Information is useless until someone puts it together so that it is clear and relevant to others.

Types of informative speeches

1. Definitions
2. Instructions and demonstrations
3. Oral reports
4. Lectures

1. Speeches of Definition
   • Is not a dictionary definition.
   • Seeks to define concepts or processes in ways that make them relevant to the situation or problem that an audience faces.
   • When we define something such as standard deviation, two things occur:
     1. We offer the audience a vocabulary standard deviation.
     2. We offer the audience an orientation, a way of thinking about a phenomenon. Thus, a good definition speech provides the audience with a vocabulary it can attach to ideas and situations with orientations that organize bits of information into coherent wholes.
2. Instructions and demonstrations
   1. Instructions Verbal communications that explain complex processes.
   2. Demonstrations Verbal and nonverbal messages explaining and illustrating processes.
   3. Essential features:
      • Serial presentation of information.
      • Organized in chronological or spatial patterns.
      • Demand great clarity.
3. Oral Reports Speeches in which you assemble, arrange, and interpret information in response to a request made by someone, e.g., teacher, boss, group.
   1. Examples:
      1. Statistics on psychographics of WIVK listeners versus WWZZ listeners.
      2. Articles that you have found on progress in the genome project.
      3. Advantages and disadvantages of various database front-ends to be used for EMIS project.
4. Two types of reportive speeches:
   1. Factual report
      1. Concentrates on assembling, arranging, interpreting data.
   2. Advisory report
      1. Makes a set of recommendations relative to data prepared.
5. Rules:
   1. Research information with great care.
   2. Even if you have been asked to make a bare facts report, have all the information you need at hand, because you may be asked to provide more details.
   3. When making recommendations, rather than merely reporting information, provide a complete rationale for the recommendation.
   4. Use visual aids when giving reports.
   5. Help keep attention
   6. Provide much info in short time.
   7. Stay within the bounds of the assignment you were given.
   8. Don't step on other people's territory.
   9. Don't make recommendations when not asked to.
   10. Ask about assignment if it is not clear.
6. Explanatory speeches
   1. One in which the speaker either clarifies the nature of a concept, process, object, or proposal or offers a supporting rationale for a contestable claim.
   2. Similar to definition speeches
   3. Less concerned with a word; more concerned with connecting one concept with a series of others.
   4. Example: A definition speech on political corruption would concentrate on the term, telling what sorts of acts committed by politicians are comprehended by the term. On the other hand, an explanatory speech on corruption would go into more depth, perhaps explaining the causes and cures of corruption, providing a rationale for it.
   5. Rationale is important.
   6. For example, if we wish to explain the war in Bosnia-Herznogovina, we would certainly have to explain its causes and the reason for its causes.
7. Features of Informative Speeches
   1. Clarity
   2. Organization
   3. Choose words carefully.
   4. Don't try to cover too many points
   5. Clarify the relationship between you main points by observing the principles of coordination.
   6. Use words like "First," "Second," "Furthermore," etc.
   7. Keep speech moving forward according to a well developed plan.
   8. Use precise vocabulary without being too technical for the audience.
   9. Simplify whenever possible.
   10. Use reiteration, but avoid repeating with exactly the same words.
   11. Association of new ideas with more familiar ones.
   12. Example: comparing pupil of eye with aperture of camera lens.
   13. Coherence
   14. Find a pattern than fits your subtopics: spatial, chronological, etc.
   15. Use motivational appeals, interesting intros, etc., to keep audience interested.