CHAPTER 17: INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

Informative speeches inform us of what’s happening. Four types of informative speeches are messages of explanation, description, definition, and narration. During messages of explanation, caution should be taken to avoid over condensing. Inexperience speakers usually commit such transgression. The aim of description is to form detailed mental images of objects, people, and places. Definition covers questions like “what do you mean?” This is a request for clarification or elaboration. Narratives serve as “teaching moments” and alternate ways for information. Narrations require clear conveyance. To be effective during informative speeches, a speaker must create information hunger, seek balance, emphasize key points, involve listeners, and provide information memorably.