Chapter 15 Informative Speaking 453clothes in a store (a familiar idea), shoppers can see how certain garments would
look on their particular body types. By supplying your measurements online,
you can visualize what you would look like in outfits by using the virtual model
image (new idea).
Define Your Terms
As discussed earlier, defining your terms is not just for definitional speeches. In
any speech, you should choose terms that your audience will know and under-
stand—and provide clear definitions for any words they might not. If at any
point in your speech, audience members find themselves wondering what or
who you are talking about, you will begin to lose their attention. When a term
comes up that requires definition, you must explain it clearly and succinctly
before moving on. If you think an audience is familiar with a word but you just
want to be sure, you can simply allude to a more common synonym: “People
tend to think of rhinoplasties—commonly referred to as ‘nose jobs’—as cosmetic
in nature, but in fact many are performed to help improve nasal functioning.”
Note that definitions are often necessary for proper nouns as well. Audi-
ences may not have a strong background in geography, politics, or world events,
so it can be useful to identify organizations and individuals in the same way
that you would define a term: “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
or PETA, is the largest animal rights organization in the world,” or “Colin
Powell, a former U.S. Army general and secretary of state under President
George W. Bush, noted that... .” If you can define and identify terms in a
way that is smooth and diplomatic, you will enable audience members who
are unfamiliar with them to continue to participate in your presentation, while
gaining the confidence of audience members who do know the terms when you
explain them accurately.
Use Interesting and Appropriate Supporting Material
Select examples that are interesting, exciting, and clear and use them to rein-
force your main ideas. Examples not only support your key points but also
provide interesting ways for your audience to visualize what you are talking
about. If you are giving a speech about the movie career of Clint Eastwood,
you would provide examples of some of his most popular films (Dirty Harry,
In the Line of Fire), his early western films (Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars
More, Hang ’Em High), his lesser-known films (The First Traveling Saleslady,
Honkytonk Man), and his directorial efforts (Gran Torino, Million Dollar
Baby, Mystic River, J. Edgar). You might also provide quotes from reviews of
AN ENGAGING SPEECH
on Clint Eastwood’s career
would include examples that
span his many films, from the
classic The Good, The Bad,
and the Ugly to the more
recent and highly acclaimed
Gran Torino. (left) Courtesy Everett
Collection; (right) © Warner Bros./Courtesy
Everett Collection