RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

1. Speech to Inform
2. Speech to Persuade
3. Speech to Entertain

This module talks about communication for various purposes. It talks about the strategies, methods,
patterns, and parts of different message purposes such as informative, persuasive, and entertainment.

One of the principles of communication is that it is purposive. In every communication situation, a

sender has his own objective. It differs from the way a message is delivered depending on the sender’s
purpose. It is the sender’s responsibility to choose an appropriate method in delivering his message and
apply different techniques to make his message remarkable to the audience.

Read this module thoroughly to be guided and enlightened more of the discussion. An activity is
provided at the end of this module to assess your learning.

1. Convey ideas through oral, audio-visual, and/ or web-based presentations for different target
audiences in local and global settings using appropriate registers.
2. Create clear, coherent, and effective communication materials.
3. Present ideas persuasively using appropriate language registers, tone, facial, expressions, and
gestures.
4. Adopt awareness of audience and context in presenting ideas.

1
SPEECH TO INFORM

An informative speech is one whose goal is to explain or describe facts, truths, and principles in a
way that stimulates interest, facilitates understanding, and increases the likelihood of remembering. In
short, informative speeches are designed to educate audiences. Thus, most classroom lectures are
basically informative speeches (although they may range from excellent to poor in quality).

Informative speeches answer the questions about a topic, such as those beginning with who, when,
what, where, why, how-to, and how does. For example, your informative speech might describe who
popular singer-songwriter Adele is, define Scientology, compare and contrast the similarities and
differences between Twitter and Facebook, narrate the story of basketball professional Kobe Bryant, rise to
fame, or demonstrate how to create and post a blog or video on a website like YouTube.

Informative speaking differs from other speech forms (such as speaking to persuade, to entertain, or
to celebrate) in that your goal is simply to achieve mutual understanding about an object, person, place,
process, event, idea, concept, or issue (Verderver, 2015).

The purpose of informative communication is to add to a listener’s understanding. In order to

achieve this goal, a speaker must communicate information clearly and interestingly. There are many
different ways to categorize informative speeches and these will be discussed in this module.

Techniques in Delivering an Informative Speech

TECHNIQUES USE EXAMPLE

Presentational Aids To provide the opportunity for the A diagram of the process of making ethanol
audience to retain a visual as well
as an audio memory of important
or difficult material.

Repetition To give the audience a second or “The first dimension of romantic love is
third chance to retain important passion; that is, it can’t really be romantic
information by repeating or love if there is no sexual attraction.”
paraphrasing it.

Transition To increase the likelihood that the “So the three characteristics of romantic
audience will retain the love are passion, intimacy, and
relationships among the commitment. Now, let’s look at each of the
information being presented, five ways you can keep love alive. The first
including which information is is through small talk.”
primary and which is supporting.

2
 Humor and other create an emotional memory link “True love is like a pair of socks: you’ve got
Emotional Anecdotes to important ideas. to have two, and they’ve got to match. So
you and your partner need to be mutually
committed and compatible.”

Mnemonics and To provide an easily remembered “You can remember the four criteria for
Acronyms memory prompt or shortcut to evaluating a diamond as the four C’s: Carat,
increase the likelihood that a list Clarity, Cut, and Color.” “As you can see,
is retained. useful goals are SMART: Specific,
Measurable, Action-oriented, Reasonable,
and Timebound. That’s SMART.”

Characteristics of Effective Informative Speaking

Intellectually Stimulating
Relevant
Creative

Methods of Informing

1. Description

Description is a method used to create a precise, vivid, verbal picture of an object,

geographic feature, setting, event, person, or image. This method usually answers overarching
“who”, “what”, or “where” questions. If the thing to be described is simple and familiar (like a light
bulb or a river), the description may not need to be detailed. But if the thing to be described is
complex and unfamiliar (like a sextant or holograph), the description will be more exhaustive.
Descriptions are easier if you have a presentational aid, but vivid verbal descriptions can also create
informative mental pictures.

2. Definition

Definition is a method that explains the meaning of something. There are four ways to define
something:

● By classifying and differentiating

● By derivation or etymology
● By explaining its use or function
● By using synonyms or antonyms
3. Comparison and Contrast

Comparison and Contrast is a method of informing that centers on how something is similar
to and different from other things. The use of Venn diagrams can be a good technique to organize
your ideas in developing an informative speech using the comparison and contrast method.

4. Narration

Narration is a method that retells an autobiographical or biographical event, myth, or other

story. Narratives usually have four parts. First, the narrator tells the listener by describing when and

3
 where the event took place and by announcing the essential characters. Second, the narration
discusses the order of events that led to a complication or problem, including details that enhance
the progression. Third, the narration explains how the complication or problem affected key
characters. Finally, the narration recounts the manner by which the complication or problem was
solved. The features of a good narration comprise a strong storyline; use of descriptive language
and details that improve the plot, people, setting, and events; effective use of dialogue; pacing that
builds suspense; and a powerful voice.

5. Demonstration

Demonstration is a method that shows how something is done, displays the stages of a
process, or exhibits how something works. Demonstrations range from very simple with few
easy-to-follow steps (such as how to iron a shirt) to very complex (such as demonstrating how a
nuclear reactor works). Whether you present a simple or difficult subject, demonstrating effectively
requires you to be an expert in doing it. Use orderly sequencing, clear language, and visual aids.

Guidelines for Organization Pattern

PATTERN USE WHEN POSSIBLE TOPICS

Chronological You want to show a step-by-step progression Vacation to the Province

and/ or you want to discuss an event, Growth of Banana Tree
phenomenon, or concept over time.

Spatial You want to help the audience visualize An Interesting Island The New
something you are describing and/ or you want to Gym The Park at the
describe something by moving from point to point Neighborhood
through space.

Categorical You want to emphasize the significance of the Departments of the ABS
categories or divisions in some way or you are Company
interested in a flexible approach to organization

Causal You want your audience to understand those The Effects of Bad Study
factors (causes) that have contributed to some Habits Good Study Habits
outcome (effects) or you want your audience to Advantages
understand the impact (effects) of some problem
or phenomenon. Healthy Diet and its
Consequences

Problem-Solution You want to make your audience understand a Noise Pollution Water
problem more fully while acknowledging Pollution Scarcity of
associated solutions or you want to help your Resources
audience become aware of diverse solutions to a
problem without advocating any one of them.

4
SPEECH TO PERSUADE

PERSUASION is the process of altering or reinforcing attitudes, beliefs, values, or behavior.

Although knowing your listener’s attitudes, beliefs, and values can help you write any message, these three
variables when explaining psychological audience analysis are especially necessary to include when
drafting and presenting a persuasive message. Your attitude exhibits our likes and dislikes. Technically
speaking, a mental outlook is a learned choice to reply positively or negatively toward something. In your
task to persuade, you might want to influence your listeners to like or propose a new shopping mall, to like
bats because of their ability to eat insects, or to disapprove of an increase in tax.

Ways to Present Persuasive Ideas

DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

Cognitive Telling listeners about existing problems Many high school students today are not
Dissonance or information that is inconsistent with computer literate. Without this
their currently held beliefs or known knowledge, your students will not be
information creates psychological competitive in today’s job market. You
discomfort. should support a local bond proposal
that would provide more money for
computers in our schools.

Hierarchy of People are motivated by unmet needs. You could be the envy of people you
Needs The most basic needs are physiological, know if you purchase this new sleek
safety needs, psychological, safety sports car. You will be perceived as a
needs, social needs, self-esteem needs, person of high status in your community.
and finally, self-actualization needs.

Positive People will more likely change their You should take a course in public
Motivation thinking or pursue a particular course of speaking because it will increase your
action if they are convinced that good prospects of getting a good job. Effective
things will happen to them if they support communication skills are the most
what the speaker advocates. sought-after skills in today’s workplace.

Negative People seek to avoid pain and If you receive a letter or package that
Motivation discomfort. They will be motivated to looks suspicious because it is unusually
support what a speaker advocates if lumpy, has no return address, is marked
they are convinced that bad things will “personal” or “confidential”, or is from
happen to them unless they do. someone you do not know, wash your
hands after you touch it. Report the
suspicious letter or package to the post
office immediately. If you do not hear
these suggestions, you increase the
chances of being contaminated by a
biological agent.

5
SPEECH TO ENTERTAIN

The speech to entertain usually happens in an after-dinner situation, or at a time when the audience
does not expect to be asked to think very hard or to take very serious action.

Purposes and Challenges of the Speech to Entertain

The overarching purpose of the speech to entertain is to help listeners enjoy themselves; the
speaker whose purpose is not the same as a stand-up comedian. Rather, in the context of enjoyment, most
speakers also seek to impart some sort of memorable message. In many ways, a speech to entertain is a
very difficult speech to give. Humour is hard to plan; professional humorists are likely to employ teams of
writers, and even they can and often do flop. Also, what may seem funny to you or to a few of your friends
one night may not seem funny the next morning.

Enjoyment versus Humor

Creating enjoyment, it should be pointed out, does not always mean being funny. In fact, most
successful speeches to entertain will probably include a lot of informative material, they will stick to a
central theme or point, and, however light-hearted, many, like a good fable, will have a moral at the end.

For the audience, enjoyment comes from being relaxed and interested in the point of moral
communication, and not necessarily from being amused. Furthermore, different people enjoy different
things.

What people enjoy is not always easy to predict, and the clues you can get from audience analysis
may or may not be helpful. Obviously, listeners will bring diverse tastes and preferences to any speaking
situation. Even so, if you think about it, you can probably guess with some accuracy what kind of music
many college students find enjoyable, what sorts of television programs most people watch, what movies
are popular, what the serious interests are of those in particular majors, and so forth.

Many speeches to entertain are developed inductively, as the speaker shares amusing, meaningful,
and interesting stories. Of course, the strategy to be used depends, as always, on the speaker’s specific
worthy goal. But only those speeches that aim primarily at enjoyment can be successful when the
overarching result is enjoyment.

Preparing and Presenting the Speech to Entertain

If you have the talent, interest, and opportunity to develop and deliver a speech to entertain, here
are some tips to keep in mind:

Aim to stimulate enjoyment in your audience.

Make your presentation brief.
Provide a memorable message.

Basic Parts of Speech to Entertain

Introduction

Your task as a speaker in the speech to entertain is to start it by stimulating the audience’s
attention, setting the mood, and creating the main point. Do not attempt to present a serious or
complicated concept/ idea that makes your audience think because your only goal is to give the
listeners a total entertainment experience.

6
 Body

Always remember the kind of audience you have, the occasion and your speaking skill as
well as limitations when you plan your speech. Several variations can be used in organizing your
speech to entertain: topical order and descriptions.

Conclusion

The conclusion is usually very short and maintains a robust and joyful mood that was
maintained throughout the speech. Specific devices for concluding were discussed in the previous
lessons and should be reviewed as a means of determining which technique best suits the specific
occasion you are to speak at (Samovar, 1998).

Agustin, Racquel, et.al. Communication in Multicultural Contexts: Meanings and Purposes. Panday-Lahi
Publishing, Inc. 2018

Handbook of Effective, Professional Communication http://hplengr.wisc.edu/Prof_Comm.pdf

Wakat, Geraldine S. et.al., Purposive Communication. Lorimar Publishing, Inc.,2018