Public Speaking

Types of Informative Speeches (^207)

Explaining Concepts

The explanatory or expository speech is more simply called the “speech to teach.”

Expository speakers set forth, disclose, unmask, or explain an idea in detail.^20 Science

and history teachers regularly define terms and explain concepts; parents also answer

expository speech the

“speech to teach” that

explains an idea in detail

F

reedom of information is vital in the United States. But are there limits on our rights

to know? Even in the United States, not all information is available to just anyone, and

cultural values such as privacy or national security allow for “privileged” or “confidential”

information in some cases. Reporters have gone to jail rather than name their sources.^16

Politicians or corporations try to protect strategy secrets. The government keeps files on

citizens they suspect of posing a danger.

Because free access to information is a recognized right, the US federal government

passed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to give citizens access to federal agency

records or information (including your personal FBI file, should you have one). However,

it excludes records from Congress, the courts, or state and local government agencies.^17

Every day, citizens put personal information online, but who has the right to this

data? In 2013, whistle-blower Edward Snowden leaked top-secret documents revealing

how much information the government gathers on citizens: phone calls, emails, the length

of conversations, locations, traveling companions, websites visited, and so on.^18 Perhaps

less scary, Facebook is just one site that collects personal information plus data on the

website browser, the IP address, and the length you’re on the site. For example, Facebook

collaborated with the Obama campaign to collect digital data on potential voters from

Facebook pages.^19 Corporations put cookies in your Internet surfing device to learn your

preferences and then target products to you. Google saves all the emails sent through

Gmail to index and create models with the goal of targeting ads to you. This data collection

apparently does not alarm Americans; we have not demanded laws protecting our privacy,

and we like free sites (with ads) rather than paid sites (without ads).

Questions

1. Can you think of instances where withholding information is a good thing?


2. Have you been deprived of information that you thought you needed? If so, describe
   the situation and tell the results.


3. Is there a difference between “limits on our rights to know” and “censorship”? Explain
   your answer.


4. What personal information, if any, has been published on the Internet without your
   consent? Explain.


5. List some ads that pop up when you go on the Internet. Why do you think that ad
   targeted you?


6. How do you feel about a political campaign working with social media to collect your
   personal data so they can tailor a political message to you?


7. Edward Snowden is controversial because he fed the media classified documents
   showing the extent of the government’s surveillance both here and abroad. Some
   consider him a hero; others think he’s a villain. Read some news and opinion articles
   about him and come to class prepared to discuss his intentions and his tactics.

ethiCs in

praCtiCe the right to information

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