THE DRAGON OF KOMODO
A SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH
CONTENTS
Topic, Thesis and Basic Outline
Page 2
Actual Student Speech
Page 5
Speech with Evaluation
Page 7
Final Speech
Page 10
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TOPIC, THESIS AND BASIC OUTLINE
INFORMATIVE SPEECH
DEPRESSION
TOPICS:
___Wildlife Parks
___Zoo’s
___Wildlife Aquatic Parks
___Komodo Dragon
___Wildlife Reserves
LIST OF SUBTOPICS
___Pro’s and Con’s
___Local Zoo’s
___Dangers for animals
___Dangers for people
___Benefits of Preservation
___Benefits to Environment
___Breeding Habits
___What part of the world
TOPICS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Wildlife Parks
Zoo’s
Komodo Dragon
Wildlife Aquatic Parks
Wildlife Reserves
Make a list of topics that might interest you. The more
topics you list, the easier it will be to select one that will
work for you.
When you have selected your topic, make a list of
subtopics to cover. You might want to think in BROAD
to NARROW terms. World wide might be too broad for
your topic and Southern California may be too narrow.
What would be a good demographic compromise? Next,
list all questions you can think of. You are supposed to be
an “expert” on this topic, so think about questions that
others might ask and then go find the answers!
NARROW TOPIC
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wildlife Parks
Komodo Dragon
Zoo’s
Wildlife Reserves
FINAL TOPIC
CHOICE
1. Komodo Dragon’
1. When brainstorming a topic, you should make a list of at least 6 – 10 topics you are
interested in.
2. Your next step is to reduce your list to 3 – 5 topics you would really like to spend time
researching.
3. Your final step is to select the topic that fits the type of speech you are doing:
Informative, Persuasive, etc.. It is important that you make a decision about your
topic at this point.
4. Your next step? Figure out what you already know about the topic and what is your
Point of View (P.O.V.). In other words, what kind of information do you want to
present to your audience?
2
THESIS STATEMENT
BRAINSTORMING YOUR POINT OF VIEW (P.O.V.) – THESIS STATEMENT
Brainstorming your thesis statement.
I’d like to tell you about the Komodo Dragon.
This thesis statement is too broad. If you focus on the world’s population your speech
will be too long for the time limit. You should narrow your thesis statement down to a
particular nation or group.
Narrowing your thesis statement
The Komodo Dragon is one of my favorite animals for several reasons.
This thesis statement is narrower; however, it is still not concise enough for a speech.
Below is an example of a perfect speech thesis statement. It gets straight to the point.
Final thesis statement
Today I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite animals and tell you a little bit
about where it lives, what it eats, and the physical characteristics that make this creature
worthy of your time.
This thesis statement is concise. The speaker states what she will talk about (Topic), and
then she breaks her topic down into the various parts for discussion.
Try filling in the blanks with your topic:
Today, I will talk about ________________. I will talk about the ______________, the
____________________, the ______________, and the ______________________.
Yes, it can be as simple as that. Once you get the hang of this format, you can try to
expand or change yours in order to fit your style. However, remember you want to get to
the point in a clear cut fashion. Don’t get to wordy or you will lose your audience’s
interest.
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BASIC OUTLINE
INFORMATIVE SPEECH
Komodo Dragon
INTRODUCTION:
Hi, how’s everyone today? Great, I have one question for you – does anyone believe in
dragons? Now what if I told you that dragons do exist, that there is a place where giant
lizards reach nearly 20 ft. in length according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
I. Dragons’ Island (pix #1) 125%
A. Komodo Island in Indonesia
B. One of three islands where dragons are found
II. The Komodo Dragon (pix #2) 200%
A. Known as Varanus Komodoensis.
B. There are 30 monitor species. All with long forked tongue.
C. Top of the food chain. Deer and wild pigs
D. Consumer up to 80% of body weight
E. Bite is deadly due to bacteria in saliva
F. Interesting they bite each other.
III. The largest monitor lizard (pix #3) 150%
A. Take down prey as large as water buffalo
B. Weigh over 200lbs.
C. Run to 20mph.
D. Like snakes they use tongue to follow scents
E. Both jaws and stomach expand
F. Monitors have air pouch under chin-gular pouch.
IV. Extremely territorial (pix #4) 200%
A. Males fight for breeding rights.
B. Females protect eggs (pix #5) 75%.
C. Seen here with deer carcass
D. Males stand when fighting
CONCLUSION:
In closing I’d like to say that if you look for them the roots too many of our myths are
here in the world with us. The Komodo dragon exemplifies both, the beast of the middle
ages and the image of Godzilla, bringing fiction into reality.
4
ACTUAL STUDENT SPEECH
INFORMATIVE SPEECH
THE DRAGON OF KOMODO
INTRODUCTION:
Hi, how is everyone today? Did you all enjoy your vacation? Great! Now, I have a
question for you – does anyone believe in dragons? Oh yah, well what if I told you that
dragons do exist, that there is a place where giant lizards grow up to 20 feet in length
according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
THESIS and PREVIEW:
Today I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite animals and tell you a little bit
about where it lives, what it eats, and about the physical characteristics that make this
creature worthy of your time.
BODY:
I. First I’d like to show you where they are found.
A. This picture is Dragon’s Island – Travel Bali.com ways that it is actually
called Komodo Island and it is one of only a few places in the world where the
Komodo Dragon lives including: Rinca, Padar, Flores, and the Sunda Islands.
B. Altogether there may be as many as 5,000 dragons in the wild with about 350
breeding females.
C. There are also over 1,000 more Komodos in zoos around the world.
II. Now, I’d like you to meet the Komodo Dragon.
A. One of my favorite animals. I’ve been giving reports on the Varanus
Komodoensis since I was in the third grade.
B. The Chicago Herpetological Society says that the Komodo is one of thirty
monitor lizard species, all of which are characterized by their long forked
tongue.
C. At the top of its natural food chain, the Komodo eats deer, goats, wild pigs,
and other smaller animals along with the occasional unfortunate Komodo
dragon.
D. The Komodo can consumer up to 80% of its body weight per meal – this
means that a 200lb dragon can eat 160lbs at one time.
III. See the saliva here?
A. The lizard experts at the San Diego Zoo claim this animal is so deadly, in part,
because this saliva has in it certain deadly bacteria that can bring down and
kill prey eve if the injuries weren’t very serious.
5
B. Interestingly though, the Komodo is immune to the bite of other dragons
causing some scientists to be very interested in the Komodo’s immune
defenses.
IV.
Being the largest of all monitor lizards
A. Whozoo.com says they can grow to 6 meters and weigh over 100 kilos
B. Able to bring down prey as large as water buffalo, this incredible predator is
able to run at speeds up to 20 mph.
C. The Komodo dragon uses its tongue like a snake to track prey. Also it has
expandable jaws and stomach like a snake.
V.
The Komodo Dragon has a special adaptation
A. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found monitor lizards have
something that other lizards don’t.
B. While most lizards can’t breathe while running, mostly because they use the
same muscles to breathe that they use to run, the Komodo monitor has a
pouch under its chin called a gular pouch.
C. Monitors fill this pouch with air then pump the air into their lungs when
running.
VI.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Komodos are territorial and violent
The large males fight for breeding rights
The females will kill to protect her eggs
Seen here with a deer carcass, this male is standing the way males do when
fighting for a particular female.
The males will actually wrestle to the ground until one is pinned, then the
winner will take his massive claws and rake them down the length of the
losers body.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, I’d like to say, that if you look for them the roots to many of our myths are
here in the world with us. The Komodo Dragon exemplifies both the beast from the
middle ages that made heroes of knights and the more recent image of Godzilla that most
of us grew up with bringing what we thought was fiction into reality.
6
ACTUAL STUDENT SPEECH WITH EVALUATION
Informative Speech
The Dragon of Komodo
INTRODUCTION:
Hi, how is everyone today? Did you all enjoy your vacation? Great! Now, I have a
question for you – does anyone believe in dragons? Oh yah, well what if I told you that
dragons do exist, that there is a place where giant lizards grow up to 20 feet in length
according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Nice introduction. One thing that might be better is if instead of asking the question
about everyone’s vacation, you make a statement – “I hope you all enjoyed your
vacation”. REASON: You are asking a lot of questions of your audience and your
speech hasn’t even begun yet!
THESIS and PREVIEW:
Today I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite animals and tell you a little bit
about where it lives, what it eats, and about the physical characteristics that make this
creature worthy of your time.
This is a great thesis! It is clear and concise. It covers all of the information that
Larson wants to cover in his speech, and the audience understands that this is “one
of [his] favorite animals”. However, what is really fun is leaving your audience
wondering what that animal is! He didn’t tell you, did he?
Let’s examine the order of points. The first point should be the introduction of his
favorite animal. Next, he should tell you “where it lives”. Then you should learn
about its eating habits. The next thing you should learn about is its “physical
characteristics”. Finally, Larson should convince you why it is “worthy of your
time”.
BODY:
VII.
First I’d like to show you where they are found.
A. This picture is Dragon’s Island – Travel Bali.com says that it is actually called
Komodo Island and it is one of only a few places in the world where the
Komodo Dragon lives including: Rinca, Padar, Flores, and the Sunda Islands.
B. Altogether there may be as many as 5,000 dragons in the wild with about 350
breeding females.
C. There are also over 1,000 more Komodos in zoos around the world.
Notice how Larson didn’t give up the animal until he showed the audience where
they are found? However, he is already getting out of order. It is imperative that
you cover your information in the order you state in your thesis statement, just like
you would do in your English essays. His first point should have been the
introduction to his favorite animal then where it lives.
7
Larson used visual aides to help his audience picture where and what he was talking
about. Visual aides are a great way to engage your audience.
We have a section dedicated just too visual aides on this website. Check it out! You
might get some great ideas for your own speech.
VIII.
Now, I’d like you to meet the Komodo Dragon.
A. One of my favorite animals. I’ve been giving reports on the Varanus
Komodoensis since I was in the third grade.
B. The Chicago Herpetological Society says that the Komodo is one of thirty
monitor lizard species, all of which are characterized by their long forked
tongue.
C. At the top of its natural food chain, the Komodo eats deer, goats, wild pigs,
and other smaller animals along with the occasional unfortunate Komodo
dragon.
D. The Komodo can consumer up to 80% of its body weight per meal – this
means that a 200lb dragon can eat 160lbs at one time.
See the saliva here?
E. The lizard experts at the San Diego Zoo claim this animal is so deadly, in part,
because this saliva has in it certain deadly bacteria that can bring down and
kill prey eve if the injuries weren’t very serious.
F. Interestingly though, the Komodo is immune to the bite of other dragons
causing some scientists to be very interested in the Komodo’s immune
defenses.
As I stated above, the author is out of order. This is point one and point three
combined. This is a great time to introduce an idea – combine some of your points
into one. This should be reflected in your thesis statement also. There will be an
example of this idea in the example of the final speech.
IX.
Being the largest of all monitor lizards
A. Whozoo.com says they can grow to 6 meters and weigh over 100 kilos.
B. Able to bring down prey as large as water buffalo, this incredible predator is
able to run at speeds up to 20 mph.
C. The Komodo dragon uses its tongue like a snake to track prey. Also it has
expandable jaws and stomach like a snake.
X.
The Komodo Dragon has a special adaptation
A. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found monitor lizards have
something that other lizards don’t.
B. While most lizards can’t breathe while running, mostly because they use the
same muscles to breathe that they use to run, the Komodo monitor has a
pouch under its chin called a gular pouch.
8
C. Monitors fill this pouch with air then pump the air into their lungs when
running.
XI.
Komodos are territorial and violent
A. The large males fight for breeding rights
B. The females will kill to protect her eggs
C. Seen here with a deer carcass, this male is standing the way males do when
fighting for a particular female.
D. The males will actually wrestle to the ground until one is pinned, then the
winner will take his massive claws and rake them down the length of the
losers body.
These last three points cover the physical characteristics, but what happened to the
point that convinces me that the Komodo Dragon is “worthy of MY time”?
A positive point is that he’s not inundating his audience with a bunch of information
that is not relevant to his topic – The Komodo dragon. He has kept his speech
relevant to his topic, and he has not introduced a lot of “specialized language” that
could cause his audience to lose interest or overwhelm them.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, I’d like to say, that if you look for them, the roots too many of our myths are
here in the world with us. The Komodo Dragon exemplifies both the beast from the
middle ages that made heroes of knights and the more recent image of Godzilla that most
of us grew up with bringing what we thought was fiction into reality.
The conclusion seems to hold the reason of why this creature would be “worthy of
my time”. When seeing this conclusion for the first time, you might be tempted to
think that this “wraps-up” the speech. However, it really does not. He brings the
myths of the past and connects them to the present, yes. This type of a conclusion
might work for a Creative Writing class, but not for a speech. Your “mantra”
should be “Tell them What I’m going to tell them, Tell Them, and then Tell them
What I just Told them. If you do this, you will half of your speech Aced.
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FINAL SPEECH EXAMPLE
INFORMATIVE SPEECH
THE DRAGON OF KOMODO
Highlighted information represents changes that have been made to the original speech.
INTRODUCTION:
Hi, how is everyone today? [Removed information] I have a question for you – does
anyone believe in dragons? Oh yah, well what if I told you that dragons do exist? There
is a place where giant lizards grow up to 20 feet in length according to Encyclopedia
Britannica.
THESIS and PREVIEW:
Today I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite animals and tell you a little bit
about where it lives, what it eats, and about the physical characteristics that make this
creature worthy of your time.
BODY:
[Order of points has been changed. Some sub-points were moved for logical order.]
XII.
First, I’d like you to meet the Komodo dragon.
A. One of my favorite animals. I’ve been giving reports on the Varanus
Komodoensis since I was in the third grade.
B. The Chicago Herpetological Society says that the Komodo is one of thirty
monitor lizard species, all of which are characterized by their long forked
tongue.
XIII.
Now, I’d like to show you where they are found.
A. This picture is Dragon’s Island – Travel Bali.com says that it is actually called
Komodo Island and it is one of only a few places in the world where the
Komodo Dragon lives including: Rinca, Padar, Flores, and the Sunda Islands.
B. Altogether there may be as many as 5,000 dragons in the wild with about 350
breeding females.
C. There are also over 1,000 more Komodos in zoos around the world.
XIV.
This is an amazing animal in that it can bring down prey larger than it is.
There is a very good reason for this.
A. At the top of its natural food chain, the Komodo eats deer, goats, wild pigs,
and other smaller animals along with the occasional unfortunate Komodo
dragon.
B. The Komodo can consumer up to 80% of its body weight per meal – this
means that a 200lb dragon can eat 160lbs at one time.
10
C. See the saliva here? The lizard experts at the San Diego Zoo claim this
animal is so deadly, in part, because this saliva has in it certain deadly bacteria
that can bring down and kill prey even if the injuries weren’t very serious.
This is how they can take down larger prey.
D. Interestingly though, the Komodo is immune to the bite of other dragons
causing some scientists to be very interested in the Komodo’s immune
defenses.
XV. Being the largest of all monitor lizards
A. Whozoo.com says they can grow to 6 meters and weigh over 100 kilos.
B. Able to bring down prey as large as water buffalo, this incredible predator is
able to run at speeds up to 20 mph.
C. The Komodo dragon uses its tongue like a snake to track prey. Also it has
expandable jaws and stomach like a snake.
XVI. The Komodo Dragon has a special physical adaptation
A. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found monitor lizards have
something that other lizards don’t.
B. While most lizards can’t breathe while running, mostly because they use the
same muscles to breathe that they use to run, the Komodo monitor has a
pouch under its chin called a gular pouch.
C. Monitors fill this pouch with air then pump the air into their lungs when
running.
D. Also, Komodos are territorial and violent.
E. The large males fight for breeding rights.
F. The female will kill to protect her eggs.
G. Seen here with a deer carcass, this male is standing the way males do when
fighting for a particular female.
H. The males will actually wrestle to the ground until one is pinned then the
winner will take his massive claws and rake them down the length of the
losers body.
XVII. You might be thinking that all of this information is great, but why would this
creature be worthy of my time? I’d like to say, that if you look for them, the
roots too many of our myths are here in the world with us. The Komodo
dragon exemplifies both the beast from the middle ages that made heroes of
knights and the more recent image of Godzilla that most of us grew up with
bringing what we thought was fiction into reality.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, I hope that I have created an interest in the Komodo dragon for all of you.
This is one of my favorite animals. I have told you where it lives, what it eats, its
physical characteristics and why I believe why the Komodo dragon is worthy of your
time.
11