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Chapter 14: Informative Presentations
Chapter Objectives and Integrator Guide
After reading and thinking about this chapter, students should be able to meet the
following objectives.
Objectives
1. Identify the intent, goal, and appropriate topics for informative presentations.
Key term: immediate behavioral purposes
2. Apply the strategies for informing others.
Key terms: information hunger, rhetorical questions, information relevance,
extrinsic motivation
3. Shape the informative content by selecting the appropriate language and number of
main points.
Key terms: informative content, information overload
4. Apply the skills for making informative presentations.
Key terms: comparison, contrast, synonym, antonym, operational definition, imagery,
metaphor, explanation, narrating, demonstrating
Activities
Activity 14.1 Speech Significance
Objective
Students should be able to assess the relevance of an informative speech topic.
Procedure
Divide the class into small groups of five to seven students. Instruct them to examine the
potential speech topics in the chapter, under the heading, “Identifying Your Goal,” and select
eight to ten topics. Explain to them that they are to assess the possible relevancy of the topic
to both students at the college/university level and to society in general. Each group should
be prepared to explain to the class the information relevance of the topic.
Class Discussion
This activity illustrates to students the importance of establishing topic significance. Class
IM – 14 | 2
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based on the degree of information relevance that the speech topic possesses. The discussion
should also focus on how the topic of a speech can impact the audience’s predisposition to
listening to a speech.
Applications
This activity increases student awareness of selecting a topic that interests the audience and
relates to the students the importance of topic significance. Topic relevance is an important
issue in determining the ultimate effectiveness of a speech.
Activity 14.2 Hunger to Speak
Objective
Students should be able to illustrate how information hunger can be instigated in an
informative speech.
Procedure
Divide the class into groups of five to seven students. Have each group examine the sample
topics in the chapter (under the heading, “Identifying Your Goal”) and select three topics.
Allow students approximately 15 to 20 minutes in which they will develop statements
leading to information hunger on the particular topics. Students should be prepared to present
Classroom interaction will eventually lead to the many ways information hunger can be
created in an informative speech. The instructor should stress that audience analysis is
instrumental to the arousal of information hunger.
Applications
This activity provides students with an integral component of informative speechmaking.
Moreover, students are exposed to the importance of arousing and maintaining interest
throughout a speech.
Activity 14.3 Speaking of Values
Objective
Students should be able to construct a two- to three-minute introductory informative speech
that illustrates an individual value in their life.
Procedure
Due to the nature of this activity, students are likely to hesitate to respond to the speeches or
be rather apprehensive about discussing such personal values. Nonetheless, the instructor
should solicit opinions about the content and delivery of the informative speeches.
Applications
This activity provides the students with a unique method of informative speech development.
The activity also serves as a poignant example of how explanation, definition, and imagery
are essential in informative speaking.
Activity 14.4 An Audience-Centered Perspective
Objectives
Preparing any speech requires careful attention directed toward the audience. When
preparing an informative speech, specific attention must be paid to making the content
relevant and useful, or else the audience may have little motivation to listen. This activity
helps speakers plan their informative presentation with their audience in mind.
Procedure
The worksheet on the following page can be adapted and used to help students plan certain
Class Discussion
If time is available, you can discuss a few of the examples in class. More generally, you can
debrief to identify techniques and strategies used by students to create information hunger,
make the topic relevant, and create extrinsic motivation.
Applications
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Making a Topic Relevant
In the spaces below, complete this short worksheet as a tool that will assist you in planning your
informative presentation. The objective of this activity is to thoughtfully consider how you will
make your speech relevant to your audience.
Title of Speech:
How can you create information hunger for your audience?
How can you show that your topic is relevant to your audience?
What extrinsic motivational factors will be important to your audience?
Activity 14.5 Using Numbers to Inform
Objective
Students should be able to access numeric data, extract one or more facts to present, and
the actual database, and select one “finding” or “point” stemming from the results of the
survey. Students should prepare a one-slide visual aid and be prepared to explain the
finding/point to the class using numeric information from the survey results. Presentations
should range from 1 to 3 minutes depending on class size, time, etc. The activity could be
evaluated as a micro-speaking activity (similar to an impromptu) or conducted simply as a
Applications
The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau have multiple data sets, so
you could assign students or groups to separate data sets for variety. The nature of the
speaking assignment could be adapted for length or based upon running this as an individual
or group assignment.
