Ch. 14 Speaking to Inform

Chronological Order

Explaining a process step by step from beginning to end.

Don't Overestimate what the Audience Knows

It's easy to overestimate the audiences information, but listeners will only be vaguely knowledgeable about the details of your topic. You can't assume they will know, so explain everything thoroughly. The more you assume they know, the greater chances of you being misunderstood.

Relate Subject to Audience

It's the speakers job to get listeners interested and keep them interested. Take steps to relate to them and tie it in with their interests and concerns. Nothing interests people more than themselves. Use personal terms in your speech like "you" and "your" to increase audience understanding of the speaker's ideas.

Speech about Objects pt. 1

Objects include anything that is visible, tangible, and stable in form. May have moving parts, be alive, include places, structures, animals, and people. Examples: 3D printers, stock market, Joan of Arc, musical instruments, dreamcatchers.

Avoid Abstractions

One way to avoid abstractions is through description- a statement that depicts a person, event, idea, or the like with clarity and vividness- that's used to communicate internal feelings. Vivid descriptions lend reality to the speech and draw listeners further in. Another way to avoid abstractions is through comparisons- a statement of the similarities among two or more people, events, ideas, etc. contrast- a statement of the differences among two or more people, events, ideas, etc.

Speech about Events

An event is anything that happens or is regarded as happening. Topical or chronological order. Examples- carnival, music festivals, flash foods, cheerleading, civil rights movement, seasonal affective disorder.

Personalize your Ideas

Personalize- to present one's ideas in human terms that relate in some fashion to the experience of the audience. Try to personalize your ideas and dramatize them in human terms-no dry facts and figures. Try to give examples of people; give a human face to the topic.

Speech about Objects pt. 2

Choose a specific purpose that focuses on one aspect of your subject... good specific purpose statement, not too broad. Example- "To inform my audience about the major contributions of Pablo Picasso to modern art"

Speech about Concepts

Concepts include beliefs, theories, ideas, principles, and the like, they're more abstract and complex. Usually organized in TOPICAL order. Examples: astrology, human rights, slow food, minimalism, confucianism, original-intent doctrine.

Speech about Processes pt. 2

Two kinds of informative speeches about processes: 1) Explains a process so listeners will UNDERSTAND it better. Goal- audience know the steps of the process and how they relate to one another. 2) Explains a process so listeners will be better able to PERFORM the process themselves. Goal- audience to be able to use the techniques as a result of your speech.

Don't be too Technical

When a speech is to technical it means that the subject matter is to specialized for the audience, even if subject matter isn't technical the language used to explain it may be. Avoid technical words when informing a general audience- your speech class. Use straightforward language that's easy to grasp. MAKE TECHNICAL INFORMATION CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE.

Organizational Methods

1) Chronological order 2) Spatial order 3) Topical order

Informative Speech

Designed to convey knowledge and understanding: - objects - processes - events - concepts

Topical Order

Each main point will deal with a separate principle or technique (a sub-point).

Be Creative

You need to be creative in thinking about ways to achieve your objectives- using language imaginatively and resourcefully. Creativity can include visual aids.

Informative Speech Guidelines

1) Don't overestimate what audience knows 2) Relate subject to audience 3) Don't be too technical 4) Avoid abstractions 5) Personalize ideas 6) Be creative

Spatial Order

A method of organization in which details are presented as they are (or were) located in space — such as, from left to right or from top to bottom.

Speech about Processes pt. 1

A process is a systematic series of actions that leads to a specific result of product. These types of speeches explain how something is made, done, or works. Organized in topical or chronological order.