This document describes three main types of informative speaking: description, explanation, and demonstration. Description involves using language to create a mental image of something for the audience. Explanation aims to help the audience understand an abstract topic by simplifying complex concepts. Demonstration seeks to both explain how a process works and how to apply it through the use of visual aids. Examples are provided for each type.

1. T Y P E S O F
I N F O R M AT I V E S P E A K I N G
F R A N C E S A N D T H A O

2. D E M O N S T R AT I O N
D E S C R I P T I O N
E X P L A N AT I O N

3. • D E S C R I B I N G A C I R C U S
T O K I D S
• D E S C R I B I N G E F F E C T S
O F E A R T H Q U A K E
• D E S C R I B I N G B U Y I N G
H A B I T S O F T E E N A G E R S
• G O A L I S T O C R E AT E
I M A G E
• S P E C I F I C P U R P O S E
• T H E S I S S TAT E M E N T
S P E E C H E S O F
D E S C R I P T I O N
describing a
situation
through images

4. • D E S C R I B I N G M O R A L D E V E L O P M E N T S O F C H I L D R E N
• D E S C R I B I N G U S FA R M P O L I C I E S , A R M S C O N T R O L P O L I C Y, S C H O O L
P O L I C I E S
• D E S C R I B I N G C O N C E P T S O F D E P R E S S I O N
• G O A L I S F O R T H E A U D I E N C E T O U N D E R S TA N D T H E T O P I C
• D E A L S W I T H A B S T R A C T T O P I C S
• T R I E S T O S I M P L I F Y C O M P L E X T O P I C S
• I F TA L K I N G A B O U T P O L I C I E S , S P E A K E R S H O U L D B E P R E PA R E D T O A N S W E R
A N Y Q U E S T I O N S T H AT M AY A R I S E
• N O P E R S U A S I O N , J U S T I N F O R M AT I O N
S P E E C H E S
O F
E X P L A N AT I O N
describing
Moore’s Law in
simplified manner

5. number of transistors on integrated circuits
doubles approximately every two years

6. THE
CHESSBOARD
PHENOMENON

7. • D E S C R I B I N G H O W C O L L E G E A D M I S S I O N S C O M M I T T E E S C H O O S E M O S T
Q U A L I F I E D A P P L I C A N T S
• D E S C R I B I N G H O W D I A B E T E S T H R E AT E N S H E A LT H
• D E S C R I B I N G H O W T O S E L L A N I T E M O N E B AY
• D E S C R I B I N G H O W T O P L AY A N O P E N W O R L D G A M E C A L L E D M I N E C R A F T
• G O A L I S F O R A U D I E N C E U N D E R S TA N D I N G
• 2 D I F F E R E N T A P P R O A C H E S : H O W A N D H O W T O
• H O W: A U D I E N C E U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F P R O C E S S , N O T A P P L I C AT I O N
• H O W T O : A U D I E N C E U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F P R O C E S S A N D A P P L I C AT I O N
• V I S U A L A I D S A LWAY S B E N E F I T T H E S P E E C H
S P E E C H E S
O F
D E M O N S T R AT I O N
describing how to
edit video clips in
iMovie