Page 304 - Essentials of Human Communication

Three Types of Informative Speeches 283

Begin with an overview. It’s often helpful when demonstrating to give a broad Communication
general picture and then present each step in turn. For example, suppose your talk Choice Point
were about how to prepare a wall for painting. You might begin with a general speech of
overview to give your listeners a general idea of the process, saying something demonstration
like this: You want to demonstrate to
your audience how to construct bumper
In preparing the wall for painting, you want to make sure that the wall is smoothly stickers on Facebook. Your audience is prob-
sanded, free of dust, and dry. Sanding a wall isn’t like sanding a block of wood. So ably mixed in terms of their knowledge and
let’s look first at the proper way to sand a wall. use of social networking sites—some know
Here is an example of a speech of demonstration using a temporal organization. a great deal and others know very little.
In this example, the speaker identifies and demonstrates the steps of listening What are some things you can do to gain the at-
tention of your entire audience early in your
actively. speech? What specifically, might you say?
General purpose: To inform
Specific purpose: To demonstrate three techniques of active listening
Thesis: We can engage in active listening. (How can we engage in active
listening?)
I. Paraphrase the speaker’s meaning
II. Express understanding of the speaker’s feelings
III. Ask questions
In delivering the speech, the speaker might begin with this:
Active listening is a special kind of listening. It’s listening with total involvement, with a con-
cern for the speaker. It’s probably the most important type of listening you can engage in.
Active listening consists of three steps: paraphrasing the speaker’s meaning, expressing
understanding of the speaker’s feelings, and asking questions.
Your first step in active listening is to paraphrase the speaker’s meaning. . . .

Objectives self-Check
● Can you define and distinguish between informative speeches of description, definition, and
demonstration?
● Can you prepare and present such speeches with appropriate theses and main points, support-
ing materials, and organization?

Messages in the Media Wrap Up
Watch a sampling of cooking shows, and analyze how chefs use the principles for communicating information
and the ways in which they integrate verbal with nonverbal description.