Creating the Informative
Speech
Chapter 13
Speaking to Inform
An informative speech is a speech that
presents or describes information.
  Your purpose is to inform and explain
  The audience goal is to increase the
listeners’ knowledge
  Too much information though can
reduce the audience member’s
understanding
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Types of Informative Speeches
Description: A speaker attempts to
describe a person, place, thing, or
experience.
  New information that is related to
information that is already known is
called connected information.
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Examples
–  ALS: A Progressive Disease
–  The Festival of Kwanza
–  The Grand Canyon
Types of Informative Speeches
Definition: A speaker uses this type of
speech to explain a word or concept in
great detail.
  Examples
 
–  Grounded: The World’s Worst Word
–  What Liberty Means to My Family
–  Swamp is Not a Dirty Word
Types of Informative Speeches
Demonstration: A speaker uses a
media aid to explain or demonstrate a
particular concept or thing
  Examples
 
–  Basic Chess Moves
–  How to tie a tie
Types of Informative Speeches
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Process: A speaker explains the step-bystep process by which something is created
or operated
Examples
–  How to Draw Faces
–  How to Pitch Curve Balls
–  How to Create French Braids
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There may be some overlap between the
demonstration and the process type of
informative speech
Social-Ritual Speeches
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A special kind of speech to inform and it
follows a certain formula or pattern
Introductions
Welcomes
Award Presentations
Acceptance Speeches
Nominations
******Announcements******
Stories
Eulogies
Evaluating Informative
Speeches
Informal feedback-verbal or nonverbal
messages given spontaneously to the
speaker
  May come during or after the speech
  Speakers try to read the audience
during the speech
  Good speakers change depending on
how the audience is reacting
 
Evaluating Informative
Speeches
Formal Feedback- planned, written, or
oral comments
  They are intended to affect the
speaker’s next speech
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Critique
Critique is the formal feedback given to
speakers
  A critic is a person who gives a critique
 
–  Critics do not find fault, he or she just
gives feedback to help the speaker
–  A feedback form is just as good for giving
a critique as a face-to-face conversation.
Becoming a Constructive Critic
1. Be Specific. Don’t say, “Your speech
was good.” Instead, tell the speaker
exactly that was good-the evidence,
the organization, the visual aids, or the
delivery. Use specific examples from
the speech.
  2. Establish some criteria. Consider
the speaker’s purpose. That will help
you focus your comments.
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Becoming a Constructive Critic
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3. Describe what you saw and heard. Don’t
jump in with comments such as “Your eye
contact was great.” Say instead, “You looked
at everyone in the audience. It made me
feel like you were talking to me.” Don’t say,
“The ending was bad.” Say instead “There
was no conclusion. The speech stopped at
the last point. You need to remind us of the
main points at the end.”
Becoming a Constructive Critic
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4. Limit your points. Don’t tell the
speaker five things you liked, eight
things you did not like, and six ways to
improve. Select only the most
important things
Becoming a Constructive Critic
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5. Discuss both strengths and
weaknesses. Critics too often focus on
the negative. You need to point out
what worked. This tells the speaker to
continue doing what worked.
Becoming a Constructive Critic
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6. Suggest improvements. Suggest
what the speaker could do to make the
next speech better. Remember to be
specific. You might say, “In your next
speech, use more variety in your voice.
Changing your rate or pitch might help
us stay interested” or “Try not to lean
on the desk. It’s distracting to the
audience.”
Accepting Constructive
Criticism
1. Listen carefully. Find out what
specific points or your performance is
criticizing. Don’t start planning your
reply while the other person is talking.
  2. Get tips. Ask the other person for
specific suggestions for improvement.
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Accepting Constructive
Criticism
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3. Think before defending yourself. Do
not immediately defend your actions.
You do not need to make excuses. It
is all right to make mistakes, because
mistakes help you learn.
Accepting Constructive
Criticism
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4. Try it out. Try to correct key points
in your performance according to the
critic’s suggestions. Then ask in a
friendly way whether you are doing
what he or she suggested. For
example, ask “is this closer to what you
had in mind?”
Accepting Constructive
Criticism
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5. Double-check the criticism. If you
have real doubts about whether a
person’s criticism is justified, check it
with someone else. This second
person should understand the problem
and be objective. Don’t ask a friend
who will tell you only what you want to
hear.
Accepting Constructive
Criticism
6. Practice the whole speech. Work in
the changes and create a smooth
presentation. Ask for feedback on the
new version of the speech.
  People who feel a “need to know”
receive information easily.
  These individuals want to know how to
improve.
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Dates for Speeches
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Draw names for dates of speeches