Informative Speaking

Informative Speaking Chapter 15:

Informative Speaking • Instruct, explain, describe, enlighten, demonstrate, clarify, correct, remind. • Gives something to the audience • Tell them something • Can have elements of persuasion

Apply: • Report information – • Clarify difficult terms – • Explain complex phenomena – • Overcome confusion and misunderstanding

Katherine Rowan’s Informatory and Explanatory Communication Theory • States that the nature of the information and the audience, • helps determine strategic decisions about • which contentto use and how to structure an informative presentation.

Classifications Informatory • Primarily aims at increasing audience awareness • Reports new information • Similar to news reporting: who, what, where, when, and how Explanatory • Primarily aims at deepening audience understanding • Goes beyond “facts” to help audience understand, interpret, or evaluate. • Answers “Why?” or “What does that mean?”

Make it Matter: the Value Step • Wi-FM • Why is the information important or valuable to the audience • Put it as a step in your introduction.

Apply: Benefits • Social __________________ • Economic _______________ • Physical_________________ • Psychological_____________ • Intellectual_______________ • Professional_______________

Strategies: InformatoryObjects and Procedures Apply: _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

Strategies: Explanatory Apply: _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

Keep Audience Engaged • Keep It Short. < than 20 minutes • Does the audience already know? • Does the audience need to know ? • Does the audience need me to help them know? • Involve the Audience. • Use Humor. - focus on the message • Self-effacing humor • Do not embarrass or offend audience members • Avoid bodily functions, religions, ethnicities • Tell Stories. – You, Your audience, Other people

Apply: Humor Age • Old? At Ruth’s last birthday, the candles cost more than the cake. • There are three signs of old age. The first is lost memory . . . The other two I forget. Banks • A banker is just a pawnbroker in a suit. • I think the reason they have drive-up tellers is so the cars can see their real owners.

Fisher’s Narrative Theory • Walter Fisher: Storytelling is an essential part of being human. • Good stories have two essential qualities: • Story Probability: Consistency of characters and actions - does it make sense • Story Fidelity: The apparent truthfulness & believability of the story.

Storytelling: Effective • Use a Simple Story Line. • Limit the Number of Characters. • Connect to Your Audience. • Exaggerate Your Delivery. • Practice, Practice, Practice

Apply: Speech Examples • See Resources Page on Website

Informative Speech: Assessment Assign Due Dates: • Topic Sheet (Handouts) ________________ • Annotated Bibliography (Handouts Example) ________________ • Works Cited (MLA) ________________ • Speech Date: __________________ Materials Due: • Grading Rubric (Handouts) • Comprehensive Outline (Handout Example) • Presentation Aids • Notecards • Appropriate Dress

Informative Speaking