Creating the Informative Speech

1. Creating the Informative Speech Chapter 13

2. 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

3. 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. • Examples • The Festival of Kwanza • The Grand Canyon

4. 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

5. 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

6. Types of Informative Speeches • Process: A speaker explains the step-by-step process by which something is created or operated • Examples • How to Pitch Curve Balls • How to Create French Braids • There may be some overlap between the demonstration and the process type of informative speech

7. Social-Ritual Speeches • A special kind of speech to inform and it follows a certain formula or pattern • Introductions • Welcomes • Award Presentations • Acceptance Speeches • Nominations • ******Announcements******

8. Evaluating Informative Speeches • Informal feedback-verbal or nonverbal messages given spontaneously to the speaker • May come during or after the speech • Good speakers change depending on how the audience is reacting

9. Evaluating Informative Speeches • Formal Feedback- planned, written, or oral comments • They are intended to affect the speaker’s next speech

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Becoming a Constructive Critic • 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.”

13. Becoming a Constructive Critic • 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

14. Becoming a Constructive Critic • 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.

15. Becoming a Constructive Critic • 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.”

16. 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.

17. Accepting Constructive Criticism • 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.

18. Accepting Constructive Criticism • 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?”

19. Accepting Constructive Criticism • 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.

20. 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.

21. Dates for Speeches • Draw names for dates of speeches