In definitional speeches the speaker attempts to set forth the meaning of concepts, theories, philosophies, or issues that may be unfamiliar to the audience. Those are speeches of definition, description, and explanation. There are three common informative approaches we will discuss in this section. Once you have decided on a potential topic, you can help to narrow your focus by determining an informative approach. One way to narrow your ideas is to consider the approach you will use with potential topics. Once you have a list of potential ideas, you can begin to narrow your ideas. If you are struggling with an informative topic, it helps to brainstorm ideas in each of these categories. You are only explaining an issue, you are not proposing solutions or trying to get your audience to agree with your ideas. If you attempt to deliver this type of speech, remember the goal is to be balanced when discussing both sides of the issue. Issues: This informative speech topic is probably the most difficult for novice public speakers because it requires walking a fine line between informing and persuading. There is a very specific set of steps that a bill must go through before it becomes a law, so there is a very clear process that could be explained to an audience. For example, you could explain how a bill becomes a law in the United States. Process: A process speech helps audience members understand how a specific object or system works. Whether you want to discuss theories related to business, sociology, psychology, religion, politics, art, or any other major area of study, this type of speech can be very useful in helping people to understand complex ideas. For example, you may want to explain a specific communication theory, a religious idea, or inflation. The point is to make sure that an informative speech is talking about the event (who, what, when, where, and why) and not attempting to persuade people to pass judgment upon the event or its effects.Ĭoncepts: Concepts are “abstract and difficult ideas or theories” (O’Hair, et al., 2007). Some examples include concerts, plays, and arts festivals athletic competitions and natural phenomena, such as storms, eclipses, and earthquakes. You could also inform your audience about a more recent or contemporary event. There are countless historical events that many people aren’t familiar with and would find interesting. If you’re a history buff, event-oriented speeches may be right up your alley. For example, you could deliver a speech on a specific battle of World War II or a specific event that changed the course of history. Instead, you could inform your audience about a historical or contemporary hero whose achievements are not widely known.Įvents: These are typically either historical or contemporary. You don’t have to be famous, however, to give a people-based speech. She often would tell the story about her early years in advertising when she would push around a stroller with her daughter inside as she went from business to business trying to generate interest in her copywriting abilities. In addition to her work in advertising, Dottie also spent a great deal of time as a professional speaker. Dottie Walters is most noted as being the first female in the United States to run an advertising agency. Some speakers, who are famous themselves, will focus on their own lives and how various events shaped who they ultimately became. Such topics could include recounting an individual’s achievements and explaining why the person is important in history. People: People-based speeches tend to be biography-oriented. For instance, the belt (and color of the belt) is significant to the karate culture. Or you may speak about an artifact and what it means to a certain culture. For example, a student of one of our coauthors gave a speech on the design of corsets, using a mannequin to demonstrate how corsets were placed on women and the amount of force necessary to lace one up. Objects: Your speech may include how objects are designed, how they function, and what they mean. O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein identified six general types of informative speech topics: objects, people, events, concepts, processes, and issues (O’Hair, et al., 2007).
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