Presentation: Informative Presentation Directions
An informative speaker shares information with others to enhance their knowledge or understanding of a particular topic. Most adult audiences enjoy information that is relevant to their own lives and needs.
This assignment will give you the opportunity to gain experience speaking extemporaneously, to narrow a topic and organize content using a pattern of organization, and to orally cite sources of supporting material.
Instructions
Select a topic which allows you to inform your audience of a significant aspect of a culture that is different than your own.
Possible topics include social customs, family traditions, holidays, clothing, food, religious traditions, and sporting activities. Refer to Chapter 7 of your text as a guide.
Research your topic. Be imaginative in choosing content for your speech. It is not enough to simply summarize basic information from the Internet about a country or culture. Narrow the topic by selecting one specific aspect on which to focus your ideas.
Organize the main points of your speech using an informative pattern of organization. Your speech should give your audience a deeper understanding of your topic, but should not be designed to affect your audience’s beliefs, attitudes, or behavior.
Provide adequate support for each main point by citing at least three credible sources in the speech. Incorporate examples, narratives, testimonial evidence, statistics, analogies, explanations, and/or definitions where appropriate. Sources must be cited orally in the speech. If you have had direct contact with a different culture, you should supplement your research with your personal experience.
Create an introduction and conclusion.
Once you have thought through each part of the speech (introduction, body, & conclusion), create a rough draft outline of the speech.
Create speaking notes to use during your delivery. Use key words and phrases rather than complete sentences. Your notes should serve only as a memory aid and should not be a word-for-word manuscript of your speech.
Practice your presentation before videoing yourself so that you can deliver the information with only occasional glances at your notes.
Consider asking friends or family members to view your presentation before submitting.
