Elements of an Informative Speech

There are several types of speeches, and eachmain point should be limited to a single idea. Try to
have their own organizational patterns andbe creative and avoid just announcing your main
elements. In this article, I discuss the parts of anpoint. Each main point should be supported by
informative speech. An informative speech isexamples, definitions, statistics, comparisons, or
similar in structure to the five-paragraph essaytestimony from experts.
structure you learned about in high school: anTransitions
introduction paragraph, three main points (theBetween each main point, you should have good
body), and the concluding paragraph. You can thinktransitions. Transitions are verbal bridges that
of an informative speech the same way.move your audience from one idea to the next.
The introduction section of your speech shouldA transition is a word or group of words that
last about one minute in a five-minute speech. Inshow the relationship between ideas as you move
the introduction section, you should first gain thefrom point to point. Transitions can be effectively
audience’s attention, then relate your topic toindicated by pausing before moving on to another
the audience. Next, you should establish yourmain point, by changing the rate of your speaking,
credibility on your topic, state the purpose ofvarying your pitch, or more directly, by using
your speech and tell your audience your centralstatements that tell an audience you are moving
idea, then transition to your first main point.on. An effective transition summarizes the points
preceding it, and previews the next point. For
The Speech Bodyexample:
Your three main points should be organized inThose are the two main problems, now let’s
some logical, easy to follow pattern. One patternsee how they can be solved.
you could use is a chronological pattern. With aUse a variety of transitions and avoid falling into a
chronological pattern, your main points would berut. Transitions are surprisingly difficult and my
organized in time sequence: what occurred first,students used to tell me that coming with good
what occurred second, etc. This pattern wouldtransitions is one of the hardest parts of speech
work well for describing a process, such as awriting. Here are some examples of transitions
recipe, or for discussing periods of time in history.you can use:
Another option for organizing your main points is- However
the spatial pattern. You can logically organize your- In addition to
points based on physical space: top to bottom,- Similar to this
left to right, inside to outside, etc.- Looking further
Another organizational pattern is the causal- Now consider it from
pattern. You can first discuss the cause of a- Furthermore
problem, then the effect, or vice-versa. Related- More importantly
to this pattern is the problem/solution pattern.- Therefore
First discuss the problem, then discuss the- Despite this
solution.- Now let’s consider
The final organizational pattern is the topical- First of all
pattern. You can divide your topic in to it’sSpeech Conclusions
logical components and discuss these componentsThe final part of your speech is the conclusion. In
individually. For instance, if your topic is aboutyour conclusion, you would first signal the end of
symphonic orchestras, you could divide your mainyour speech, which let’s your audience know
points into strings, brass, and woodwindthat you are finishing. Then you recap your main
instruments.points, and finally end your speech with a good
You should begin each of your three main pointsclincher that reinforces your main idea and ties it
by clearly stating what your main point is. Eachall up.