Requirements for Speech #1: Informative Speech

Review the general requirements for speeches found in this module before reading the specific requirements for Speech #1 listed below.

The first speech you will present this semester is an Informative Speech. You will find instructions below that will help you prepare and organize your speech. Like all speeches the informative speech must be instructive and present valuable and significant information that will engage and interest the audience.

Many students like to demonstrate a process or explain how to do something or how something works.

An informative speech topic revolves around discussing something new, interesting, and useful - you will NOT take a stand on controversial issues with an informative speech. The informative speech must be directed to the level of experience and knowledge the audience has already and not speak "down" to them or "over their heads." Therefore, do not demonstrate to the audience something they already know how to do or something that they will not understand.

The first step in planning your speech is to know your audience. Plan who you will speak to and where you will deliver your speech and then ask yourself or even your audience what you can inform them of that they would be interested in knowing or may need to know or understand. As with any speech, knowing the audience and adopting your speech to your audience is critical in being an effective speaker.

The second step is to decide what your goal is for your speech. What do you want your audience to know or understand after you give your speech? Do you want them to recall a particular process? Be able to perform a particular task after your speech? Topics for an informative speech could include processes, events, demonstrations, theories, etc. Memorable informative speech topics I have heard over the years include how to perform CPR, how a glass eye works (and the student provided a visual!), who Max Martin is and how he impacted popular music, a cheese rolling event, and many more.

When crafting a topic, be sure your idea is not too broad or too general. "Informing my audience of the Grand Canyon" is too broad and you will not have time to discuss everything about the Grand Canyon in 5-10 minutes. Be more specific in your topic (e.g. Informing my audience of the geological features of the Grand Canyon).

Remember, too, not to discuss a topic your audience likely already knows about. Many students in the past have given speeches on Disney World in which case the audience looked bored. If you want to give a speech on a topic like this, find out what the audience does not know and more important, what they want to learn.

Finally, watch out for topics that are too difficult to demonstrate or explain. I've had many students over the years explain technological processes (e.g. computer hard drives, etc.) and mechanical topics, such as how a car engine works, each of which have been difficult to understand. I encourage you NOT to choose something that will be difficult for your audience to understand after 5-10 minutes. You may know and understand the process very well, but that doesn't necessarily mean you are able to explain it well to others with little to no knowledge on the topic in 5-10 minutes.

The third step is gathering information for your speech. You should gather a mix of information from credible sources to include in your outline, such as examples, statistics, and analogies. Be sure to arrange it in a manner that makes sense to the process.

Finally, what visual aids might help you to explain your speech so that your audience better understands the material?

Below is a sample Informative Speech. What do you believe are the strengths of her speech? What could she improve upon?

Tips for Preparing for the Informative Speech

The topic

• Not too broad (informing my audience on Madonna)
• Not something they likely already know (Disney World)
• Not something they do not need to know or is too simple (how to throw a frisbee; how to bake a cake)
• Do choose something interesting and useful
• Do make it specific enough to cover in 5-10 minutes
• Do choose something that you are able to explain in 5-10 minutes and something you believe your audience will be able to understand considering the time limits

Supporting Research

• Definitions
  • Not all informative speeches require a definition. For example, if my topic is the Grand Canyon, I won't be defining it, but more so describing it and sharing information I would like the audience to remember. However, if your topic is "the dark web" you will likely provide the audience with a definition.
• Explanations
  • Do give an in-depth explanation of a process if your topic revolves around the audience understanding the steps of something (e.g. how to perform CPR)
• Comparisons
  • If your topic is bordering on being too complicated, you will want to use comparisons in your speech. This will allow the audience to compare a more complicated process to something simpler and more manageable to understand. Analogies and similes are good ways to do this.
• Statistics
  • Supporting numbers or percentages can be helpful for your audience to understand aspects of your topic (e.g. 10,000 people attend the cheese rolling event every summer).
• Expert testimony
  • Quotes by experts in the field can provide excellent support for an informative speech.
• Visual Aids
  • Use visual aids if and when necessary. Use them only when they will aid your audience in understanding your topic. The topic of performing CPR requires visual aids and perhaps volunteers. Understanding how to perform CPR by simply listening to someone state the steps would likely be highly ineffective. Past students who have used this topic have brought a dummy to perform CPR on.