

1. MAIN POINT (Chapter 9; Chapter 11)
2. SUB-POINT
3. SUPPORT (Refer to Chapter 8 about supporting material. Cite sources here.)
4. SUPPORT B. SUB-POINT
5. SUPPORT
6. SUPPORT

(Transition, Please see Chapter 9)

III. MAIN POINT (Chapter 9; Chapter 11)

1. SUB-POINT
2. SUPPORT (Refer to Chapter 8 about supporting material. Cite sources here.)
3. SUPPORT B. SUB-POINT
4. SUPPORT
5. SUPPORT

Connective (Please see Chapter 9)

CONCLUSION (Chapter 10 & 11)

1. SIGNAL THE END OF THE SPEECH (Ch. 10 & 11)
2. REINFORCE THE CENTRAL IDEA ( 10 & 11)

An example of an informative speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5P5-Ij2cFo&feature=youtu.be

 

Not only do you want to choose a topic that interests you but you also want to pick a topic appropriate to the audience. Often it is not so much the topic that you pick as the fact that you picked an informative topic. You will choose a topic that conveys information. Your assignment is NOT to ask us to take action. I could inform you about how to knit a scarf but if I wanted you to make a scarf then I would be persuading you. You can inform someone about how to use a copy machine for example. When you persuade them which particular copy machine to use and why, then you are crossing over in to persuasion. Often times you have to be persuasive in order to be informative. However this does not work the other way. As you are choosing a topic consider the emotional volume of the topic. I had a student the other day want to give a speech about the problems with SFUSD. As she stated the topic the entire class groaned. Most of the class were products of the public schools and had an emotional reaction to her topic. Also, after she did tell us about the problems with the public schools in San Francisco she would be finished but as an audience we would want to know what we could do about the situation! As an audience it’s almost like only watching half a movie before the cable goes! We feel cheated. She realized that it would be better to save her topic for persuasion where she then could ask her audience to take a specific action related to the public schools.