Public Speaking

202 CHAPTER 15^ Informative Speaking

treatments. She then developed each subtopic in more detail. Classification also divides

a topic into categories, but it then uses a common standard to rate or rank the groups.

For instance, because languages are classified by how hard they are to learn, a speaker

might explain why Spanish is classified as a Level I language, Hindi as Level II, Zulu as

Level III, and Chinese as Level IV.^9

Doing Demonstrations and Providing Instructions

Instructions answer the question, “How do you do that?” Nate Berkus is famous for

showing how to create an interior design; Dave Ramsey tells people how to put their

finances in order. They’re just two of thousands of teachers, coaches, and salespeople

who both show (demonstrate) and tell (give instructions) how to do a procedure, how to

use a specific object, or how to complete a task. Several general principles apply:^10

1. First, use the principle of division and break the topic into required stages or steps.
   Then ask: What’s absolutely essential? What comes first? Which step is easiest?
   Which is hardest? What does the audience already know how to do? Where will
   the audience most likely be confused? Which step takes the most time? Organize
   the steps sequentially.


2. Next, concentrate on clarifying and simplifying difficult or confusing steps.
   Carefully preplan the environment to facilitate learning—you might have your
   audience move their chairs or stand up and spread out around the room. Or you
   may need to furnish supplies for them to do the project along with you.


3. Plan your visual support. If actual objects are practical, use them; if not, plan videos,
   diagrams, or other visuals. Then practice working with your props so you can use
   them and still maintain rapport with your audience.^11 Knowing that she could not
   simply describe how to draw a hand in words alone, Beth led her listeners through
   the process by actually drawing on a whiteboard as shown in the photographs.^12

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about six steps in drawing a hand.

Central Idea: It’s easy to draw a hand if you follow six steps.

I. Step 1: Block out the outline using simple, geometric shapes.

II. Step 2: Identify the bone structure, including all the knuckles.

classification a method of
presenting information by
explaining things that are put
into categories according to
a principle

For her how-to speech on drawing a hand, Beth drew on the board as she explained the process. Her

audience drew along, following her step-by-step instructions.

Devan Marchbanks Devan Marchbanks

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