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Informational Speech

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Purpose

The purpose of an informational speech is to explain a specific topic or concept to an audience.

The speaker should demonstrate knowledge of how to engage their audience using appeals, to incorporate factual, researched information from reputable sources, and to organize this information according to a clear structure.

The purpose is to inform, NOT to convince.

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Requirements

Your speech should be between 5-8 minutes. After 8 minutes you will be stopped, regardless of whether you are finished.

ACADEMIC: You must clearly utilize at least one rhetorical appeal: Ethos, Pathos, or Logos.�HONORS: You must utilize all three rhetorical appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

Your speech must be clearly structured. You should use one of the outline options on the following slides. Just use ONE. Pick the one that most adequately suits your topic. Not every outline works well for every topic.

This is NOT an argument. The purpose is to inform, not to convince.

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Requirements Cont.

ACADEMIC: You must use and cite at least 2 distinct sources for information�HONORS: You must use and cite at least 4 distinct sources for information

“My brain” doesn’t count as a source.

Sources should be cited properly in MLA format. This is not something we will review in class. If you need help, please come see me during tutorial.

Your outline and Works Cited are due to Google Classroom in advance of your speech.

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Possible Topics

Demonstrate how to do something

Tell us about a person, place, or thing of interest to you

Pick something you’ve always wanted to know more about and tell us about it

Tell us about an historical event or moment

Describe a process

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Outlining

Your speech should always include the following:

  1. Introduction
    • You should grab the attention of your audience in a manner that engages attention and provokes interest in the topic
    • You should introduce the topic and purpose of your speech
    • You should preview the main points of what you are going to say
    • You should use a Signpost (auditory cue) to transition to the next section of your speech
  2. Body
    • The body of your speech contains the researched information
    • The organization of the body depends on the type of speech you are giving (see the next slide)
    • Use Signposts (auditory cues) to transition between each point in the body of the speech
  3. Conclusion
    • Give your listener an auditory cue (I.e. “In conclusion…”)
    • Summarize the most important takeaways from what you said
    • Leave us with something the most important takeaway

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Organizing Your Information

The organization of the body of your informational speech can (should) vary depending on your topic. The body can be organized:

  • Chronologically
    • First, next, lastly; Use to describe an event or sequence of events, or to describe a process
  • Spatially
    • Use direction to guide the “movement” of your speech; Example: If you are talking about tourist attractions in North Carolina, you could move from the Mountains to the Piedmont to the Coast; Or, if you are describing what it’s like to visit Disney World, you could move around each of the four parks
  • Topically
    • Part to whole; Example: If you are talking about the top 3 breeds make the best service dogs, describe each breed and what makes it a top breed
  • Relationally (Cause and Effect)
    • Something makes something else happen; Describe the cause, then describe what happens

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Timeline

9/10: Assignment introduced in class; begin thinking about topic; Submit your topic to the form on Google Classroom by 11:59 p.m. tonight.

9/11-9/12: Research days, work time, and individual consult time.

9/13: Informational Speeches; Your outline is due to Google Classroom by the beginning of the class period.