Real Communication An Introduction

436 Part 4  Public Speaking

Informative Speeches Persuasive Speeches

Approach From a perspective of

inquiry or discovery; the

speaker researches a topic

to find out what informa-

tion exists and shares

that information with an

audience.

From a perspective of advocating

a position or desired outcome; the

speaker researches a topic to find

information that supports a partic-

ular point of view and then tries to

convince an audience to change

an attitude or take some action

based on that point of view.

Objectivity The speaker reports

information objectively, in

the role of a messenger.

The speaker argues a case subjec-

tively and speaks from a particular

point of view.

Use of facts

and information

The speaker sets out the

current facts or state of

affairs concerning the

topic.

The speaker builds a case that he

or she is passionate about and

includes information that supports

his or her favored position.

Expression of

opinions

The speaker may provide

others’ opinions but

refrains from giving his or

her own.

The speaker provides others’ opin-

ions that support his or her own

position or viewpoint; the speaker

may mention differing opinions

only to rebut or discredit them.

TABLE 15.1

INFORMATIVE VERSUS
PERSUASIVE SPEAKING

Have you ever had a

sense that a speaker was

intentionally leaving some

information out or that the

information was somehow

unreliable? How did it make

you feel about the speaker?

Did it change the way you

thought about the informa-

tion he or she provided?

AND YOU?

First, ethical speakers must choose appropriate topics for discussion. A

fellow communication instructor told us that one of her students gave an

informative presentation on how to grow marijuana. No matter what your

opinion is on the legalization of marijuana, its use is still illegal in most states,

so informing your audience about how to grow it its simply unethical.

As we’ve discussed throughout this book, an ethical speaker has a respon-

sibility to provide an audience with information that is relevant and reliable in

a way that is respectful of both the audience and the subject. The types of sup-

porting material you offer (or do not offer) and your motives for speaking on a

particular subject reveal quite a bit about you as an ethical speaker.

In addition, ethical speakers must avoid plagiarism by orally citing sources

and providing a complete list of references at the end of a speech outline. If your

speech misinforms your audience in any way, you are not offering an appropriate

or ethical informative speech.

Topics for Informative Presentations

When it comes to choosing a topic for an informative speech, there are countless

options. You can speak, for example, about something very concrete, such as a

person, place, thing, process, or event; or about something more abstract, such

as a concept or phenomenon. In many cases, your topic will fit into more than

one category: for example, a speech on the phenomenon of hip-hop music might

include descriptions of the genre (thing) as well as of particular bands (people) and

performances (events). You might also talk about the way the music developed

over time (process). We’ll take a look at eight categories for informative speech

topics identified by communication researchers Ron Allen and Ray McKerrow

(1985) in the sections that follow.