14.7 Enrichment
Discussion Questions
- List as many types of informative speeches that you have heard in your everyday life. What are the common elements of these speeches?
- Of the informative speeches you have heard before, are there any speakers that stand out to you? Why?
- What are the most important considerations when choosing an informative speech topic?
- Why do you think it is important to know the differences between facts and opinions when preparing an informative speech?
- How would you define and describe a controversial idea, such as assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, without your presentation becoming emotional? Is it possible for an informative speech to be emotional without becoming persuasive? Explain.
- Have you ever sensed that a speaker who professed to be informing you was actually trying to persuade you? What was it about the presentation that gave you this impression? Did it make you skeptical about the speaker’s information?
Activities
- Form five groups. Each group will be given a type of informative speech listed in Section 14:2: Types of Informative Speeches (history, biography, processes, ideas and concepts, and categories or divisions). Brainstorm to create at least three informative speech topics for the type of speech the group has been given. Each group will share the topics with the class who will then vote on the most and least interesting topics to better understand the audience’s interests. Finally, students should brainstorm their own informative speech topic individually and then share with their group members for feedback.
- Watch a sample informative speech video and use the informative speech grading rubric to evaluate the speech. Discuss your finding with the class.
