Communication In Our Lives, Fifth EditionCommunication In Our Lives, Fifth Editionby Julia T. Woodsby Julia T. Woods

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Informative Informative SpeakingSpeakingInformative Informative SpeakingSpeaking

Informative SpeechesInformative Speeches

Presentations Presentations that have the that have the goal of increasing goal of increasing others’ others’ knowledge, knowledge, understanding, or understanding, or abilitiesabilities

Types of Informative SpeechesTypes of Informative Speeches DemonstrationDemonstration

InstructionInstruction

DescriptionDescription

ExplanationExplanation

BriefingBriefing

ReportingReporting

Informative versus Persuasive SpeakingInformative versus Persuasive Speaking Persuasive speechesPersuasive speeches

tend to have more controversial tend to have more controversial purposespurposes

seek more powerful responses from seek more powerful responses from listenerslisteners

need more and better proofneed more and better proof

require the speaker to earn greater require the speaker to earn greater credibilitycredibility

Effective Informative SpeakingEffective Informative Speaking

Provide listeners with a clear Provide listeners with a clear thesis statementthesis statement

Connect with listeners’ values Connect with listeners’ values and experiencesand experiences

Motivate listeners to want Motivate listeners to want informationinformation

Build credibility with listenersBuild credibility with listeners

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Organize so listeners can follow Organize so listeners can follow easilyeasily

Adapt to diverse listenersAdapt to diverse listeners

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Design your speech to enhance Design your speech to enhance learning and retention learning and retention limit information presentedlimit information presented

move from familiar to unfamiliarmove from familiar to unfamiliar

repeat important ideasrepeat important ideas

highlight key materialhighlight key material

rely on multiple communication rely on multiple communication channelschannels

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Effective Informative Speaking (cont’d)

Involve listenersInvolve listeners call for participationcall for participation

ask rhetorical questionsask rhetorical questions

poll listenerspoll listeners

refer to specific listenersrefer to specific listeners

Supporting MaterialsSupporting Materials

To be effective and ethical, To be effective and ethical, supporting materials should besupporting materials should be sufficientsufficient accurateaccurate relevantrelevant timelytimely free of biasesfree of biases

WebsitesWebsites

American Memory CollectionAmerican Memory Collection Library of Congress, source materials to use when Library of Congress, source materials to use when

choosing a speech topic or writing an informative choosing a speech topic or writing an informative speechspeech