Most students take a public-speaking course in college. In fact, speech is usually a required course; and one type of speech students are required to deliver is an informative speech. However, if students know in advance exactly what is involved in an informative speech, they will be better equipped to prepare one that not only educates the audience but also receives an excellent grade.
Value of Informative Speaking Skills
According to Stephen E. Lucas, author of The Art of Public Speaking, of all the forms of public speaking learned in college, graduates rated informative speaking number one in terms of overall value in the workplace. After all, if someone has learned how to deliver an informative speech effectively, he or she is prepared to impart information to others in a wide variety of situations, for example, product demonstrations, board meetings, sales presentations, etc.
Definition of an Informative Speech
When someone delivers an informative speech, he or she is acting solely in the role of teacher; and the objective is to share knowledge and information, unlike in a persuasive speech, where the objective is either to change people’s minds or motivate them to take action. Moreover, informative speeches are usually evaluated based upon four criteria:
- How clearly the information is presented to the audience
- How accurately the information is presented to the audience
- How relevant the information is for the audience
- How interesting the information is for the audience
Types of Informative Speeches
There are four types of information speeches, so the first step for students is to decide into which category their selected topic falls, since clearly identifying the category will make speech preparation much easier.
Informative Speech About an Object
An object is anything tangible or concrete (visible to the human eye); for example, people, animals, national parks, art objects, buildings, etc. Therefore, if one is delivering a speech on former President John F. Kennedy or on the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, in either case one is delivering a speech about an object.
Informative Speech About a Process
According to Webster (2002), a process is “a particular method of doing something, generally involving a number of steps or operations.” Therefore, a speech about a process demonstrates how something is done, made, or works. Of course, the speaker’s goal may either be to show the audience how to perform the process themselves, for example, how to create a Web page, or simply to explain the process so the audience will understand what is involved, for example, how hurricanes form.
Informative speech About an Event
An event, according to Webster, is “a happening or occurrence, especially when important,” so when someone delivers a speech about an event, he or she may discuss an historical event or a recent newsworthy event, for example, the Great Depression of 1929 or the World Economic Recession of 2008-09.
Informative Speech About a Concept
Concepts are ideas, so a speech about a concept discusses and explains principles, philosophies, ideologies, etc. Some examples include topics like the major tenets of Islam, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, ethnocentrism, or the five theories of creativity.
Organizing the Informative Speech
There are several methods of speech organization, including spatial, categorical, chronological, cause and effect, etc; however, for informative speeches, the best method of organization is as follows:
- Provide an introduction that lets the audience know why the information is important to them personality.
- Briefly preview main points that will be made (the key word is “briefly”).
- If demonstrating a process, start with step one and move systematically through progressive steps.
- If demonstrating a process, explain what is involved in each step.
- If discussing an event, object, or concept, move from the most important facts and details to the least important.
- Summarize by briefly reviewing the main points.
- Open the floor for audience questions.
Tips for Delivering a Successful Speech
There are certain points that speakers must keep in mind when delivering an informative speech:
- Never assume the audience knows anything: Explain things as if everyone in attendance knows absolutely nothing, clarifying all terms, concepts, acronyms, etc.
- Make the topic relevant to the audience: Grab the audience’s attention and keep it, and the way to do this is by letting people know why the topic is important to them as individuals.
- Avoid being too technical: Unless talking to an audience that knows the lingo, avoid using specialized jargon and, instead, use words and terminology the average person understands.
- Humanize the speech: Provide illustrations and examples of flesh-and-blood human beings and avoid too many dry-as-dust facts and figures.
If students keep the above definitions and guidelines in mind, they will be prepared to deliver an informative speech that not only educates the audience but also receives an outstanding grade, and that grade will make students' hard work well worth it in the end.
Lucas, S. E. The Art of Public Speaking: Sixth Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 1998.
Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language. New York: Simon and Schuster. 2002.
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