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SPCH 333 Advanced Public Speaking: Informative Speeches

Types of Informative Speeches

Informative Speeches are meant to inform or educate the audience about a particular topic.  It should be based on facts, the goal is to teach the audience about something they are not an expert on.  This type of speech should be entertaining, easy to understand, memorable, and will offer interesting facts and other useful information about the topic.  An informative speech should not try to sway the audience, that is the job of the persuasive speech.

There are several types of Informative speeches each shares the goal of teaching.

Definition Speech: A type of informative speech that explains a concept or theory regarding a topic.

Demonstration Speech: A type of informative speech intended to teach an audience how to complete a task.

Descriptive Speech: A type of informative speech that creates an accurate mental picture of a specific person, place, or thing.

Explanatory Speech: A type of informative speech that explains the state of a topic.

video orginaztion

Video - Inofrmative speeches

Organizational

logical or topical pattern

As the name implies, you'll be organizing the information in a logical manner according to the topic. This organizational pattern can also be used in a speech that discusses several sub-topics under the banner of a primary topic – just attack them all in a logical sequence.

chronological or time-sequence pattern

When information in a speech follows a chronological sequence, then the information should likewise be organized chronologically.  This organizational pattern is typically used in any speech addressing a subject from an historical perspective.

spatial or geographical pattern

If you wish to evoke an image of something that has various parts, and those parts are distinguished by geography, then organize your speech using a spatial pattern. Spatial patterns are suited for speeches about a country or city, or even a building or organization, provided that the organization occupies a specific geographical location, such as a hospital or university.

causal or cause-and-effect pattern

Another way of organizing a speech on a particular topic is to look at the subject in terms of cause and effect. For example, a speech about providing foreign aid to victims of a natural disaster in another country would discuss the disaster itself (the cause) and the impact the disaster had on the nation's people (the effect). 

problem-solution pattern

The problem-solution organizational pattern is similar to the cause-and-effect pattern but is typically used when the speaker is trying to persuade the audience to take a particular viewpoint. In essence, the speaker introduces a problem and then outlines how this problem can be solved. For example, a speech on leaving a smaller carbon footprint could begin by detailing the problems associated with climate change. These points could then be followed by information on how these problems have been or are being addressed, with a summation indicating a plan of action the audience can take.

 

More details can be found in the full article

Brent, M. (2018, November 21). What Are the Five Organizational Patterns for Public Speaking? Bizfluent. Retrieved from https://bizfluent.com/info-8540323-five-organizational-patterns-public-speaking.html