206 CHAPTER 15^ Informative Speaking
As you develop your major points, keep in mind your audience’s questions:
“How is a speech about this person or group linked to my concerns? What impact
has this subject had on society? Answer these questions, and your listeners will better
understand the relevance of the person or group. You can access links to biographical
information on thousands of individuals, both contemporary and historical on your
online resources.Reporting about Issues
News sources present issues currently being discussed in our communities, our nation,
and our world. We deliberate about international, national, local, and campus issues that
are complex and controversial. Here are a few examples:• What have we learned about the effectiveness of alternate energy sources?
• What do we know about measles outbreaks in the United States?
• What issues does each side emphasize as they support or oppose a flat tax?Think of this speech as an investigative report, where you research the facts
surrounding an issue and then present your findings. Your goal is to help people
understand and think clearly about a topic—to provide facts listeners can use to
formulate their own conclusions. Consequently, do not argue for one position or
another, although you may decide to follow up your report with a persuasive speech on
the same topic.
Periodical databases or Internet news sites can help you access up-to-date news
sources. Look for answers to questions like these: What exactly is the issue? What
current beliefs or theories are commonly held about the issue? What is the extent of
the problem (how many people does it affect)? How did this situation develop? What
solutions are proposed? What are the arguments on both sides of the issue? Generally,
pro–con, cause–effect or causal, problem–solution(s), narrative, and topical patterns are
most effective for investigative reports.Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the pros and cons of wind energy.
Central Idea: There are several arguments both for and against the widespread use
of wind energy.I. There are advantages to using wind turbines to produce electricity worldwide.
A. Wind is a clean source of renewable energy that emits no greenhouse gases.
B. Wind power can help minimize dependency on foreign oil.
C. The technology is constantly being improved so that electricity produced during
peak wind hours can be “banked” and used during peak demand hours.
II. There are a number of problems related to wind turbines.
A. The blade/wind friction of the wind turbines emits noise and a light flicker that
disturbs people who live by wind farms.
B. Many people think wind farms destroy the beauty of the landscape.
C. Wind farms can interfere with wild bird habitats.
D. There are environmental impacts during the manufacturing, setup, maintenance,
and dismantling of the turbines after they wear out.Issues can be personal (eating disorders), campus (parking problems), local
(potholes), national (ACT versus SAT tests), or global (child labor) in scope. Many
global decisions, such as what to do with nuclear waste, have broad implications. Others,
although less significant, are related to larger problems. For example, cosmetic surgery
on teenaged women is linked to issues of women’s rights and stereotypes of female
beauty.Copyright 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
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