ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will deliver a 5–7 minute informative speech on a topic of your choice. The speech can be for any context, but it must be informative. Below is a list of example informative speech topics for your reference.
Type of Informative SpeechPurposeExamplesObjectTo inform an audience about something visible or tangible
The human body
An episode of The Family Guy
A car engine
Equipment for riding a horse
ProcessTo explain a series of actions or steps with a defined ending point
How the modern electoral college works
How an ice cream sandwich is made
How to drive a car
How to study for a test
EventTo discuss or describe an occurrence of importance
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
A person’s first week at college
The invention of the telephone
The Norman invasion of England
ConceptTo discuss or explain an abstract idea or notion
The origins of the universe
Love at first sight
Optical illusions
Patriotism vs. nationalism
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be original for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.
Touchstone Support Videos
Evaluating Your Sources
Maintaining Relevance and Balance
A. Directions
Step 1: Select Informative Topic/Issue
Your speech should be consistently informative in nature. Identify your audience, purpose, and thesis. Imagine your audience and how you would want to convey your message to this audience.
Refer back to the following lessons for support:
Informative and Persuasive Speeches
Choosing and Developing a Good Topic
Informative Speeches: Definition and Types
Step 2: Consider Purpose, Thesis, and Audience
Identify your purpose, thesis, and audience. Imagine your audience and how you would want to convey your message to this audience. As you start to plan your speech, ask yourself the following questions:
What are you hoping to achieve with this speech?
Who will be in your audience? What do you know about them?
What is the key message of your speech?
Refer back to the following lessons for support:
Informative Speeches: Subjects, Goals, and Scope
Sample Informative Speech
Step 3: Find Credible Sources
Utilize your program resources, the internet, or a local library to find three credible sources that are relevant to your speech. As you look for sources, consider the following questions in your search to help ensure credibility:
How recent is the data or information presented in your source?
When was the source published? If the source is a website, when was the website last updated?
What does the source cover?
How well-researched and detailed is the source? How much depth is the topic covered in?
How is this content and level of detail relevant to your purpose, audience, and message?
How is the author qualified to speak on the topic?
What is the author’s purpose?
What biases might they have?
Is the information the author’s opinion alone or is it supported by cited facts?
Who funds the website or publication?
Are there items endorsed or for sale? If so, what items?
What is the reputation of the website or publication?
Refer back to the following lessons for support:
Gathering Information
Sources of Information: The Library
Sources of Information: The Internet
Evaluating Sources
Step 4: Identify Pieces of Evidence
Read through your sources to identify five pieces of evidence that support and reinforce your thesis. Be sure to use at least three different types of pieces of evidence from the following list:
Statistic
Analogy
Definition
Visual
Story
Testimony
Refer back to the following lessons for support:
Supporting Your Ideas
Using Examples
Using Statistics, Analogies, and Definitions to Support Your Ideas
Using Visuals, Testimony, and Storytelling to Support Your Ideas
Step 5: Create Notes
Create notes or bullet points that you can refer to while presenting your speech. You should not read your speech word for word from your notes. Make sure to cite at least three sources or pieces of evidence as you deliver your speech.
Step 6: Use Clear Language
Ensure that the language you use is consistently clear and appropriate to the audience, which helps the audience connect with you and your topic. Explain any technical jargon you use where necessary.
Refer back to the following lessons for support:
How to Use Your Knowledge of the Audience
Mind Your Audience
Tailor Abstraction to Your Audience
Make It Memorable and Enhance Audience Understanding
Step 7: Practice Speech
Practice presenting your speech. Deliver a speech that is 5–7 minutes in length.
Refer back to the following lesson for support:
Best Practices in Public Speaking
Step 8: Review Rubric
Before filming, review the rubric to ensure that you understand how you will be evaluated.
Step 9: Film Speech
Film yourself presenting the speech. Be sure that you can be easily seen and heard—at minimum, your head and shoulders should be visible in your video, and you should make eye contact with your audience by directing your speech toward the camera.