Informative Speeches

Preparing Your Informative Speech

1. Select and analyze your topic

2. Analyze your audience

3. Develop responsible knowledge on your topic

4. Organize your materials

5. Prepare a working outline, revising as needed

6. Compose a formal outline

7. Practice from your formal outline

8. Prepare a keyword outline

9. Practice from your keyword outline

10. Be ready when you are scheduled to speak

Some General Points to Remember

Speech Time

5-7 minutes. There is a grace period of 30 seconds on either side.  The grade will be reduced by ½ a grade if the speech does not meet a 4:30-7:30 time frame.

Meaningful Topic 

This should be a topic that you are interested in and has relevance for the class.

Delivery (Physical and Vocal)

Your vocal delivery should be extemporaneous.  This means the speech is not memorized, nor is it read word for word.  Practice will make it possible to give a polished speech without memorization. Get comfortable with the use of cards. Part of your delivery grade will be based on your note cards. You will use these notes to help you as you are delivering the speech.

Outline

LENGTH:  Usually about 4-5 pages. 

FORMAT:  Use the APA or MLA style. Cite sources within the outline and in a reference page.  See reference sheet for examples.  Other requirements include:

• Your outline must be typed.
   

• Your outline must be double spaced.
   

• Label all the parts (For example-Introduction, Attention Getter, Body, etc).
   

• Include one complete sentence per point.  (See the example below:  notice how each bullet highlights just one complete sentence).

                        1. This is one complete sentence.

                              A. This is one complete sentence.

                                    1. This is one complete sentence.

Researching Your Topic

Your informative speech must be fully researched, and three sources of evidence are required.  Evidence may be found in books, magazine articles, and internet resources.  Try to find at least one resource published within the past year, and one local resource. Your resources must be written by different authors.