Informative Speaking

CHAPTER 12

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

We live in an information age: "Knowledge is doubling at the rate of 100 percent every 20 months."1

12.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

Traditionally, informative speaking has been defined as discourse that imparts new information, secures understanding, or reinforces accumulated information. This text assumes that all communication contains elements of persuasion.

12.2 TYPES OF INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

Speeches About Objects

Speeches About Processes

Speeches About Events

Speeches About Concepts

Informative Briefings

Technical Reports

Lectures

Question-and-Answer Sessions

12.3 DEVELOPING THE INFORMATIVE SPEECH

12.4 DEVELOPING THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION

12.5 THE INFORMATIVE PROCESS IN ACTION

12.6 LISTENING TO INFORMATION

LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

Define informative speaking.

Discuss the need for informative speaking.
List and explain the types of informative speeches.
Describe the steps a successful informative speaker takes in developing a speech.
Explain the role of listen for comprehension as an important aspect of being a public communication listener.

SUMMARY

In this chapter on informative speaking, the key ideas presented were:

Informative speaking imparts new information, secures understanding, or reinforces accumulated information.

Informative presentations depend on audience analysis.

Informative speeches may be about objects, processes, events, and concepts.

Types of informative speeches are informative briefings, technical reports, lectures, and question-and-answer sessions.

The challenge for an informative speaker is to get the audience to understand and retain the information presented.

To develop an informative speech, order ideas clearly, use the familiar to explain the new, use vivid illustrations, avoid being too technical, personalize the message, and do not speak down to the audience.

To present a successful question-and-answer session, the speaker should establish the ground rules for the session and be able to effectively answer the questions asked.

When confronted with information, the public communication recipient must listen for comprehension--listening to understand the information and to recall that information at a later time.

KEY TERMS

informative speaking

speeches about objects

speeches about processes

speeches about events

speeches about concepts

informative briefings

technical reports

lecture

question-and-answer session

bracketing

speaker's sign posts

Cornell System of Notetaking

mnemonic devices

chunking

LEARN BY DOING

Perhaps you're a space movie buff and decide to do an informative speech on the topic. This topic is too broad, however, so you'll need to find a way to narrow it to a manageable size. After you have a focus, write an outline for a speech on space movies. Indicate what you would show for visual a.

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