Notes for Informative Speech

Chapter 8 Gathering and Using Information Notes Chapter 9 Organizing and Outlining Your Speech Notes

Informative Speaking Notes-chapter 9

 

Types of Informative Speeches:

  1. Process Speech – explains the steps taken to accomplish a goal.
  2. Demonstration Speech – Explains how to do or make something
  3. Famous Person, Place, or “thing” (Biographical Speech) – About a person, place, or thing that we may be familiar with and heard of but don’t know everything about them/it)
  4. Pro/Con Speech – Both sides of a controversy
  5. Basic Informative Speech-choose from range of topics-broad to narrow

 

Organizing an Informative Speech:

  1. Chronological Order – Based on time-relationship (Beginning, middle end-)
  2. Topical Order – Subtopics related to the main idea.
  3. Geographical Order – Based on space, location, etc.

                                                 

Methods of Speaking:

  1. Impromptu – no preparation before speaking
    1. Benefits – no time to get nervous, natural delivery style, personality
    2. Drawbacks – Difficult to organize, little/no supporting material, no time to rehearse, may forget something.

 

  1. Extemporaneous – Outline of a speech, keywords, transitions, intros/conclusions
    1. Benefits – Natural delivery style, easily updated with current information, some organization, personality
    2. Drawbacks – May forget something

 

  1. Manuscript– Written word for word
    1. Benefits – No memory worries, time to organize and include plenty of supporting material, record of what you said.
    2. Drawbacks – less personality in delivery; harder to update with current info.

 

  1. Memorized – Manuscripted and memorized word for word
    1. Benefits – All the benefits of the manuscript; delivery can be planned out.
    2. Drawbacks – Rehearsed delivery instead of enhanced; inauthentic sound; hard to update and change.

 

 

Choosing your Topic

  1. Interest Level – choose something you’re interested in learning more about
  2. Audience Interest – Make sure it’s broad enough that your audience can relate in some way.
  3. Narrow enough that you can adequately cover the main points in 3-5 minutes
  4. Career Clusters – choose a career-related topic

 

Basic Speech Organization

  1. Introduction
    1. Get Attention – use a fact, quotation, or rhetorical question that is relevant to your topic to gain your audience’s attention.
    2. Need to know-how will we benefit by knowing your information
    3. Establish Credibility-why are you believable, expert, or credible about your topic?
    4. State Thesis – In one sentence, identify what your topic is.
    5. Preview main points – state clearly what your 3 main points will be.

 

  1. Body
    1. 3-5 main points – each main point is a subtopic of your main thesis. Each point should be 7-10 sentences long paragraph MINIMUM.
    2. b.      Supporting material – Each main point should include 1-2 pieces of supporting material.

                                                                          i.      Quotes from authorities

                                                                        ii.      Research statistics and/or facts

                                                                      iii.      Empirical examples (scientific studies or quoted material)

                                                                      iv.      Personal experiences (stories, anecdotes, examples)

  1. Analysis – Explain what your point is, why it is relevant to your thesis.
  2. Conclusion
    1. Restate & Review – Restate your thesis and review what your main points were.
    2. Closing Thought – a quotation or challenge to your audience which wraps up your speech and ties it back to your attention-getter
    3. Transitions
      1. Purpose – to tell your audience that you’re moving into a different segment of the speech.
      2. Length – maximum of 1 sentence
      3. 4 places in your speech – at the end of your introduction and at the end of each main point

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting Material Notes-Chapter 8

 

Definition: Researched information which supports a claim in your speech.

 

Purpose: To aid the credibility of the speaker by showing that they are sharing more than personal opinion. Supporting material shows that the speakers experiences are not limited to their own life, but are shared among others in their community.

 

Types of Supporting Material

  1. Factual Evidence – statistics and/or facts reported in a news report, research study or published book/article.
  2. Historical Evidence – factual information in recorded history.
  3. Empirical Evidence – factual information, experiences, etc. recorded in news articles, published papers, sometimes understood as common knowledge.
  4. Supplementary Evidence – Quotations from authorities in the field or well-known writers/historical figures.
  5. Personal Experience – the weakest type of supporting material, as it may or may not resonate with the audience’s experience.

 

Oral Citations – When speaking aloud, one must credit the authors of information used in the speech. We call these Oral Citations. They differ from bibliographical citations in length and presentation.

 

Examples:


Report

Conclude

Postulate

Suggest

Propose

Advise

Advocate

Support

Encourage

Promote

Tell

State

Describe

Testify

Elaborate

Expound


 

In a recent survey conducted by…                             As reported by…       

 

According to…                                                           Recent reports by…

 

The study revealed…                                                  In her groundbreaking report…

 

Current polls published by…                                      In his speech to... the…

 

Places to look for Research

  1. Search Engines – Google, Google Scholar
  2. Databases – Gale, EBSCO, Lexus Nexus
  3. News Agencies – CNN, ABC News, Fox News, National Public Radio (NPR), BBC
  4. Newspapers & Magazines – Wall Street Journal, New York Times, LA Times, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report, USA Today
  5. Field Specific Journals/Magazines – Psychology Today, Car & Driver, Utne Reader, Shape
  6. Books – Biographies, autobiographies, encyclopedias, non-fiction
  7. Research Sites – Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation
  8. Organizational Websites – PETA, Tea Party, United Supermarkets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visual Aid Notes

 

Purpose To enhance the presentation by providing visual support to the verbal message.

 

Method – Visual aids are used to provide

  1. Clarity – using charts or graphs will help listeners grasp difficult information
  2. Interest – pictures or video help to keep the audience’s attention during the speech
  3. Retention – Visual bullets help the audience remember important information after the presentation
  4. Professionalism – quality visual aids add the finishing touch to any presentation

 

Types of Visual Aids

  1. Objects – live or inanimate objects which clarify descriptions
  2. Models – 3-D, scale-sized representation of an object or process
  3. Pictorial Representations – pictures, slides, sketches, videos, cartoons, drawings
  4. Pictorial Symbols – Used to explain abstract concepts or statistics
  5. Graphs – Used to simplify or clarify statistics or information with numbers – line, bar, or circle
  6. Charts – Used with information that does not use numbers (tables)
  7. Computer-generated Visual Aids – brochures, pamphlets, handouts, power point presentations, etc.

 

Tips for Quality Visual Aids

  1. Prepare in advance
  2. Make it easy for the audience to hear/see
  3. Easy to read
  4. Use no more than 2 fonts
  5. Fonts should be clear and easy to read
  6. Use a color that is easy to see (NO YELLOW!)
  7. The VA should be easy to use and easy for the audience to understand
  8. Practice your speech with your visual aid before your presentation
  9. Test your equipment the day of the performance to make sure everything is working

10.  Show your VA when you are talking about it

11.  Make sure everyone in your audience can see it

12.  Don’t turn your back to your audience when referencing your VA

13.  Don’t hide behind your VA

14.  Try not to fidget with your VA

15.  Thoroughly explain your VA

16.  DO NOT pass your VA around to your audience

 

 

 

Speech Delivery Notes

 

Delivery – Nonverbal messages sent when giving a presentation.

 

Appearance – How you look when you present affects how you are received by your audience

  1. Hair – neat and clean, out of face/eyes
  2. Clothes – neat and clean, no holes, no saggy drawers, no cleavage
  3. Face – clear and bright – no frowns, rolling eyes

 

Posture – Standing straight when speaking sends the message that you are confident, prepared, and in command of your presentation

  1. Be relaxed, but standing up confidently.
  2. Use the finger-2-seam method
  3. Shoulders back, but not stiff

 

Movement – Hands and feet should move because the presenter intends to move, not because the presenter is nervous and fidgety.

  1. Feet should be shoulder-width apart, facing forward, should only move during a transition sentence.
  2. Hands should be down to the side or used to make gestures which help the audience visualize what the speaker is trying to convey.
  3. All gestures should be above the waist.

 

Voice – How you sound when you speak will affect how your message is received.

  1. Tone – Your tone should be enthusiastic, showing that you are interested in what you’re talking about. Tone should vary in the speech so that it isn’t monotone throughout.
  2. Volume – Your volume should be appropriate to the environment – loud enough for all to hear, but not so loud that it makes people want to leave.
  3. Pitch – your pitch should be at a medium register
  4. Rate – your rate should vary as you speak, using pauses to highlight important information or to emphasize information.

 

Eyes – Eye contact is a sign of confidence, you want to master this skill in presentations.

  1. Look people in the eyes, or between their eyes
  2. Hold their gaze for 2-3 seconds
  3. Look at several different audience members
  4. Avoid people you know will adversely affect your concentration
  5. Avoid looking up at the ceiling, down at the floor, or at the walls in the room
  6. Look at the people you are speaking to – your audience.

 

Speaker’s Path

                                                ←        Introduction

                                    ←                                           

            Point 1→         →                    →Point 2→     →        →        Point Three

                                                                                                            ←

                                                                                                ←

                                                            Conclusion      ←

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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