This document provides guidance on delivering informative speeches and using visual aids. It discusses the purpose of informative speeches as conveying knowledge and understanding. It outlines the key guidelines for informative speaking, including not overestimating what the audience knows and relating the subject to the audience. The document also describes different types of visual aids like objects, photos, graphs, charts, video and PowerPoint. It provides examples and best practices for using each type of visual aid effectively in a presentation. Finally, it includes sample informative speech topics and outlines how to prepare and present visual aids to enhance a speech.

1. ELC590: ENGLISH FOR ORAL
PRESENTATIONS
Resource Material 1:
Informative Speech
NOTE: MATERIALS COMPILED ©THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES,
THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, BY STEPHEN E. LUCAS
COMPILED BY ELC590 RESOURCE TEAM
UPDATED 20 AUGUST 2020

2. CONTENT
⮚ INFORMATIVE SPEECH
⮚ USING VISUAL AIDS
⮚ Types of visual aids
⮚ Sample Charts & Graphs for ELC590
Informative speech
⮚ USING POWERPOINTS
⮚ SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH
2

3. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Informative Speech
Designed to convey
knowledge,
understanding

4. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Informative Speeches
I. Objects
II. Processes
III. Events
IV. Concepts

5. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Informative Speaking
Guidelines:
• Don’t overestimate what audience
knows
• “never overestimate the
information of the audience,
never underestimate the
intelligence of your audience!”
• Relate subject to audience

6. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Informative Speaking
Guidelines:
•Don’t be too technical
•Avoid abstractions (“speech ≠ novel”)
•Use descriptions
•Use comparisons
•Use contrast
•Personalize ideas
•Dramatize ideas in human terms
•Be creative

7. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Visual Aid Advantages
Clarity
Interest
Retention
Credibility
Persuasiveness

8. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Kinds of Visual Aids
Objects & models
Photos & drawings
Graphs
Charts
Video
The speaker
PowerPoint
To be used for
ELC590 Informative
Speech

9. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Photos & Drawings
Enlarge for audience
Avoid passing
Display with
PowerPoint

10. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Photos & Drawings

11. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Graphs
(To be used for ELC590 Info Sp.)
Show statistical trends
& patterns

12. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Ex. Line Graph
Uses one or more
lines to show
changes over time

13. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Line Graph
Source: Richards E. (2009) Economics of Spending

14. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Ex. Pie Graph
Highlights segments
of circle to show
distribution patterns

15. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Pie Graph
Source: Martin R. (2010) Modern Women

16. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Ex. Bar Graph
Uses vertical or
horizontal bars to show
comparisons

17. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Bar Graph
Source: www.stats.gov

18. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Charts
(To be used for ELC590 Info Sp.)
Summarize large block
of info, usually as list

19. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Charts
Source: www.stats.gov

20. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Charts
Help listeners visualize info
Show steps of process
Keep simple & clear

21. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Video
Keep short
Cue to start of clip
Integrate smoothly
Avoid low-resolution

22. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
The Speaker
Use body to
demonstrate
procedure
Practice to
coordinate
words & actions

23. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
PowerPoint
Combines
several audio-
visual
materials

24. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
PowerPoint
Use strategically
Use to enhance specific points
Don’t overpower presentation
Don’t read from screen

25. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Preparing Visual Aids
Prepare well in advance
Keep simple
Make large enough
Limit amount of text

26. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Preparing Visual Aids
Use fonts effectively
Use color effectively
Use images strategically

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Limited Text

28. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Effective Fonts
Clear, easy to read
Normal case
Two per slide
Standardized across slides
Properly sized titles, body text

29. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Effective Fonts

30. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Effective Colors
High contrast
Easy to see
Limited number
Consistent across slides

31. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Strategic Images
Large enough
High-resolution
Clear, simple
Title included on slide

32. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Presenting Visual Aids
Display where listeners can see
Avoid passing
Display only while discussing
Explain clearly, concisely

33. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Presenting Visual Aids
Talk to audience, not to visual
aid
Practice with visual aids
Check room & equipment

34. The McGraw-Hill Companies ∙ The Art of Public Speaking, 11th Edition © 2012 Stephen E. Lucas. All rights reserved.
Exercise
Consider how you might use visual aids to explain each of the
following:
a) How to perform the Heimlich maneuver to help a choking
victim.
b) Where to obtain information about student loans.
c) The wing patterns of various species of butterflies.
d) The increase in the amount of money spent by Americans
on health care since 1985.
e) How to change a bicycle tire.
f) The basic equipment and techniques of rock climbing.

35. SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH
FOR ELC590: MENTAL ILLNESS
35
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience
about the prevalence of mental illness
Central Idea: Mental illness disorder can
become less prevalent with proper
medical care and professional treatments.
Method of Organization: Topical

36. SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH
FOR ELC590: MENTAL ILLNESS
36
Speech topic: Mental Illness (4:35 mins.)
© APB, UiTM
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