write an Informative Speech
In this assignment you will deliver a four-minute informative speech that is designed to bring new and important information to your audience. You will practice the skills of audience analysis, speech preparation, outlining, and presentation.
Choose a topic about a general phenomenon (not a specific event) that you wish to inform or educate your audience about. For example, topics such as crime among teenagers, alternative models for health care delivery, trends in employment or the economy or global warming would all be appropriate for the assignment. A speech about a step-by-step process of how something is done, a play-by-play account of a murder trial, or a description of the World Soccer Cup Finals would not be appropriate. Be sure to consider your audience when selecting a topic. Demonstration or “how-to-do-it” speeches are not acceptable. You may not sure a sports related topic.
A minimum of two documented and orally cited sources are required. Your sources should be current (within the last three years).
Determine the central thesis and main points of your topic. Be sure to use transitions from each major point to the next and clearly tie each main point to the thesis.
Select the most important supporting material for each main point. Remember, you cannot include everything, so carefully choose the most vivid and illustrative material from your research to clearly develop each main point.
An outline is required to be turned-in immediately before you give your presentation. You must use visual aids. See the speech evaluation sheet for the criteria that will be used in evaluating your presentation.
Outline Requirements for the Informative Speech
All outlines are to be typed. Untyped outlines are not accepted.
Final (formal) outlines are graded by completeness, correctness of form, logical coherence, and incorporation of your instructor’s suggestions. Outlines will contain the following elements:
Sample Basic Outline
Outlines must be turned-in immediately before you give your speech. Outlines should be formatted as described below and typed. Use 12 pt. Times Roman font. DOUBLE SPACE.
Title of the Speech
Introduction, Attention Getter, Relevance Statement, Thesis Statement
This is where you get the audience’s attention and tell them what the speech is about. Tell your audience why they should listen or care about your speech, why it’s relevant and what qualifies you to talk on the subject.
Body of the Speech
Use full sentences to outline your main points and sub points. These should be sentences with keywords that will serve as prompts for the actual speech. Remember, speeches are not read. They are ad-libbed from notes. Don’t read to your audience. Talk informally and conversationally to them.
I. Main point
For example. The one-legged pterodactyl is a prehistoric amphibian with the ability to fly. (Dinosaurs, 2011)
A. Major subpoint
Pterodactyls like to eat lions, tigers or bears, but will occasionally eat people. (Cuisine, 2012)
1. Minor subpoint
[Transition in brackets. For example, next I’m going to tell your about how to catch a Pterodactyl…]
II. Main point
Catching a Pterodactyl is a little like hunting an elephant with a slingshot. (Hunting, 2010)
A. Major subpoint
1. Minor subpoint
[Transition]
Conclusion
Summarize what you have said, what you’ve informed the audience about or what you want them to take away from the presentation. In a persuasive speech, this should be your call to action. Always try to end with some thought or clincher.
References
References are required and must be in APA format. If you use an Internet source (e.g. Google or any other search engine) you MUST include the name of the author, the author’s affiliation, the organization the information comes from, the date the information was obtained and a statement explaining why you used the source instead of going to a traditional print or database source, e.g. Dragon quest, Ohio Link, the library, etc.
A Proper APA Bibliographic Entry (article in a publication) Smith, J. (2015). Favorite foods of the Pterodactyl. Dinosaurs Past and Present. N.Y.: Dinopublishers. Do not use standalone URL’s as bibliographic entries.
A good source for APA style: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
