An informative speech teaches the audience about something they do not know about, or gives the audience a new perspective on something they do know about. What constitutes a “good” informative topic is difficult to define, as informatives come in many different styles and types. You can write a technical or scientific informative, a general interest informative, info-tainment, etc. The type of informative speech you choose is entirely up to you and what is best suited to your personal interests and presentation needs.
The informative speech is an original, factual speech on a realistic subject. Visual aids often can be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech.
Here are a few tips that may help as you work through the construction of your presentation:
Giving an informative speech can seem daunting. You need to captivate your audience’s attention, clearly explain complex topics, and deliver value in a short time frame.
But informative speeches don’t have to be boring or forgettable. With careful planning and strategic writing techniques, you can craft an informative speech that educates, enlightens, and even entertains your listeners.
Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to write a memorable informative speech your audience will take away key lessons from,
Choose a Focused, Relevant Topic
Your topic is the foundation for the entire speech so choose wisely right from the start. Pick a topic that
- Relates to the overall goals or theme of the speech presentation
- Interests, impacts, or educates your specific audience
- Is narrow enough to cover thoroughly in your time frame
Avoid broad, generic topics like “The History of Cars” or “All About Nutrition.” These are too wide to do justice in 5-10 minutes. Instead, narrow your focus like “The Origins of Electric Cars” or “5 Key Nutrients for Heart Health.”
Make sure your informative speech has a clear purpose, whether it’s teaching your audience something new, changing their perspective on a topic, inspiring action, or sparking their curiosity to learn more later.
Conduct Thorough Background Research
After selecting your speech topic, dive into research to become an expert The more knowledgeable you are, the more authority and confidence you’ll project during your speech
- Gather information from books, news articles, documentaries, interviews, and academic journals
- Collect compelling statistics, facts, examples, and anecdotes to weave in
- Take detailed notes and citations to refer back to later
Aim to learn much more about your topic than you’ll actually include in the speech. This gives you a solid knowledge base to draw from when deciding what to cover.
Know Your Audience and How to Engage Them
You must grab your audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds and sustain their interest. To do this, analyze their demographics, interests, and knowledge level about your topic.
- Are they already familiar with the topic or complete novices?
- What information will be totally new to them?
- What pain points or problems do they have related to the topic?
- What outcome do they want from your speech?
Then use what you know about your listeners to shape your content and tone. Include clear definitions of terms they may not know. Break complex ideas into digestible chunks. Use examples relevant to their lives. Craft a speech that leaves them enlightened.
Develop a Clear Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement or central message is the one specific point you want your audience to remember after your informative speech. It should:
- Encapsulate the core focus of your speech
- Be expressed as a single declarative sentence
- Answer the question: What is this speech about and why does it matter?
For example, your thesis could be “The Mediterranean diet is the healthiest eating plan because its nutritional balance boosts longevity.” This gives the audience clear insight into what to expect.
Create an Organized, Easy-to-Follow Outline
A strong informative speech has a logical structure leading your audience step-by-step through your central thesis. Creating an outline first provides that cohesive flow.
- Write an introduction that grabs interest and previews your main points
- Use main headings and sub-points for key information blocks
- Close by recapping your thesis and main conclusions
Don’t move on to drafting until you have an outline organizing all the pieces of your speech in a natural sequence.
Draft Your Speech With Smooth Transitions
With your outline completed, it’s time to start filling in the actual text of your speech.
- Flesh out the main points with essential supporting details
- Use clear topic sentences introducing each new point
- Weave in examples, data, and stories to reinforce points
- Use transitions like “First,” “In addition,” and “For example” between ideas
Aim for smooth flow from one idea to the next so listeners can follow easily. Delete any non-essential asides or tangents that distract from your central message.
Maintain an Appropriate Tone and Voice
Unlike a research paper, your speech tone should sound like you’re talking directly to your audience. While staying professional, use conversational language they can relate to.
- Address your listeners with “you” rather than third person
- Use natural phrasing and verbal cues like “Right?” or “See what I mean?”
- Insert rhetorical questions to engage them
- Share professional anecdotes or personal stories when relevant
Maintaining an approachable, human tone and voice makes your speech more compelling and memorable.
Carefully Edit Your Speech Before Finalizing
With your full draft completed, step away then come back to rigorously edit your speech:
- Verify all facts, statistics, pronunciations, and definitions
- Prune unnecessary wordiness and repetition
- Check smoothness of phrasing and transitions
- Read out loud to catch awkward spots
- Time your speech to fit required length
Having a polished, error-free speech boosts your credibility while eliminating any distractions from your core message.
Helpful Additional Tips
Keep these final tips in mind as well when preparing your informative speech:
- Summarize key points on slides rather than writing out full sentences
- Practice delivering with confidence and passion
- Make eye contact, modulate your voice, and use natural gestures
- Set up your presentation tech and notes well in advance
With an engaging, educational speech pulling together the right information and tone for your listeners, you can truly leave a lasting impression as a speaker. Use these strategies to make your next informative speech impactful and powerful.
B. The body of the speech
In light of the fact that there are a million different types of informative topics, there are a million different types of organization you can use– it all depends on the information you have on your topic. Theres the “past-present-future,” the “what it is-where we are with it-and where we might be going with it,” the “what it is-how beneficial it is for us-what problems it poses,” etc.
Refer to your public speaking instructor for possibilities. For example, you may choose a topical breakdown, or a spacial structure, or an investigative informative structure. Your instructor may have other suggestions.
In many respects, the conclusion is a mirror of the introduction. At the end of the third area, you need to have some sort of wrap statement (as per usual), but this one needs to have some sense of finality (simply put–you need to let the audience know that this is the end of the information you have). Then, you need an opening line to get you into the conclusion section; this can either refer to the intro or analogy (if you pulled one throughout) or refer generally to the topic. You may want to restate your thesis explicitly, and follow it with a structural summary– make sure you keep your tag phrases the same as in your preview. Finally, wrap up the whole speech. Preferably, you should tie this into the intro if you didnt do so with the opening line. Most of all in this wrap statement–make sure to pull out all the stops with the topic. Dont let your audience lose sight of its significance. If your ending isnt catchy, full of hope for a better world, etc., you could leave the audience wondering why they even bothered listening for the past several minutes!
B. Researching the topic
1. Once you have selected a topic–before you attempt to figure out what approach you want to take–research!! Go to the digital and physical libraries, use computerized research databases, and look up your idea. Rack your brain for related words that your topic might be listed under. For example, if youre doing something on, say, ice– dont limit your search to the word “ice.” Look up words like “frozen water,” “icebergs,” etc. Look up any type of phrase or word that is even remotely related–the results may surprise you. Look for printed information about your topic. Check bibliographies and reference sections to identify names and titles of people who have done work on your topic. It may be the author or someone who was quoted in the article. Try contacting these people to get some information that they may have–ask them questions (this type of evidence is called a primary source).
2. After youve found some materials, dont stop researching– you need to read your sources and highlight, underline, block off (or something similar) information which is strong (could be statistics, an example, a statement about the significance of your topic, etc.) After this step is completed, you should know whether youre missing a piece of evidence that is crucial (e.g., you dont have a solid significance statement). If youre missing something, go back and do more research or get back on the phone to call more primary sources.
Informative Speeches: How to Write an Informative Speech
What is the difference between formal and informal language?
Formal and informal language serve different purposes. The tone, the choice of words and the way the words are put together vary between the two styles. Formal language is less personal than informal language. It is used when writing for professional or academic purposes like university assignments. What is formal formal? Formal events have rules.
How to write a formal speech?
Formal speeches need to be taken seriously. Your audience could be made up of business executives or even world leaders. However, this does’t mean that you have to be strictly formal with your choice of words, you just need to know your limits. To begin your speech, you could present a relevant fact of the given subject.
Why is a formal speech more effective than an informal speech?
A formal speech is more effective than an informal speech because it comprises longer sentences and clear, non-colloquial phrases. It is well-spoken and the pronunciations are fathomable and precise. Its adherence to the Standard English language makes it comprehensible for the entire audience, even the non-native English speakers.
