Information on the slides was adapted from three different textbooks.

1. Speaking to Inform
CHAPTER 15
LUCAS
KELLY SOCZKA STEIDINGER

2. Informative Speech
A speech
designed to
convey
knowledge &
understanding
“A speech to teach”

3. Types of Informative Speeches
1. Objects
“Includes anything visible, tangible or stable
in form”
1. Includes places, structures, people, &
animals
2. Uses Chronological, Spatial or Topical
Organizational Patterns

4. Types of Informative Speeches
2. Processes
“A systematic series of actions that leads to a specific
result or product”
2 Types:
1.To understand the process better
2. Listeners can do the process
- Chronological or Topical Organizational Patterns

5. Types of Informative Speeches
3. Events – “Anything that happens”
1. Narrow your focus
2. Chronological, Topical or Cause/Effect
4. Concepts
1. Can be tricky!
2. A belief, theory, idea or principle
3. Topical

6. Types of Informative Speeches
5. Speeches about Issues
1. Problems or Disputes
2. Do not advocate

7. Caution!
 Caution: Sometimes topics fit into more than
one category and can be organized using various
patterns
Speech Topic - Hurricane Katrina
Is this speech topic a process, object or
event??
Pick one type of informative speech topic and
one organizational pattern! Then use each option
consistently throughout your speech.

8. How can you explain
information?
1. Use analogies to build on prior
knowledge
2. Use visualization (presentation aids)
3. Check for understanding
- Ask questions

9. How can you explain information?
4. Avoid Abstractions
1. Be Descriptive
2. Use Comparisons
3. Use Contrasts

10. Tips for Informative Speaking
Don’t be too technical
-Avoid Jargon
Don’t over or
underestimate what
your audience knows
Relate the subject of
your speech to the
audience