COMMUN 1200 Ch. 16 – Informative Speaking – Flashcards

1) Definition 2) Explanation 3) Description 4) Demonstration 5) Narrative

When you explain the essence, meaning, purpose, or identity of something

- An object - A person or group - An event - A process - An idea or a concept

1) Dictionary 2) Expert 3) Etymological 4) Functional

- The meaning of a term as it appears in a dictionary - Use (for ex.) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

- The meaning of a term that comes from a person or an organization that is a credible source of information on you speech's topic - EX: According to so/so of the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1973 Case......

- The understanding of a word or concept that is obtained by tracing its roots in the same or other languages - EX: The word "obscenity" may derive from the Latin word "obscaenus", combining the prefix "ob" *(meaning "to") and the word "caenum" (meaning "dirt," "filth," "mire," and "excrement").

- The meaning of a term that comes from examining how it is applied or how it functions - EX: In practice, American law recognized obscenity as hard-core pornography (and not as violence, disease, or other social ills).

- When you analyze something clearly and specifically by tracing a line of reasoning or a series of causal connections between events. - Explanation words well when you're giving a speech about a process, tracing the end of an important event, or describing how an interesting object words *EXAMPLES:* - The most common causes of running injuries - The events and decisions that led to the end of WWII - How the engine in a hybrid car works - The stages that a person usually goes through when grieving - How cell mitosis works

- When you use words to paint a mental picture for your listeners so that they can close their eyes and imagine what you are saying - Use viv language, presentation aids, and details that evoke the senses EXAMPLES: - What the aurora borealis looks like - What it's like to work on a presidential compaign - What the people you see (every day) on public transportation look like - How you felt when you drove a care alone for the first time - What a freshly applied tattoo feels like

- They often call for both physical modeling and verbal elements as you lead the audience through the parts or steps of whatever you are demonstrating EXAMPLES: - How to fix a flat tire on a bicycle - How to care for an orchid - How to sell something on Craigslist

- A story! - The story itself can take the form of a personal remembrance, a humorous anecdote, or a serious account of an event that happened in someone else's life EXAMPLES: - Open a speech on the risks and dangers associated with playing tackle football (maybe about Chris Borland who retired after one NFL season because he was concerned about head trauma) - Emphasize the importance of communication in sustaining intimate relationships (an entertaining narrative about a misunderstanding that you are your romantic partner ultimately cleared up through good communication) - Help your listeners appreciate the need for careful preparation before a job interview (a story about a friend who failed to research the dress code of a company she was interviewing with and felt embarrassed when she showed up overly casual) - Reveal the difficulty of getting a job after serving time in prison (a story about the hardships that released inmates face when trying to find jobs and rebuild their lives could raise audience awareness)

1) Objects 2) Individuals or groups 3) Events 4) Processes 5) Ideas

1) Mechanical or technological (motorcycle, blender, cell phone, weapons system) 2) Natural (flowering plant, river, elephant, planet) 3) Cultural (painting, building, books, gourmet dishes) 4) Personal (jacket, credit card, ice skates, necklace)

- Use a *definition* to clarify what chocolate is and how it differs from other consumable products derived from cacao beans - Use an *explanation* to trace the process by which chocolate bars are made - Use a *demonstration* to show how you might back a chocolate cake - Use a *narrative* to convey chocolate's popularity as a romantic gift - Your speech may also contain elements of process - especially if that object has moving parts

- You can use life events to make a larger point about a person's/group's character and could support such claims by using narratives supplied by the person's family(s) EXAMPLES: - A famous politician, entertainer, sports start, explorer, or artist - An unsung hero - A tragic figure whose life provides a cautionary tale - An influential political party, artistic movement, sports team, or musical group

- Try using a narrative to tell the story of how an event unfolded - Try using a description to explain how the event affected a group of people - Or use a combination of the two EXAMPLES: - The signing into law of the 26th amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18 - The discovery of a new planet or species - A wedding, funeral, or religious ritual in your family - Your town's extraordinary Fourth of July celbration - Fashion week in NYC

- Explanations and demonstrations are helpful here (both verbal and physical)

- Use analogies, definitions, explanations, try to make abstract ideas more understandable EXAMPLES: - Family values - Income inequality - The economic effects of globalization - The separation of church and state

- Analyze your audience - Select a technique for organizing your speech - Focus on your goal to inform

- Focus on where and how your audience is situated for the presentation - Focus on what your audience's specific demographics are - Focus on what the common ground you share with your audience is

Consider the *forum* and *audience size*

- Move from general to specific - Reduce the quantity of information you present - Make complex information seem familiar j ----- Avoid *jargon* - Use presentation aids - Reiterate your message - Repeat your message

Technical or insider terminology not easily understood by people outside a certain group or field