INFORMATIVE SPEECHES

An informative speech teaches the audience about something they do not know about, or gives the audience a new perspective on something they do know about. What constitutes a "good" informative topic is difficult to define, as informatives come in many different styles and types. You can write a technical or scientific informative, a general interest informative, info-tainment, etc. The type of informative speech you choose is entirely up to you and what is best suited to your personal interests and presentation needs.

The informative speech is an original, factual speech on a realistic subject. Visual aids often can be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech.

Here are a few tips that may help as you work through the construction of your presentation:

 

I. Before you begin to write

A. Finding a topic

If you do not already know what you would like to inform an audience about, you can find interesting topics for informative speaking in many places. Look in science magazines like Scientific American, Discover, Popular Science, Psychology Today, etc. Also, look in the science report in the New York Times on Tuesdays, the "Science and Technology" section in The Economist, and the "Developments to Watch" section in BusinessWeek. Also, check in engineering magazines like, Machine Design and Mechanical Engineering. These are just a few ideas--there are plenty of other places to look for informative topics. New connections and interpretations in history, for example, sometimes make for very interesting subject material.

 

B. Researching the topic

1. Once you have selected a topic--before you attempt to figure out what approach you want to take--research!! Go to the digital and physical libraries, use computerized research databases, and look up your idea. Rack your brain for related words that your topic might be listed under. For example, if you're doing something on, say, ice-- don't limit your search to the word "ice." Look up words like "frozen water," "icebergs," etc. Look up any type of phrase or word that is even remotely related--the results may surprise you. Look for printed information about your topic. Check bibliographies and reference sections to identify names and titles of people who have done work on your topic. It may be the author or someone who was quoted in the article. Try contacting these people to get some information that they may have--ask them questions (this type of evidence is called a primary source). 

2. After you've found some materials, don't stop researching-- you need to read your sources and highlight, underline, block off (or something similar) information which is strong (could be statistics, an example, a statement about the significance of your topic, etc.) After this step is completed, you should know whether you're missing a piece of evidence that is crucial (e.g., you don't have a solid significance statement). If you're missing something, go back and do more research or get back on the phone to call more primary sources.

 

II. Writing the speech

A. The introductory section

1. Begin with an anecdote or some other Attention-Getting-Device to grab your audience right off the bat. You need something that will make them sit up and will draw them into your speech.

2. Next, you need to add a significance statement-- the "somebody else who's really important thinks this is a big deal, too" statement. Sometimes you can find an article which states the significance in a very general way-- sometimes you may even be able to cite an authoritative person who knows something about your topic.

3. State your thesis explicitly.

4. Preview your structure. Forecast your main points and be very specific. For example, "First, we'll look at the development of trains; second, we'll focus on the current level of the technology; and, finally, we'll examine the plans that could revolutionize the industry and the implications they hold." If you can come up with a metaphor or analogy that will sum up the speech and that you can carry through each of the transitions--use it in the preview.

5. Last but not least--the wrap statement. You need a nice finish statement that helps you to move out of the preview and into the first point.

 

B. The body of the speech

In light of the fact that there are a million different types of informative topics, there are a million different types of organization you can use-- it all depends on the information you have on your topic. There's the "past-present-future," the "what it is-where we are with it-and where we might be going with it," the "what it is-how beneficial it is for us-what problems it poses," etc.

Refer to your public speaking instructor for possibilities. For example, you may choose a topical breakdown, or a spacial structure, or an investigative informative structure. Your instructor may have other suggestions.

 

C. The conclusion

In many respects, the conclusion is a mirror image of the introduction. At the end of the third area, you need to have some sort of wrap statement (as per usual), but this one needs to have some sense of finality (simply put--you need to let the audience know that this is the end of the information you have). Then, you need an opening line to get you into the conclusion section; this can either refer to the intro or analogy (if you pulled one throughout) or refer generally to the topic. You may want to restate your thesis explicitly, and follow it with a structural summary-- make sure you keep your tag phrases the same as in your preview. Finally, wrap up the whole speech. Preferably, you should tie this into the intro if you didn't do so with the opening line. Most of all in this wrap statement--make sure to pull out all the stops with the topic. Don't let your audience lose sight of its significance. If your ending isn't catchy, full of hope for a better world, etc., you could leave the audience wondering why they even bothered listening for the past several minutes!

For some example competition speeches from the American Forensic Association, see:

2019 AFA National Final Round videos: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/afa-niet-recordings/2019/informative-speaking

2018 AFA National Final Round videos: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/afa-niet-recordings/2018/informative-speaking

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