SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH TOPICS (Just Some Ideas) 1. Any Country 2. Baldness 3. Child Discipline 4. Dyslexia 5. Epilepsy 6.

Comics 7. Albert Einstein 8. Multiple Sclerosis 9. Winter Depression 10. Food Poisoning 11. Haleys Comet 12. Marijuana 13. Teddy Bears 14. Teenage Suicide 15. Child Labor 16. Hypnosis 17. Vitamin E 18. Dwarfs 19. Animal Communication 20. Nuclear Power 21. Acupuncture 22. Cancer 23. Pyramids 24. Vegans 25. Lead Poisoning 26. Sugar 27. Dreams 28. Autism 29. Witchcraft 30. Chinese Characters 31. Coincidences 32. World Records 33. Ice Hockey 34. Greek Theatre 35. Maple Syrup 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. Sleep Walking Snoring Fingerprints Sharks Wedding Traditions Fantasy Sports Guide Dogs Fibromyalgia Puns

INFORMATIVE SPEECH (Assignment) Public Speaking is the communicating of knowledge that is understandable. Through informative speeches, people are able to give others the benefit of their learning and expertise. 1. Choose a topic that you can research and inform your audience about. Do not inform us about something by going through the physical actions, instead, simply tell and explain the topic to the audience. 2. Developmental Skill: Continue the use of the demonstration/informative speech outline. Applying supporting materials and citing evidence. 3. Time: 5-8 minutes (Four point penalty for every 30 seconds under or over) 4. Grading: 200 possible points (Presentation-120 points, Complete sentence outline-60 points, and Visual Aids-20 points) 5. Presentation: Note cards with a key-word outline may be brought up with you. You may write out your introduction, definitions, and quotes for accuracy. Please do not write out your speech and take it up with you to speak. 6. Outline: A COMPLETE SENTENCE OUTLINE WITH A TECHNICAL PLOT is to be turned in to the instructor before you speak. Use the same format as you did for the demonstration speech with one addition. The addition is the technical plot which serves two purposes. First, the technical plot analyzes the quality of your speech by labeling the supporting materials in the left hand margin. This allows you to check for different types of supporting materials and to ensure you have a sufficient amount for the speech. Second, the technical plot provides stage directions for the speaker which will enhance the delivery and help the speaker to become familiar of when to show visual aids or utilize vocal variety in their speech. (e.g. show graph, pause, increase volume, show video, etc) 7. Supporting Materials: At least four different types of supporting materials must be used in your speech. The forms of supporting materials will be labeled in the left hand margin in the technical plot. 8. Bibliography: A standardized APA or MLA format is to be attached to your outline. Required: At least four different academic, print sources of which only one can be an internet source. (e.g. books, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.) 9. Visual Aids: Use at least one form of a visual aid in your presentation. Remember the visual aid should serve the purpose of clarifying, simplifying, supporting and increasing the audiences interest and understanding. Reminder Checklist 1. Get topic approved. 2. A complete sentence outline that is typed with a technical plot and bibliography. 3. Include at least four different types of supporting materials, remember to cite them in your speech when needed. 4. Remember at least one visual aid. 5. Practice over and over and over again so you can talk about your speech. 6. Ensure the 5-8 minute time limitation through practice.

INFORMATIVE SPEECH EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK FORM Speaker_________________________ Topic___________________________ Speech Time_____________________ I. Introduction Attention getter: engaged interest Thesis Statement: Clear, simple Fairhearing: relevance Overview: main points stated Performance Points________________ Outline Points_____________________ Total Points_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

II.

Body 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Structure: organization Development: clear and adequate Explanations, Citations Research demonstrated, supp. Mats. Transitions between main points Creativity and originality of topic Message was stimulating/interesting Conclusion 1 2 3 4 5 6 Review: main points restated Effective finality in concluding statement Voice and Language 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vocal Variety in Rate, Pauses, Volume, etc. Word Choice: accurate, appropriate, Grammar, and vivid language Pronunciation and Articulation Delivery Use of notecards, preparedness Rapport with audience Originality, Creativity, personality Enthusiasm, Involvement Facial Expressions, eye contact Hand and body gestures Posture and Movement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

III.

IV.

V. 14

VI.

Visual Aids Pertinent, Accurate, Clear, and Proper Usage

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(all point values doubled)

Activity: Supporting Materials Purpose: To learn and use the nine different types of supporting materials which are presented below. Supporting materials are better known as information, data, evidence, or research. The purpose for supporting materials is to support or back-up your main points, statements, and opinions in your speech. The variety of supporting materials available to you will help you create not only a solid speech, but also an interesting one. By presenting an array of supporting materials, this will enhance your credibility as a speaker, thus showing your audience that you have researched the subject and are knowledgeable. Participants: Small Groups of 3-5 Directions: Be familiar with the supporting materials below. On the following pages, an exercise is provided. Match the appropriate supporting material to the example. Some of the examples have a blending of two or more supporting materials. In addition, your instructor will assign your group two or three supporting materials to create an example for. Class discussion will follow. Be ready to provide reasons and explanations for your answers.

An Explanation is a descriptive or explanatory passage which serves to make a term, concept, process or proposal clear or acceptable. Explain what, how or why about something. Definitions of concepts are included. A Comparison points out similarities between something that is familiar to the audience and something that is not. Show similarities between things. (Key words: like, as similar, is) A Contrast is showing differences between two items. (Key words: contrast, on the other hand, whereas, difference, however) An Illustration generally is a narrative passage which describes or clarifies an idea, a condition, a circumstance, or a situation. An illustration paints a picture of a situation which usually includes the setting, mood, characters, and conflict or topic of concern. (Can be either hypothetical or factual) a. A Hypothetical illustration is make believe created by the speaker to show that an incident could have happened or probably will happen. Although it is imaginary, it must seem believable to the audience. A hypothetical illustration is a good technique in which a speaker can make the audience feel involved by verbally including them in a created situation. As hard and solid evidence, a hypothetical illustration is weak. b. A Factual illustration is a realistic event that actually occurred. A factual illustration is a situation which typically includes the time, place, names and any set of circumstances. (e.g. news event, actual personal story) A Specific instance is an example without details. Instead of describing a situation in detail, it merely mentions the person/people, item(s), and event(s). Specific instances usually include a list. Statistics are figures that show relationships among phenomena. They emphasize largeness or smallness, describe subclasses or parts, or establish trends. They make clear the nature of the situation. A Statement of Fact is information that is factual and has no intent to be explanatory. One to three sentences only. (e.g. results of research studies and experiments) A Testimony is a quote or an opinion expressed by a famous person or expert on the subject, or a person who has something worthwhile to say on the topic. An Anecdote is a brief narrative story, usually with a point to be made. They may be humorous, serious, or both.

1. ____________________

Suppose one Sunday morning you go to the corner liquor store to buy a copy of the Tucson Citizen and a morning snack. As you look for your snack, you hear a man yell from the front cashier counter, Dont move, its a hold up! All of a sudden you hear shots ringing out and you hear some shuffling of feet. What are you going to do? It was once said by Marcel Marceau, Mime is a universal art. It speaks in a speechless tongue which is immediately comprehensible to everyone. it knows no language barriers and the thought of it Does not exist. Somebody else pointed out the difference between an optimist and a pessimist this way: An optimist looks at an oyster and expects a pearl, a pessimist looks at an oyster and expects ptomaine poisoning. In suspended animation hypothermia, the heart rate is at least cut in half, respiration is down to a third, and the body virtually shuts down, similar to hibernation. Stress can be caused by many factors in your life such as: a final exam, a first date with someone new, a flat tire on your car or giving a speech in front of class. Donald Trump is already planning a $60 million resort in Palm Springs. These casinos pay virtually no tax to the state of California, only what is left after non-gaming tribes are paid $1.1 million each. Last year alone, 13.5 million homeless dogs and cats were killed in animal shelters across the country. Terrorism is the use of violence or the threat of violence against a person, group, or region to accomplish political or religious objectives. Terrorism is the act of creating fear or intimidation to a larger community than to their immediate victims. Terrorists murder, kidnap, torture, hijack, and bomb or threaten to do so. Their target is the enemy or innocent people.

2. _____________________

3. _____________________

4. _____________________

5. _____________________

6. _____________________

7. _____________________

8. _____________________

9. ____________________

On September 11, 2001, at least nineteen suspected Osama Bin Ladens terrorists carried out the most heinous crime by hijacking four U.S. American and United Airlines planes into the World Trade Center in New York City and one plane into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The hijackers in the fourth plane were wrestled down by the heroic passengers. As a result, lives were saved on the ground, but all of the heroic passengers on the fourth plane perished, but not in vain. According to the Times Magazine, September 24th, 2001 issue, states that can be said to harbor terrorism include, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan, the broadest conceptions of such a campaign would amount to a third world war. A father had a family of four sons, who were constantly disputing among themselves. No words spoken by the father did any good to stop his sons from arguing. So the father thought and thought and found a striking example that would make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune. One day when the quarreling had been much more harsh than usual, he asked one of his some to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his sons, he told them to try and break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so. The father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his sons to break one by one. This they did very easily. My sons, said the father, do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle. A recent Harvard study published in the March 30th, 1998 Seattle Times, estimates that more than 4 million Americans are addicted to gambling. The same study shows that the social costs total between 40 to 50 billion dollars annually. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act, enacted on October 27, 1997 is a law that allows the physician who has some responsibility for managing a

10. ___________________

11. ___________________

12. ___________________

13. ___________________

patients terminal illness to prescribe a dose of lethal medication, which the patient may take. The patient must make two oral requests and one written request over a period of 15 days. The patient is required to refer to a mental health professional if either the attending physician or the consultant is concerned that the patients judgment may be impaired by a mental disorder. Physicians are required to report to the Oregon health division that they have prescribed the medication and compiled with the Acts safeguards. 14. ___________________ Diabetics have stickier platelets, the tiny cell fragments that help blood clots form, than nondiabetics, and poorer blood flow, which increases the chance of blocked arteries. The actual form of those blocks is different as well. In non-diabetics the danger spots are large fatty deposits, called plaques. But in diabetics, the plaques can be quite small and soft, almost like a pimple. Then they can rupture, causing a clot that can suddenly block the whole artery, says John Buse, director of the diabetes program at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. A smoker has two chances in ten of developing a serious lung disease: lung cancer, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. Whereas a nonsmoker will have only one chance in one hundred of contracting a serious lung disease, according to the California Health Association survey in 2000. On the evening of November 29, 2000, Laura Smithe from Michigan went into suspended animation. Her car slid into a ditch. Wearing only a jacket to survive, she set off to look for help. The next day, a miner found her lifeless body frozen solid, just a few miles from his home. When she was brought into Superior Hospital, the doctors thought she was dead until they heard a moan. Lauras heart was beating only six to eight times a minute, and her respiration was only three beats a minute. Her temperature did not even register on the thermometer. Although they had little faith in her survival, the doctors wrapped Laura in heating pads in order to produce gradual thaw. Her body

15. ___________________

16. ___________________

was still so frozen that her skin could not be punctured to administer intravenous fluids. Surprisingly enough, she regained consciousness that same evening. Late the next afternoon, Lauras temperature rose to normal and she made a complete recovery, free from brain damage. 17. ___________________ Your car ran out of gas on the way to school. Luckily you get the much needed help to get you on your way again. You walk into class late, only to find that you failed the calculus test. You feel rotten, so you go home and get out your favorite companion and tell him the whole depressing story. You then give him a big hug and feel so much better. Teddy bears are life savers! University of Wisconsin biologist, James Thomson pioneered the basic process of stem cell research. It involves an egg fertilization by a sperm to from an embryo. Then it is housed in a cryogenic container along with other unused embryos. When ready to be used, the embryo is thawed. After a few days, embryonic stem cells begin to form as recognizable clusters within the growing embryo. Thereafter the stem cells are carefully placed in a Petri dish to continue replicating. Thomson along with several other researchers hope to figure out which growth factors and nutrients are needed to guide stem cells into becoming any one of the more than 200 tissues found in the body. Stem cell research has the potential to find cures for injured spinal cords, neurogenerative disorders like Alzheimers disease, replace damaged cardiac tissue, and replacements for effective insulin-producing islet cells in certain diabetes.

18. ___________________

19.____________________

GUIDELINES FOR CITING EVIDENCE Citation of evidence means that the speaker states within his/her speech the source of certain types of information (supporting materials) presented in the speech. In other words, certain types of evidence (statistics, quotes, factual illustrations, etc.) requires a statement from the speaker as to where s/he got his/her information from. I. Reasons for Citing Evidence: A. Encourages the speaker to look for updated information because the speaker would not like revealing old information to the audience. B. The audience will perceive the speaker to have credibility in terms of being knowledgeable and well-researched in his/her subject area. C. Enables the speaker to know his/her sources for future reference, and to continue and maintain academic ethics. D. Lessens the possibility of a listener questioning the speakers information. What you Need to Cite in your Speech: A. The source (author) and/or publication (book, newspaper, magazine, journal article, interview). B. The sources qualifications (entrepreneur, endocrinologist, president of ___________, child psychologist, associate professor of ___________, etc.). C. The date of the material when published or compiled. Supporting Materials Typically cited in a speech: A. Statistics: About 16 million people in this country suffer from diabetes. Thats up nearly 40 percent in the last decade. Among U.S. adults, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and kidney failure. It can quadruple the risk of heart disease and strokes. It lies behind 90,000 amputations a year. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the nation. These frightening statistics were reported in the June 25, 2001 issue of U.S. News and World Reports. B. Testimony/Quotation: Van den Eden, a neurologist, published a research study on the effects of aspartame in the October 4, 2000 issue of the Journal of Neurology. He stated, It appears that some people are particularly susceptible to headaches caused by aspartame and may want to limit consumption. C. Factual Illustration:

II.

III.

10

Theres an arm or a foot or sometimes just a tooth, and they put that tooth in a bag. They will match that tooth to a victim. Instead of using backhoes and bulldozers to clear the remnants of the World Trade Center, hundreds of men scoop out the remains with their hands. They put them in 5 gallon buckets and pass them hand to hand down a 200 foot line before they are emptied in piles in front of an investigator, who sifts through them. These workers will do this for 10, 12, and 18 hour shifts, kneeling and using their hands to dig. They are sorting through what used to be two 110-story buildings, more than 2 billion pounds of steel, glass and concrete, compressed into a mound nine stories high. These workers are heroes who have worked endlessly to rescue any lives after the World Trade Center attack in New York City on September 11, 2001 as described in the September issue of Time Magazine. D. Statement of Fact: In the February issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, they sent a questionnaire to doctors who were eligible to prescribe lethal medications under the Oregon Death with dignity Act. Of the 4,053 eligible doctors, 65 percent returned the survey. From the people that responded 144 had received a total of 221 requests for prescriptions for lethal medications since October 1997. E. Research of Experimental Study: In February 2001 in The New England Journal of Medicine, a Stanford University scientist injected 60 mice with nerve tissue that produced paralysis, similarly experienced by people with multiple sclerosis. The scientists then injected antibodies that proved to reverse the paralysis. This was an encouraging breakthrough. However, it dies not present a cure nor does it explain what causes M.S. The antibodies cannot be tested on humans yet. IV. Order Considerations when Using Outside Materials: A. If the source is a well-known publication or person in the minds of your particular audience, present the source of your material first (source then information). The Journal of the American Medical Association, in May of this year, indicated that heart disease is now the number one killer in the U.S.

11

B. If the source is not well known or lacks credibility with your audience, present the information first, followed by the source (information then source). The number one cause of divorce in America is now financial problems as reported in the January 2001 issue of The National Enquirer.

12

Activity: Purpose: PART A Directions:

Citing Evidence To be familiar with typical phrases in citing evidence. For exercise purposes, fill in the blanks with your own information which fits best. Use some creativity and class discussion will follow.

Typical Transitional Phrases Used to Include Outside Materials in a Speech: 1. ____________________ indicates that ______________________. 2. _______________________ informs us that ___________________. 3. ____________________ writing in ___________________________ gave this account:_____________________________________________________. 4. Last week, ________________ the _____________________ had an article that stated ____________________________________________________. 5. The October 3, 2001 issue of ____________________________ points out that ______________________________________________________________. 6. During an interview I had with ___________________________ of ________________________, on February 22nd of last year, he told me that ________________________________________________________. PART B Directions: 1. ________ ___________ ___________ 2.__________ ___________ ___________ Below are phrases that are out of sequence. Place a number next to each phrase to organize the information correctly. an estimated 1.3 million persons per year in the U.S. as stated in the Journal of Medicine January 2000 bacterial pneumonia is a common medical problem affecting The L.A. Times reported that the June 25, 2001 issue of the Supreme Court ruled that political officials may not be convicted in mail fraud schemes unless prosecutors prove that the public lost money, not simply that the politician enriched himself or associates

13

3.__________ ____________

____________ 4.__________ ____________ ____________

as reported in the March issue of The Tucson Citizen of this year in a bike accident and lay for two hours in a community hospital while surgeons finished a routine operation on another patient. He bled to death from a torn liver and died while he was being wheeled into the emergency room two and a half hours after the accident a tragic story of a paramedic, Darrel Page was injured on April 25 of last year, he told me that during an interview I had with Dr. George Landrum, An increase of 20 percent or more above desirable body weight constitutes an established hazard. High blood pressure is three times greater than for the non-obese. It is five times higher for obese persons 20-44 years of age, twice as high for the 45-74 age group. professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, in The American Journal of Nutrition, January 2001 results showed that as the intake of green and yellow vegetables increased, the risk of cancer decreased researchers from Harvard University, Boston University and the Boston VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center collected dietary information on their more than 1200 subjects all of whom were 66 years old or over, for nine years, with annual follow-up surveys and interviews Go back to each passage that you have numbered and label what Type of supporting material the passage is.

____________ 5.___________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Final Directions:

14

Activity: Visual Autobiography, Show and Tell Exercise Purpose: This activity provides the students a chance to speak about a topic they are familiar with. This is an opportunity for classmates to know one anothers interests, experiences, passions, etc. Directions: For homework bring 3 favorite objects that you would like to talk about which reveals your personality, interests, experiences, passions, etc. For each object, tell us its beginning and how and why it is special to you. Time: Each student should speak for about 2-3 minutes. Date of Activity: Bring your objects to class on the date assigned!!!! Note: No make ups for this assignment, you must be in class and have your objects on the assigned date.

15