Types of Speeches
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Personal Speech - Introduce yourself or a specific aspect of your life
Personal speeches are usually given at the beginning of a speech class to help the class
become familiar with the speaker and to help the speaker become familiar with his audience.
Delivering a personal speech can be difficult since many people are uneasy about speaking
publicly, especially about themselves. When preparing a personal speech, be sure to focus on
aspects of your life that you do not mind sharing with others. Try not to use generic topics
such as favorite colors, favorite shows, or astrology signs. The subjects that you decide to
focus on should be what define who you are as a person. The beginning of your speech
should grab your audience’s attention, maybe a funny or inspiring story from your past.
Try to keep the opening of your speech short and simple, though.
The body of your speech should provide information that focuses on your topic. A
good way to organize the speech would be to choose a few main points and expand from
there. Some examples of main points would be background information of why that aspect of
your life is important, how you became more involved in that part of your life, what you have
experienced throughout this aspect of your life, and why you will continue to be involved in this
part of your life. To close out your speech, answer a question that only you can answer
about this specific aspect of your life. An example question would be: “What have I learned
from this?” Offer a detailed answer and explain why this aspect will continue to affect you.
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Types of Speeches
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Informative Speech - Provide interesting, unique, and useful information to the audience
The purpose of an informative speech is to provide the audience with information
that they do not already know. The audience may already have a general idea of the topic
that is being presented, but a well-organized speech should offer them new knowledge.
When delivering an informative speech, you should go more in-depth with your topic while
maintaining a neutral viewpoint. It is very important for you to avoid favoring one idea
over another during an informative speech because the purpose is to educate the audience,
not to influence them. In order to avoid a preference toward one idea, you should refer
back to his specific purpose statement while organizing the speech. This will help you stay
on topic and more clearly explain your point to the audience.
After you choose your topic, you should break it down into three to five different
main points. These points can be background information, aspects, reasons, steps, or any other
breakdown method that works for your topic. A few useful methods of organization for
informative speeches are chronological, sequential, and spatial. After you choose the
method you prefer, begin writing and preparing for your speech.
Persuasive Speech - Convince the audience of a specific verdict or stance
The purpose of a persuasive speech is to change or reinforce the attitudes, beliefs, values,
and/or behaviors of the audience. Once the topic is chosen, narrow it down to a reasonable
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Types of Speeches
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focus to where is not too broad and not too specific. Then, choose a policy from that topic
that will be argued for or against. For example, I choose to present a speech on the
general topic of adoption and focus encouraging people to adopt children. Therefore, my
purpose statement would read: More people should adopt children from different parts of the
world.
Once the purpose statement is developed, it is time to find plenty of research on the
topic that will support the purpose statement. When trying to persuade an audience,
remember that the six weapons of influence are authority, consistency, reciprocity,
sympathy, scarcity and social proof. Use research that will emphasize these influential
weapons. Then the speaker must choose his preferred organizational pattern for his speech.
A few commonly used organizational patterns for persuasive speeches are problemsolution, categorical, and refutation. After choosing a method of organization, the speaker
can begin writing and practicing his speech.
Tips on Speaking Persuasively:
 Focus on end-point
 Connect with audience
 Use strong words
 Elaborate on previous points
 Confirm audience’s beliefs
 Remain calm.
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Types of Speeches
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Difference between Thesis Statements for Informative and Persuasive
Speeches
A thesis statement for an informative speech should offer information. Informative
speeches describe, define, analyze, tell how to use, and synthesize. Example thesis statements
that are informative include the following:
1. I will describe what it’s like to be an exchange student.
2. I will define existentialism.
3. I will analyze the reasons why conservatives are so adamantly against tax increases.
4. I will tell how to use Windows 8.
5. I will synthesize the views of the Catholic Church toward women.
A thesis statement for a persuasive speech should emphasize an opinion. A persuasive
speech typically offers an opinion of whether something is right or wrong, or whether
something should or should not be done.
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Types of Speeches
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Some examples of persuasive speeches are:
1. I will argue that Affirmative action is not warranted.
2. I believe that eating meat is harmful to you and the animals.
3. I will prove that at least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution.
4. I will argue that drug testing violates the right to privacy.
5. I will show that gay and lesbian people should be permitted to serve in the armed forces.
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