Informative Speech

Chapter 4:
Informative Speaking
An informative speech is one that intends to educate the audience on a particular topic.
 This type of speech uses descriptions, demonstrations, vivid detail, and definitions to
explain a subject, person, or place the audience want to understand.
 An informative speech makes a complex topic easy to understand or offers a different
point of view.
 Unlike persuasive speeches, an informative speech relies less on pathos and more on
communicating information.
Informative: Providing knowledge, especially useful or interesting information.
Definition: A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.
An informative speech is one that intends to educate the audience on a particular topic. There are
many different types of informative speeches, including speeches that describe the conditions of
a subject and speeches that instruct the audience on how to perform an action.
The main goal of an informative speech is to provide enlightenment regarding a specific topic
the audience knows nothing about. It may demonstrate how to use a new type of software,
explain a new concept in the field of science, describe an expedition an archaeologist took, or
provide details about a person of interest that the audience wants to learn more about.
The topics covered in an informative speech should help the audience to understand a subject
better and to remember what they learned later. The goal of this type of speech isn’t to sway the
audience to the speaker’s point of view. Instead, the details need to be laid before the audience so
that they can make an educated decision or learn about a subject they are interested in.
However, it is important for the speaker to think about how this information will be presented.
An informative speech should rely less on pathos, which is an appeal to the emotions of the
audience and an important component of persuasive speeches. Instead, an informative speech
might rely on visual aids, for example, in order to give the audience a visual representation of
important information contained in the speech. Providing the information in multiple forms
during the speech increases the likelihood that the audience will retain the information included
in the speech.
Types of Informative Speeches
The four types of informative speeches are definition, explanatory, descriptive, and
demonstrative.
 A descriptive speech helps the speaker create an accurate mental picture in the mind of
the audience regarding a specific person, place, or thing.
 A demonstrative speech describes how to perform an action.
 An explanatory speech explains the state of a topic.
 A definition speech explains a concept or theory regarding a topic.
definition: A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.
description: A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in

language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
An informative speech is one that informs the audience. However, as should be clear, this
general definition demonstrates that there are many ways to inform an audience. Therefore, there
are several types of informative speeches. The main types of informative speeches include
definition, descriptive, explanatory, and demonstrative.
A definition speech explains the meaning, theory, or philosophy of a specific topic that the
audience likely does not know much about. The topics may be general, such as a sport, or
highly specific, like a particular person. The main goal of this speech is to educate the audience
so that they understand the main points regarding this subject.
A demonstration speech explains how to do something. If you have ever sat through a lecture
where a teacher explained how to create a bibliography, then you have heard a demonstration
speech. Like most informative speeches, a how-to speech will likely use visual examples that
show the audience how to move from step to step through a particular activity. Visualizations
help the audience retain what each step looks like, increasing the likelihood that they will retain
the overall information of the speech.
An explanatory speech might give a description of the state of a given topic. As an example,
consider the types of speeches that are given at industry conferences. The goal of these
speeches is for the speaker to inform the audience on a particular part of an industry.
Commonly, these will also utilize visualizations that give the audience a visual representation of
the particular data or statistics contained in the speech. This is one way to condense highly
complex information into an easily retainable package for the audience.
A descriptive speech creates a vivid picture in a person’s mind regarding an object, person,
animal, or place. An archaeologist who has discovered a new temple in South America or a
paleontologist who believes they have found a new dinosaur may use a descriptive speech to
inform an interested audience about their recent discoveries.
As all of these types make clear, there are many ways that a given set of information can be
communicated in a speech. When deciding what type of informative speech you want to write
and deliver, consider what you want the audience to know about your topic.
Subjects of Informative Speeches
Informative speeches can cover many subjects as long as they can be discussed without
persuading or altering the perceptions of the audience.
 When choosing a subject of an informative speech consider whether you want to

describe, explain, demonstrate or educate the audience about the topic.
 The subject of an informative speech should be one that can be communicated clearly to
an audience.
 When choosing a subject for an informative speech, consider what is the essential
information that audience should know about that subject
In order to differentiate an informative speech from other types of speeches, it is important to

stick to the basic facts of the subject. No personal biases, unsubstantiated information, or popular
opinion should be included when stating the main ideas of the topic. The goal is to educate the
audience on the facts, not to provide the speaker’s opinion. When crafting an informative speech
look at the subject carefully and eliminate any potential statements that have prejudice or might
persuade the audience.

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Chapter 4:

Informative: Providing knowledge, especially useful or interesting information.

Definition: A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.

Types of Informative Speeches

definition: A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.

description: A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in

 When choosing a subject of an informative speech consider whether you want to

In order to differentiate an informative speech from other types of speeches, it is important to

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