Fundamentals of Speech: Information Speeches (Chapter 14)

The Four types of Information Speeches (Chapter 14)

OBJECTS

* Objects: anything visible, tangible and in stable form such as places, structures, animals etc.

example 1: To inform my audience of the characters in Catcher in the Rye
example 2: To inform my audience about the migration routes of Gray Whales
example 3: To inform my audience about soil types in the painted desert

note how the specific purposes are precise

PROCESSES

Processes: series of systematic actions that leads to a specific result or product explains how something works, is made, or how to do it.

example 1: to inform audience how to save a person from choking
example 2: to inform audience on how read aloud to children
example 3: to inform audience on how glass is recycled

EVENTS

Events: anything that happens or is regarded as happening: Operation Desert Storm, job interviews, terminal illness, movie viewing.

example 1: to inform my audience on the aftermath of the Iraqi War
example 2: to inform my audience on common mistakes made during job interviews
example 3: to inform my audience how terminal illness affects surviving family members
example 4: to inform my audience of how advance publicity affects movie viewing

CONCEPTS

Concepts: beliefs, theories, ideas, principles more abstract than objects, processes or events

Specific purpose: To inform my audience on the reasons people become vegetarians.
Central idea: The two main reasons cited for becoming a vegetarian are the benefits derived from a vegetarian diet and the ethics of eating meat.

GENERAL NOTES: Concepts speeches are more complex

They might deal with abstract concepts and be difficult to explain
It is important to avoid technical language
Define key terms clearly
use examples and comparisons to illustrate