informative speech topics public speaking

Informative Speech Topics and Ideas: The Ultimate Guide

Before proceeding to the main topic, let us get some idea on Informative speech. Well, it is the type of speech that gives information about a particular subject to audiences.

Its main goal is to help audiences to recognize the information presented by you. Additionally, it makes a complex topic simple to understand providing different opinions and perspectives.

It also provides engaging information which is unique and desired by the audience.

Besides, informative speech can include objects, procedures, events, and other innovative ideas. This does not include the limited list as it is the topic plan that every useful speech contains. Speech can only be handy if it delivers genuine and informative information.

Informative speech describes the topic of your interest. For an instance, if you are giving an informative speech on coffee, focus on the topic.

Think about, what does coffee do, why do you love coffee, and how does it affect your health.

Also, to get rid of the health effect how much coffee do you need to drink per day. You can also conclude by summarizing all these things in a creative way. This makes your speech more interesting.

When you present, you might like to expand some topics or reduce the others. Here, you should be sensitive to your audience and think too much like this can distract the topic.

So focus on your plan and subject. Keep in mind, informative speech just to inform audiences. Do not pick up the topic based on your view as it is a convincing speech.

Remember, too much argumentative speech attempting to influence might take your audiences away.

These kinds of speech are polemical and are wrongly argumentative. You can also find places and time to make an appropriate polemical speech. But, it is not good to include it in the middle of the speech.

You can mention like “Coffee encourages me to work, giving me company during the work. I start my day with a cup of coffee.

It also inspires me to carry out research well. Yet, it can affect my health as well. So, I need to be conscious and drink coffee to the limit”. You can add more here describing different circumstances.

Table of Contents

Informative Speech Topics in History:

Informative speech topics in health and medicine:, informative speech topics in teaching, education, and students:, informative speech topics in music:, informative speech topics in food:, informative speech topics on environment:, informative speech topics in technology:, informative speech topics on economy:, informative speech topics in life:, other informative speech topics, 1. introduction, body, and conclusion, 2. clear, influential, and grabbing introduction, 3. seamless transitions, 4. do not forget to summarize at last, sample of informative speech, a) note list of wide-ranging subject area corresponding your knowledge and expertise, b) focus on the subject area relevant you don’t know yet but would love to, c) pick up the particular purpose of your speech, d) from the list of your topics, pick the one you can express clearly, a) carry out the initial research, b) think about how your research might change your topic, a) think about your audiences earlier than writing the speech, b) summarize your speech, c) elaborate the key points to make it interesting, d) write an introduction, e) write conclusion, a) make sufficient time to practice your speech, b) practice slowing down, c) if possible practice your speech with your friends, 1) make sure you do not speak fast, 2) practice speaking clearly and comprehensibly, 3) speak with your parents and friends, 4) get help from the internet, 5) carry out the outline properly, 6) understand the difference between persuasive and informative speech, 1) the audiences, 2) languages, 4) try to become clear and concise, 5) use audio or visuals if possible, informative speech topics.

The Great Depression
Famous riots
The British Royal Family
Women in the military
Unique funeral customs across the world
The origin of alphabets
The history of tobacco use
The evolution of marriage
Top secret government experiments
The most fascinating accidental inventions
History of witchcraft
The history of language
History of beauty products
The Industrial Revolution
The Middle Ages
How did the Olympics come to be?
Albert Einstein’s Contributions to Science
Helen Keller’s Life
History of art and expression
Civil disobedience
Why do we celebrate Valentine’s day?
Where did fortune cookies come from
A look into World wars
Understanding cults
Evolution of comic books
Most exciting prison breaks of history
Why have street gangs been so prevalent?
Life and Works of Mahatma Gandhi
Most shocking murders the world has seen
Evolution of immigration in the US
Life and Works of Mother Teresa
People Who Changed the World
How the Earth was formed
How antibiotics came to be
The history of greyhound dogs
Different philosophical perspectives
Evolution of movies
How Modern art came to be
Understanding Millenials and Gen-Z
History of Superstitions
History of Genocide
Indian Culture
Haitian Music
The trucking industry
The 80’s: more than just denim and hairdos
The funniest inventions ever
An analysis of smoking in movies through the years
Women in space
World’s most wanted criminals
Most ridiculous laws throughout history
Medicines from nature
Memory loss
How the brain works
Mental illnesses
Fast food culture
Basic first aid
Lucid dreams
Organ donation
Medicinal properties of ginger
Why I am better than you: A look into Narcissistic Disorder
Are home remedies actually worth it?
How DNA testing changed the world
How vitamins can enrich your everyday life
Why you need to stretch before your workout
Different personality disorders
The true horror of chemical warfare
How makeup affects your skin
Birth control and its negative effects
Leaps made by stem cell research
Signs of early on-set Alzheimers
How vaccines work
How to avoid wrinkles
Understanding insomnia
Understanding addiction
How nicotine deteriorates your life
Herbs as medicine
Life as a child of a drug addict
Why do we itch?
Botox: the good and the bad
Human cadavers – history of, uses of
How to have a better memory
DNA evidence.
The intelligence of dolphins
Is dark chocolate healthy?
Importance of vitamins and minerals
Pros and cons of LASIK surgery
Weight Issues.
Teen pregnancy
How stress can cripple your health
How a vegan diet can better your life
Why understanding health is vital to your weight loss journey
Unique medical conditions
Crazy things people have done on an adrenaline rush
Why does our body crave danger?
How to make an income while a student
How to survive freshman year
How to take the GRE
How to get a student job on campus
How to save money while in college
Virtual learning and its impact on Modern Education
Education and its role in unemployment
Great vacation bargains for students
Ethnic diversity for a more open learning experience
What to do in your senior year
Why do you need a college degree?
Moving out of the dorm to an apartment off-campus
Freebies and discounts for students
How to pay off your student loans in 10 years
Graduation checklist
How to pick a major you care about
The evolution of testing
The basics of financial aid
How to get that great internship
Current issues in education and what we can do about them
Basics of getting a fellowship
Learning disabilities teachers should be aware of
Banned books
Why travel is beneficial to education.
Diploma mills
Poverty and its impact on students
A look at the different testing methods
Online learning: A breakthrough in Modern Education
What to do on spring break?
Is homeschooling an effective learning method?
The history of your favorite musical group
How music has changed the world
What music has been to society
Classical and Modern Music: A comparison
The benefits of Music Therapy
Music and its effects on mood
Music and its effects on plant growth
Music and its effects on the psychological response of infants
The impact your favorite artist has had in the music world
The evolution of music
How different genres of music promote empowerment through self-expression
Modern earphones and tinnitus
Music and devotion explained through the life of an artist
How our brain reacts to music
How music can be used in rehabilitation
Does our music tastes define our personality?
What really makes a rockstar?
Strangest musical instruments across the world
Food additives: What are they and how they affect us
Food etiquettes across different countries
The food crisis
We are what we eat
Culinary modernism
The most exotic foods you can eat
Different types of coffee
Can peanut butter and jelly get any better than it is?
Understanding the food chain
Understanding food allergies
Understanding nutrition
Playing matchmaker: Condiments in foods
Baking your own bread
Wedding cakes: The bigger the better?
How to plan a diet that works
How to make the perfect cocktail
A quick guide to wine tasting
Junk food: More than just a packet of chips
Food disorders: What we can do to help
What is better than sliced bread?
How branding is shaping our perception of food
Cereal, soda, and obesity
Eggs: the most versatile food
How to go green in our eating habits
A practical guide to balanced eating
Are superfoods all that they claim to be?
How to master herbs and spices
How to make your own pasta
How to pair your wine with your food?
How to plan a culinary itinerary?
Ocean pollution and how serious the issue has become
Organic agriculture: Why the switch is worth it
The true impact of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Pollution laws and who it is actually protecting
Is it over for coal?
Plant species that have gone extinct
Animal species that have gone extinct
Our environment is dying and here’s why
Water shortage across the globe
How much of what we eat is pesticides and insecticides?
Domestic wastes and how to better manage it
What we can do to protect our environment?
COVID-19 as a blessing to Mother Nature
How a meat-based diest impacts the environment
How to preserve finite resources?
How we are contributing to global pollution
How Global Warming is coming for us
How corporations are destroying our environment
Are rainforests going extinct?
Genetically modified crops: Boon or curse?
How would life adjust without electricity?
3D printers have been a game-changer
Evolution of computer programming
Gadgets I love most
Useful websites
The internet as a boon or curse for human interaction
How Google became the widespread power that is is
Choosing a digital camera
New technologies
Biometrics: New development or a threat to biological data?
Pros and cons of going electric
How do 3D glasses work?
Violence and Video Games: Is this still a thing?
Evolution of content consumption
How to stay safe online?
How the content we consume makes us
How to start a good personal inventory
How search engines work
Social Networking
The Evolution of video games
VR gaming: Blurring the line of reality
The downside of smartphones
Pros and Cons of Smartphones
Is freedom of speech real over the Internet?
How technology has compromised our safety
Are blogs the new diaries?
How to build better credit
What you need to know about online banking security
Is your money safe?
Taxing the rich: Is that the solution?
The best investment tactics
How to beat the market
How to get a credit card
Price hike in the agricultural field
Where does our currency come from?
The ever-increasing cost of education
How education affects economy
Economic impacts of people growing their own foods
Why you need to save money
How to eat well on just $5 a day?
The budgeting secret you’ve needed all your life
How to get along with your roommate
Some inexpensive places to take your date
What to do when your roommate moves out
Being Confident.
Believing in Yourself.
Breaking Bad Habits.
Being Optimistic in Life.
Being a Positive Talker.
Types of birth control
How to fall for the right person
Choosing the right tires for your car
How to perform a magic trick
How a single parent upbringing affects the child
How to build your own brand?
How to achieve Goals
How Does Self-motivation Work?
Different leadership styles and how they help employee productivity
Handling Responsibility
Importance of Discipline
Importance of Meditation
Powerful Communication
The most dangerous jobs
Should assisted suicide be legalized?
The secret for a lasting marriage
How to grow your own home garden
How to retain good employees
How to recognize toxic behaviors
How to master negotiations
Become a more persuasive speaker
The benefits of reading every day
Differences in male and female communication
Muscle cars
Antique collecting
Dog training
My first job
Overcoming conflict
Favorite place
My favorite food
Prohibition
Airplane stunts
Model railroading
Roadside attractions
Multi-Level marketing
Why are smiles contagious
Is it love or simply a habit?
Interesting world records
Favorite TV Shows
The Welfare system
City planning
Reality TV shows
Coin collecting
Ice cream making
Reality of a dream
What winners do to win?
Near-death experiences
The beauty of wolves
Funeral oration
Pesticide use in agriculture
How to change a flat tire
How to drive a stick shift

What to include in informative speech?

Know what to include in an informative speech.

Usually, an informative speech contains an introduction, an informative body, and a meaningful and convincing conclusion. You have to follow the format one after another.

While working on the introduction part, you have to be clean to draw the attention of the audience. Generally, an introduction is a gateway to the key points.

The way you present the introduction part of the speech can influence the audience. It should have a clear relationship between the presenter and the topic.

Add some interesting example that attracts them and does not get bored. Focusing more on the body, develop the speech. Make sure your audiences will listen with an interest from the start.

While delivering an informative speech, the body should harmonize the main points. It must also present the information. Better follow the given time limit and convey information in an understandable way. This makes the audience convenient to engage and understand.

You need to think about a comfortable and natural way of presenting the speech. This way your speech gets appreciated by the audience. Here, the presenter should reveal a vibrant interest or desire for the topic. Keep the correct eye contact. The advancement from one point to another should not look uncomfortable.

In the conclusion part, do not forget to summarize your previous points. The main goal of the conclusion is to end with the main points of the speech. This will set your information in the mind of audiences. The ending should be the medium speaker signals the speech is heading towards an end.

Besides, analyze and repeat the most projecting ideas, innovations, or features of the speech. You should conclude the speech in a similar flow used during the speech. The essential thing to note down is that ending the speech is important. It needs to take the attention of the audience until the last hour.

For your ease, here are some samples that can be helpful for efficient informative speech.

How to write informative speech?

1) pick up the the topic.

The informative speech should cover all the procedures and ideas focusing on the topic. Better to start with a larger image and convincing points that you are confident to speak on.

For an instance, work on the subjects that you usually do or love to do. You can also include the activities that you have been practicing for years. The more you understand the topic, the easier it will be to carry out the useful speech.

Spend some time on the speech that builds up the confidence to deliver the speech. Prepare and come with a long-tail list. This benefits you with more choices to improve the speech that you love to present.

For example, if you like traveling, you might have lots of interesting travel experiences. You will feel comfortable speaking on that topic. Also, you love researching more on the topic of your interest.

Better include these kinds of topics in the list of your subject area. For an instance, you can say that you want to become a tech blogger. But you might not know much about the subject.

You can show it, saying you need to research more on the topic to pursue your aim. This makes your speech and subject influential.

First of all, find out the time you take to cover the topic and focus on completing the speech within the allocated time.

Pick up the particular purpose of the speech to direct the attention of your audience.

Think about making your speech influential. Only delivering the important speech is not going to help to attract your audiences.

Delivering the thing that your audiences already know might bore them. So make it interesting including the practical things and add your experience as well.

Be precise with the topic, do not move away from the topic. Suppose, you are speaking on the National animal of a country.

Focus on the topic of national animals, do not divert your speech explaining more about the country. Your speech may look meaningless.

Deep research and understanding of the topic make your speech more remarkable and appealing.

Better focus on a particular topic that you can express without too much work. If you try to speak about an unfamiliar topic, you might be in trouble later. Better pick up the topic workable for you to speak.

2) Research on the topic

One of the rules to write an informative speech is -Know your subject. Carry out your research with proper understanding and honesty. You can do this by utilizing trustworthy resources to write the notes.

While gathering research elements, divide the resources that you will use in the speech. Also, try to learn more about the subject area related to the topic. You may have to respond to the queries about the speech topic. Better learn the things that are helpful to answer the queries.

For an instance, you are speaking about European culture. If the audience asks about it, you should be smart enough to answer to the query.

Once you complete your research, find something new that makes your speech more effective. Instead of ignoring it, take some time to prepare it.

When preparing an informative speech on social media, you understand different things during the research. You may find the research on Social media Myth more interesting. If you have more confidence to speak on the social media myths, you can pursue it. You have done lots of research that makes you able to deliver the speech in an interesting way.

3) About writing the speech

It is ideal to expect your audiences are a little familiar with your topic. Keeping in mind, you may still deliver the background information of the related topic. Beware of the shortcuts you use while explaining the topic. Until your task says otherwise, do not rush to clarify anything.

Nobody desires to know about the actors and actresses when you are giving a speech in the movie. You do not need to provide lots of background information as they are already familiar with the topic.

List out the information you are willing to include and keep it in logical order. To carry out how to informative speech, including the reason for what you are doing and how you do it will be fine.

For example, if your speech is on preparing hamburgers, you should explain every step you carry out. Additionally, do not forget to explain how you use the ingredient for the perfect result. This makes your speech interesting.

Better elaborate on the main points to make your informative speech more interesting and informative. The common method to carry out the speech is to emerge with the key points. These key points for a speech should be in sequential order or spatial order.

This procedure helps to give a useful, informative, and engaging speech. For an instance, start the speech on My trip to Lumbini with a short introduction of Lumbini. Then, your experience while visiting Lumbini and conclude with summarizing them.

The introduction is the main gateway to your speech. It should take the attention of audiences and let them understand what you are talking about. Usually, if your speech is long or complicated, make sure to provide the points you aim to cover.

Better start the speech with interesting jokes or quotes related to your topic. Make sure you will not speak out of the topic. This will be useful to build a strong connection between your speech and the audience. Yet, it might go wrong if you prefer unpleasant statements or meaningless jokes.

For an instance, starting the speech as “I just came from the universe” might sound weird. This can make your speech boring and unimpressive. Better try some relevant sentences and speech.

The conclusion should sum up the key points of your speech. Better conclude the speech with your opinion. The audience usually remembers the first and last things they hear.

Thus, be sure, you are in the right sequence to deliver your message to your audiences. It will help to start and conclude your speech with some essential memorizing messages.

Attempt to put your conclusion into the introduction. Emerging with a complete circle provides will make your speech in the heart of your audience.

For an instance, you used some precise jokes or quotes making the speech impressive. If your movie speech started with a story about an actor struggling to make his career.

It might sound useless and inappropriate with the topic. So, talk about the thing that is necessary and appropriate.

4) Practicing your speech

Practice makes us perfect so make enough time to practice your speech. Include or cut off the points as necessary.

Try completing your speech in the precise time. Even if you are not assigned the time limitation, do not make the speech long and boring. You might not know this while delivering the speech. Better think about it earlier than you give the speech.

If you are speaking for some event, be sure that it does not cross the time limitation. Audiences might get your speech boring if you take a too long time or you may have to end with an incomplete speech. So, be sure that it works according to the time.

While presenting in a mass of people, you might f try to end the speech instantly. You may also speak quickly and in that way, audiences might not understand you.

To be sure the audiences enjoy what you present, attempt to slow down. Better use, video recorder while practicing. This way you can analyze your speech by yourself. It will be effective if you point out the mistakes and work to fix that.

Try to include dramatic pauses to make your speech more attractive. Dramatic pauses can strike a particular bit of information providing the audience time to reflect.

Best speakers use them carefully with great consequence. You have to be alert about the list of information. Make some time to practice after you list out the information.

You might be nervous to present in front of a huge mass of people. So, try practicing in front of your friend. This makes you able to build confidence.

Being nervous will mess up your speech. Better prepare well by working with your friends. Get feedback from them as an audience and work on the drawbacks. If you go with the wrong plan then recover from the mistake. This gives you the strength to deliver an interesting speech.

So, these are some effective ways to write informative speeches. Following these points will help to deliver an interesting speech.

Tips for Informative Speech

Now, let us proceed towards the tips to make your informative speech more efficient

While presenting in front of lots of people, it is likely to get nervous. When you get nervous, you try to complete the speech by talking quickly.

This might make the speech confusing and unimpressive. Think about it, while practicing try to slow down and make your speech clear and loud.

Even if you are good at writing the speech, it will not be effective unless you speak clearly. If you mumble while speaking, it might sound unclear. So, practice more and more until you speak clearly and comprehensibly.

You are most likely good at informative speech but you might not realize that. You can speak with your parents and friends about different topics of your interest. This builds up your confidence to speak in public.

If you are having a problem deciding on the topic of your speech, get help from the internet. There, you can find lots of websites with a list of prospective and interesting topics.

Or else, you can also think about the time you spend the most. For an instance, you spend most of your time cooking. Talk about cooking the dishes that you are proficient at.

Your outline plays a significant role to help you take your speech in an organized way. Yet, you should not take it lightly.

When you work on the speech, you might get that some points mentioned in the outline is unnecessary. You can add essential points and remove the points which you do not need. As outline helps to find necessary points, do it properly.

Persuasive and informative speeches are two different things. You should know that. Persuasive speech is convincing while informative speech gives information about a particular topic.

Simple ways to approach an informative speech

Think about your audience. This is the most challenging as the speaking circumstances, forums, and topics can vary. Before presenting the speech, analyze who your audiences are? Why are they present in your speech? Focusing on these details, you can explore the best ways to present your speech.

If you are speaking about lung cancer, you should know its basics as well. Some audiences might not understand the depth.

So start your speech from the basics. Do not presume that audiences are familiar with the background of your topic. Again, do not assume they do not know. This is the main reason, knowing the audience is essential. Besides, it depends on the situation of the speech.

Use proper language. Speak the language that audiences desire to listen to. You deliver the speech with the goal to provide useful information to the audience.

If audiences do not understand what you speak, the speech becomes useless. The main target of an informative speech is to give knowledge about a particular topic.

If you can explain well the topic in simple language better use it. Try to make the speech simple and understandable.

Do not rush to complete the speech quickly. Instead, think about educating your audiences with your speech. Explain the term if necessary.

Understanding the time flow of the speech will be helpful to make your speech effective. Speakers should create a link between their topic and the interest of audiences.

Here describe the significance of the topic. Also, express the main points with some interesting examples and quotes.

A speaker confessing their own experience encourages the audiences to share the same interest.

To become a good speaker, you have to be clear and concise at first. Spend lots of time on simple concepts instead of the harder ones.

Since giving many examples to prove a single point might not work well. This way your audiences may find your speech boring.

Better, explore some new ideas and prepare the topic well. Try to provide detailed information. Most of the audience gets influenced by details and descriptive presentation.

Try practicing using audio or visuals if possible. They help to find out your mistake. You can improve after you know where the mistake is.

Additionally, informative speech can be effective with demo presentation and visual support. So, using them properly helps to deliver your speech in a proper way.

The above-mentioned topics and tips for informative speech should help you prepare and deliver a powerful informative speech. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please let me know in the comment below.

50 Interesting Informative Speech Topics for College

26 September, 2020

15 minutes read

Author: Mathieu Johnson

Informative speeches grant speakers a responsible mission of educating people about significant ideas and themes. They’re also about sharing thoughts and opinions on this or that topic, aimed at expanding understanding and providing listeners with relevant insights for further deliberation. Therefore, it’s a particular type of speeches given to put things into sharp focus and offer food for thought. Read up to know which informative speech topics have the most impact.

What is an informative speech?

As mentioned above, it’s a kind of speech that, well, informs the audience about your topic. Sounds simple enough, but simplicity is deceptive, and there are enough secrets behind this science. Specifically, not all people are fully aware of the fact that the “what” question is a key element that needs to be answered, for with informative speeches, you want to choose a topic most likely to be well received.

Of course, you can speak about something you already know, but you can also talk about the topic which is absolutely new to you. In this case, however, you must make sure that the theme will be relatively easy to research and studied before speech delivery. Another important point worth noticing is that organizational requirements and type of information for informative speech usually intertwines with those for an informative essay, for the latter is often an extension of the first.

How to write an informative speech?

So, now it’s time to move from theory to practice and write an informative speech. But where do you start from?

Although there are many different processes involved in the process, we’ll narrow them to essentials to help you better grasp the idea of how a perfect speech should be tailored.

Stage 1. Research and Brainstorming

Think about the topic.

The first and most crucial step is about choosing the right topic. We’ve mentioned before that it’s vital to select the issue you feel free to talk about. However, there are also cases when professors assign a specific task for you. Either way, the point here is to conduct thorough research based on the given or chosen topic.

If you want to explain the history of some company, band or event, for example, make sure to deliver the message clearly, without going here and there. For this, consider talking about particular points which will cover the whole speech and help the audience quickly digest it. Otherwise, your speech will depart from the topic, and listeners will find it challenging to follow your thoughts.

Gather Evidence

Every scholarly work proves its credibility by the inclusion of relevant sources to show both the audience and the instructor that you’ve put enough effort into the work to sound authoritative. This is a great chance to get a good mark, but more importantly, earn trust from listeners. To cite the evidence correctly, you can search for some facts, stats, or numbers in a variety of sources. These include textbooks, books, and encyclopedias (online ones work as well), scholarly articles, reputable news bureaus, and government documents. If these are hard to find for you, think of alternatives, like online journals and magazines. But be careful and don’t use sources from there if they are not credible and reputable. As an example, use The New York Times, The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, SAJE journals, Forbes, etc.

Also, keep in mind that the evidence you’ll use should depend on the subject of your talk. If it’s about science, check scientific publications. If it’s about medicine – embark upon texts on this specific sphere. Finally, don’t forget to create a works cited page at the end of your speech and put all your sources there. Even if your instructor does not specify such a requirement, create a list anyways. This will help you keep references organized, and you will be able to pick a suitable one from the list.

Generate a Nice Thesis

A thesis is the core of impactful speech that tells listeners about its focal points. It also reveals the purpose of your speech and provides the audience with an insight into what the speech is all about. Notably, your thesis should not exceed the length of one-two sentences and be as precise as possible. More so, thesis, like the speech itself, is not about convincing people to take your topic stance immediately. Rather, it’s about informing listeners about significant events or cases which they could analyze and make relevant conclusions themselves. No need to push them or force to change the perspective, just try to be genuine and honest with people you’re talking to. Considering that it’s a scholarly piece of work, there’s no room for appealing to emotions or subjective claims. So in informative speeches, objectivity is the key player.

How to Start Informative Speech Writing?

Informative speech outline

The outline is a skeleton of your speech that briefly explains each of your points. This is basically a list of short sentences which reveal the meaning of your main speech ideas. Remember that this list is not for the audience; it’s for your own use. So the task here is to write about every point in a way you’ll understand. You can also use notecards instead of paper so that it’ll be much easier for you not to get lost in a sea of ideas and organize the speech properly. Tip: include numbers and capital letters for headings, and bullet points or other figures to mark subheadings.

If you are still unsure on whether you can cope with your task – you are in the right place to get help. Our essay writers will easily answer the to the question “Who can write my speech?”

Stage 2. Writing

Once the sketches are ready and you have a clear understanding of what to speak about, move on straight to writing.

Craft an Engaging Intro

What does engaging stand for in this case? It denotes some speech elements which will be enticing for listeners from the first sentence. It’s a common practice to start speeches with different hooks to call for more people’s attention. There are a plethora of techniques you can use to make an unforgettable first impression: jokes, anecdotes, examples from personal life, interesting statistics, rhetorical questions, quotes of famous people. You can even invent your own attention-grabber which will help you knock down listeners.

Give More Detail in the Main Body

Once you managed to create impact by the introduction and made sure everyone will be eager to listen to you further, you need to expand the explanation of key speech ideas in a well-structured, organized manner. Like in regular life, you start a story from the beginning to the end, while gradually moving from one idea to another. The same goes for informative speech – you need to ensure that the flow of your narration is logical and concise, fully elaborated, and precise. Also, don’t forget about making transitions between sentences. They will make your speech flow naturally, helping the audience to process the information much easier and effortlessly.

Wrap Everything Up in Conclusion

The ending of your informative speech should restate the main idea and the thesis you’ve mentioned in the introduction. There’s no need to say new things that will only confuse your audience. Instead, all the conclusion needs is a nice wrapping of the already stated claims.

So basically you want to review your main points and thereby deliver listeners a message which they will perceive as a major takeaway from what you’ve just told them. However, the introductory part should by no means repeat previous information word by word. It’s just a short restatement that covers up the main points.

Proofread and Edit the Final Version

Once the text is written entirely, it’s a must for you to double check it to avoid possible mistakes. If your informative speech turns out not as informative as expected due to grammatical or lexical errors, you’ll not be taken seriously, which we bet is not the purpose of delivering your talk. So, to prevent casualties from happening, you’ll need to use reliable editing and proofreading tools. Grammarly is an excellent source for this. Its accurate algorithm detects all kinds of mistakes and fixes them on the fly in a matter of seconds. And you can also check the text for plagiarism to make sure that it has no analogs anywhere on the web.

The Writing Process of Informative Speech

Stage 3. Perfecting Speech Delivery

Memorize your speech.

Half work is done – you have a writing piece. Now it’s time to learn it. Of course, it’ll take you time to do this, but with a little patience and enough time, you can memorize it even faster than expected. Besides, it’s not recommended to learn the speech from A to Z, inside out and upside down by heart. If your instructor is indulgent enough, feel free to memorize your talk in a way that allows you to explain your ideas clearly and consistently. To facilitate the process of learning, you can memorize sentence by sentence until you’re confident. And even if you forget something during delivery, you can always count on the outline that’ll give you a hint on what to talk about next.

Practice Reading Speech Aloud

When the final product is finally ready and polished, you need to concentrate on reading it.

Practice the speech in a mirror, to a friend/relative/pet, or record yourself to trace the tone and intonation. This way, you’ll make sure that your informative speech is brilliant and you deliver it just the way you wanted. Besides, this practice can help you critically evaluate the flaws and correct them before the actual delivery. Have enough time for this, because even experienced speakers always rehearse their speeches. Finally, focus on the way you use gestures, the way you stand and look at the audience, and facial expressions.

List of informative speech topics

There are lots of easy informative speech topics to choose from, but we offer you to review our topics list with some of the most alluring ones to get you started. Let’s examine pro informative topics that’ll help you write a memorable speech.

Topics for informative speech about music

Frank Sinatra – a beloved father of music
The drastic evolution of french music
Deep house – the most popular music style among youngsters
Why did rock and roll became an epitome of popular dance music
Why does reggae music most known under the name of Bob Marley
The psychological and physical benefits of listening to music
Chill, lounge and electronica has market the era of progressive sound
The impact of rap music on society at large
The art of playing the violin
The evolution of jazz music and its connection to historical movements

Informative speech topics about animals

Why are so many animals under extinction today and how do we fix it?
Why dogs are considered as humans best friend?
The history and evolution of polar bears
Why does rhinos horn trimming in South Africa still allowed
How to properly raise chinchillas
The most dangerous types of dogs on the planet
Staggering intellectual abilities of elephants baffle even scientists
How to keep snakes away and save your life
Different types of butterflies
The history of bees and their role in the world

Topics for informative speech about global warming

Patterns in climate change: rising temperatures and flooding
What Effects does Climate Change have on the Earth and its Inhabitants?
What are the practical solutions to global warming
What is global warming and what causes it?
The future of global warming: dismal predictions and statistics
Controversial opinions about global warming
The greenhouse effect as the top one reason of climate change
The global issue of global warming: what’s next?
Humans are responsible for the emergence and progress of global warming
Sanctions against generation of greenhouses: will they ever take place?

Informative speech ideas about sports

How sports improve human physical and psychological health
Is golf the game of the past?
The real life of sport teams: from trainings to furious games
Can roller skating be considered a kind of sport?
What’s more dangerous: white water rafting or ice diving?
The history of sports: whom do we owe respect?
Hockey 101: gear, playing techniques, team spirit
Why is boxing the most dangerous type of sports
The most unusual kinds of sports humans have invented
The importance and potential threat of football for the world

Interesting speech topics about food and drinks

How to bake a cake and not put on weight
Why does alcohol bring so much trouble to contemporary youth?
There are no superfoods, the study shows
Does fast food really cause addiction?
The secret ingredient of Coca Cola and why you’ll never want to drink it again
If the fruit diet useful for health?
Why bananas can save the world
Eating vegetables and olive oil is a golden ticket to rejuvenation
What’s the difference between natural and processed foods?
Why eating pizza is the worst way to get away with cooking

As you can see from the list of topics for speeches, informative speech is a perfect occasion to explore interesting themes in depth and share your knowledge with people who are most likely to learn new things with you. Discovering a variety of topics and writing them on paper is perhaps the most engaging task your instructor has ever assigned you. And if you find it challenging to come with the right idea for a good topic, just send a “ write my speech ” request, and we’ll complete your order in no time.

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Speech And Debate

Informative Speech Topics

Last updated on: Dec 29, 2023

Informative Speech Topics - Interesting Ideas By Experts

By: Cordon J.

12 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Are you tired of scouring the internet for the perfect informative speech topic?

Struggling to find a subject that's both engaging and educational can be a real challenge. But what if we told you that finding your ideal topic just got a whole lot easier?

We've put together a comprehensive list of informative speech topics just for you! Our list covers a diverse range of ideas that will ensure your audience stays interested.

So, grab your pen and get ready to take notes on the most engaging and informative speech topics of all time!

On this Page

Informative Speech Overview

An informative speech is a type of public speaking that aims to educate, inform, or explain a specific topic to an audience.

It is written to educate the audience about a particular subject. The aim of this public speaking is to present the information in such a way that it allows the audience members to understand and remember it easily.

An informative speech is also a part of speech writing and you can learn everything about the kind of topics it has, here in this blog.

With this article, we hope to solve this problem as we have gathered many interesting informative speech ideas.

How to Find Good Topics for Informative Speech?

A good speech topic is essential to keep your audience engaged and to ensure they learn something useful. It also makes writing and delivering the speech a fun and exciting process for you.

Following are some effective pointers to help you choose an informative speech topic.

Whenever you construct something with the intent of sharing information, your primary focus should be the targeted audience.

To understand the audience along with considering their interests, keep in mind their age and knowledge level.

While considering the audience and their interests is an integral part. Still, it is equally important to write on something that you are passionate about since you are the one who has to spend their time researching and writing the speech.

It is important to consider what the recommended length of the speech is when selecting your topic. The word requirement is directly related to the amount of relevant material you have on your topic.

Informative Speech Topics for Students

Here is a list of informative speech topics for you to choose from. Use these topics as a starting point to take help from. You can mold them as you like or use them as it is.

Discover Captivating Topics in a Click!

Informative Speech Topics for University Students

Would our descendants be happy to see the world in this current state?
The impact of man on nature
It is possible to change your fate.
Is being an adult easy?
What are some safety measures for riding dirt bikes?
What psychological tactics are used in advertising and marketing?
Effects of incentives on employee motivation
How can we improve our communication skills?
What are some good conversation starters?
Is theory more useful than practical knowledge?

Informative Speech Topics for College Students

How to prepare yourself for an important interview, such as a job or college interview?
How can one improve his communication skills?
What is the difference between boundaries and limits?
The benefits of a college degree.
How to prevent college dropout?
How to pick a major in college?
How to control your temper in difficult situations?
How is a single life better than being in a relationship?
How to convince yourself to take the next big step in life?
When will remote areas become civilized?

Informative Speech Topics for High School

Is homeschooling a better option for students?
High school will be the best and worst times of your life.
It is possible to ace your way through high school.
All high school students should wear uniforms.
Boys procrastinate more than girls do.
How to set goals for yourself and achieve them?
What are the things that make life meaningful?
Physical work and slavery: the relationship between the two?
Parents need to try and understand their children better.
Is telepathy real?

Good Informative Speech Topics

The existence of the Bermuda Triangle
What are some of the fastest-growing careers?
Effective ways to study for a test.
How to train your dog?
Why do people get tattoos?
Vampires and Literature.
How can anyone direct a movie?
What are some photography basics?
Discuss how illegal items struggle in America.
What is foreign policy?

Creative Informative Speech Topics

How is empathy different from sympathy?
What is the best age to get married?
Does your brain fall in love with someone too, or is it the heart?
How can you spot toxic friends?
Do you agree with the phrase “God helps those who help themselves?”
How are boundaries different from limits?
What are the three basic goals everyone must have in their lives?
What is the best way to resolve conflicts?
Life goes downhill after high school.
Does technology help you become creative?

Are you in need of a motivational spark? Check out this link for more than 50 motivational speech topics !

Easy Informative Speech Topics

Is tolerance equivalent to love?
Domestic violence against men.
The truth about foster care in America.
Journalism is the key to fighting corruption.
Some of the most expensive paintings weren’t worth the cost.
Evolution of makeup.
The meaning of different words that changed over time?
How can we help refugees?
What is the purpose of the United Nations?
The English language joins the entire world.

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Sports Informative Speech Topics

Is rugby a dangerous sport?
Female athletes are allowed to play on male sports teams?
What’s more dangerous, netball or hockey?
What are the benefits of indulging in sports for all age groups?
Difference between American and Canadian football.
How does American Karate strengthen your wellbeing?
How do sports help with positive self-esteem in children?
Sports help improve our mental well-being.
Hunting shouldn’t be considered a sport?
Smoking of any kind should be banned in stadiums.

Entertaining Informative Speech Topics

Fathers are cooler than moms.
Parents should be kept off social media.
Why do school parties need to happen every week?
The worst way to skip class.
Why do some people find offensive jokes funny?
What do women really say when they mean “I don’t know?”
Kanye West for president.
How to fall out of love?
The strangest person I met on the subway.
Wine tastings.

Fun Informative Speech Topics

Everyone is a photographer these days.
Lying without getting caught is a talent.
Every good girl is attracted to a bad boy.
A mid-life crisis is an excuse used by people.
Elvis Presley is still alive.
Ellen DeGeneres should be made President.
Robots will make humankind lazier.
French is the sexiest accent.
Most rich people are miserable.
Men need to stop wearing skinny jeans.

Unique Informative Speech Topics

Ways to pay off student loans in 10 years
What are the benefits of pleading guilty?
Ways to get a good internship.
A guide to social media apps.
How to travel the world for cheap?
Colonizing Mars: pros and cons.
How to deal with a bullied child effectively?
Are video blogs new age diaries?
Good online jobs for students.
How can one develop a positive relationship in life?

Psychology Informative Speech Topics

Why do women lean towards romantic comedies and men enjoy action movies?
What will life be like in 250 years?
Why are women fascinated by roses?
Why wouldn't I want to be a billionaire?
Why movies based on true stories aren’t actually true.
Why do my younger siblings worship me?
How is learning computer language useful?
How does the computer understand us?
The truth about turning 30.
Legalization of assisted suicide.

Informative Speech Topics about Mental Health

Mental health has been a hot-button issue throughout the world for many years. Here is a list of informative speech topics related to mental health:

The link between mental illness and substance abuse
Understanding different types of anxiety disorders
Cognitive behavioral therapy: a solution for chronic stress
Exploring the impact of social media on mental health
How to manage symptoms of depression
Recognizing the early warning signs of mental illness
The effects of trauma on mental health
The impact of the environment on mental well-being
Exploring different types of support for people living with mental illness
Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) and its treatment options.

Informative Speech Topics About Animals

Should animals be used to test beauty products?
Mice and rats affect us badly and must be killed.
Should dogs be outdoor pets?
It is unethical to keep birds in cages.
Should pets be microchipped?
Pets shouldn’t be a birthday present for kids.
Why should busy people not keep pets?
Dogs make better pets than cats.
Animal fighting games should be banned.
Animals don’t belong in zoos.

Controversial Informative Speech Topics

Why do countries still create nuclear weapons if they can destroy human lives?
Parents shouldn’t scold their children in front of other people.
Do ghosts really exist?
Why is cryptocurrency becoming more and more popular every day?
Police force corruption.
Who is at fault for teen suicides?
Should couples live together before marriage?
Gay couples are adopting kids.
Unemployment Insurance benefit.
Physician-Assisted suicide for terminally ill patients

Persuasive Informative Speech Topics

Rise and fall of the Mughal empire.
Why did the Titanic sink?
How can monkeys climb trees so easily?
Team sports without team-building skills are bound to fail.
How can college students land good internships?
Sports obsession is unhealthy.
The growing crime rates on college campuses
Why should horses be used for transportation?
Using animals for the circus should be stopped.

Looking for persuasive speech topics ? Visit this link and access 150+ inspiring topics.

Demonstrative Informative Speech Topics

How to keep your closet organized all the time.
What is the history of chocolate?
Why is eating pork dangerous for your health?
Some near-death experiences.
Why do people lie?
What benefits do you get from pleading guilty?
Having pets makes children responsible.
Sponsoring is highly important for sports events to take place.
Euthanasia for animals is unethical.
It is unhealthy to participate in competitive sports as a child.

Check out this link for 50+ great demonstration speech topics for your next speech!

Informative Speech Topics on Traveling

Five creative ways to ensure safety during travel
Describe the seven wonders of the world
How traveling broadens your horizon
Every school should take their students on a three days long trip.
How to find the most affordable holiday package?
More amusement parks should be designed around the world.
What are the ten most essentials for traveling?
Which is better, traveling by air or by road?
Most popular trekking trails
The rise of solo women travelers.

Informative Speech Topics About Life

How to be kind to everyone?
Ten life hacks that everyone should know.
How to pay off your loan quickly?
How to buy a new house?
A service animal can make your life easy.
How to make a marriage work?
Minimum wage law
All about your favorite dancer
How to be a good friend?

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General Informative Speech Topics

Cheerleading is an actual sport.
Dogs should be outdoor pets.
Stray dogs should be removed from the face of the world.
Why should sports be mandatory for college students?
Do athletes earn way too much?
Worst sports trade of all time
Rats are severely dangerous and must be eliminated.
What is the future of sports?
Is the Olympics still relevant?
Marine animals must not be kept in captivity.

Best Informative Speech Topics 2023

It's 2023, and the times are changing! Here's a compilation of some top informative speech topics that will captivate your audience.

The impact of automation and AI on jobs
New advances in green technology
Exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices
Social media's effects on mental health
Gen Z and its impact on workplace culture
Cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs
The evolution of health and wellness
Space exploration: what's ahead?
Understanding climate change in the 21st century
Cryptocurrency: A modern revolution?

We hope that with the aid of these great public speaking informative speech topics, you could find a topic of your interest. Choose a topic and get started.

You have chosen your topic, but you’ve just now realized how time-consuming it is actually to construct the speech. A whole lot of research and effort goes into it.

Don't worry!

Our professional essay writing service is available to help students like you who either don’t have the time or skill to craft an engaging speech for their listeners. Our writers can craft a high-quality speech or essay or even research papers for all academic-level students.

Whether you need a simple high school essay or a complicated informational essay for college, we do it all.

In addition to our professional writers offering custom help, we also have an AI essay typer for you for instant essay writing assistance. Give it a try!

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

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630 Informative Speech Topics & Unique Ideas

5 December 2023

last updated

Informative speech topics cover diverse subjects meant to educate the audience by providing relevant data and unique insights. They can range from scientific themes to historical subjects. Topics can also encompass health matters, discussing breakthroughs in mental health therapy, or decoding the complexity of modern nutrition. Technology is another rich area, highlighting advancements in artificial intelligence or space exploration. Cultural and social topics, like the global influence of pop culture or the impact of social media, offer engaging perspectives. All speech topics should captivate, inform, and stir curiosity, ultimately enabling listeners to gain a greater understanding of the world.

Good Informative Speech Topics

Revolutionizing Medicine With 3D Printing
Understanding the Mechanism Behind Dreams
Mysteries of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
The Powerful Impact of Blockchain Technology
Climbing the Ladder: The Evolution of Video Games
Unearthing the Hidden Treasures of the Ocean
Delving Into the Science of Happiness
Biodiversity Loss: Implications for Our Planet
Exploring the Genius of Leonardo da Vinci
Grasping the Complexities of Artificial Intelligence
Impactful Women in History and Their Contributions
Journey into the Mind: Unraveling Mental Health
Effects of Climate Change on Polar Ice Caps
Advancements in the Field of Nanotechnology
Dismantling the Myths Around Vaccines
Food Security Challenges in the 21st Century
Fascinating Mysteries of the Universe Yet to be Solved
The Intricate Relationship Between Diet and Health
Encountering the Wonders of Bioluminescence
Unmasking the Reality of Cybersecurity Threats
The Legacy of Ancient Greek Philosophy
Bridging the Gap: Understanding Cultural Diversity
Pioneers in Space: The Achievements of NASA
Influential Social Movements of the 20th Century

Informative Speech Topics & Unique Ideas

Easy Informative Speech Topics

Decoding the Language of Body Expression
The Role of Microplastics in Environmental Pollution
Music’s Influence on Cognitive Development
Understanding Animal Behavior and Intelligence
Revealing the Magic of Magnetic Levitation
The Global Impact of Cryptocurrencies
Fossil Fuels vs. Renewable Energy: A Comparative Analysis
The History and Evolution of Comic Books
Unfolding the Story of Human Evolution
Tracing the Roots of Yoga: From Ancient Times to Modern Practice
Neuroplasticity: The Brain’s Remarkable Ability to Change
Tackling the Consequences of Deforestation
Discovering the Depth of Marine Biodiversity
Harnessing the Power of Wind Energy
The Fight Against Cancer: Modern Treatment Methods
Life on Mars: What Science Tells Us
Navigating the Complexities of Global Immigration
The Evolution and Impact of Social Media
Drones and Their Multifaceted Applications
Digging Into the History of Archaeology
Learning from Past Pandemics: Lessons and Precautions
The Sublime World of Quantum Physics
The Intertwined History of Mathematics and Astronomy
Revealing the True Impact of Fast Fashion
Analyzing the Causes of Youth Unemployment
The Influence of Classical Literature on Modern Society

Interesting Informative Speech Topics

Understanding Genetic Engineering and Its Potential
Delving Into the World of Performance Arts
The Power of Meditation and Mindfulness
Investigating the Effects of Noise Pollution
The Art and Science of Winemaking
The Fascinating Journey of Language Evolution
Advances in Electric Vehicle Technology: A Step Toward Sustainable Future
Exploring the Depths of the Mariana Trench
Immortality through Science: The Promise of Biogerontology
Dissecting the Socioeconomic Impact of Sports
Myths and Truths About Human Memory
The Role of Robotics in Modern Healthcare
The Science and Art of Coffee Brewing
Interplay of Climate Change and Global Food Production
The Stunning Architectural Wonders of Ancient Rome
Magic of Algorithms: The Backbone of Modern Computing
The Impact of Colonization on Modern Societies
Harnessing Solar Energy: Advances and Challenges
Understanding the Complex World of Tax Laws
Coral Reefs: Underwater Ecosystems at Risk
Gravitational Waves: Probing the Universe’s Violent Events
The Influence of AI on the Job Market
The Intricate Art of Origami and Its Mathematical Connections
The Marvel of Bioluminescent Organisms in the Deep Sea
Modern Architecture: Blending Aesthetics and Sustainability

Informative Speech Topics for Fun

Unraveling the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
Evolution of Video Games: A Walk Through History
Decoding the Art of Brewing the Perfect Coffee
The Fascinating Science Behind Dreams
The Adventurous Journey of Space Exploration
Impressive Architectural Wonders of the Ancient World
The Secret World of Animal Communication
Unlocking the Powers of Mindfulness and Meditation
Exploring the Underwater Kingdom: Marine Life and Its Wonders
Demystifying the Intriguing World of Magic Tricks
A Glimpse into the Mysterious Lives of Spies
Chocolates and Happiness: A Delicious Connection
Journey Through the Genres of Music: An Auditory Delight
The Enthralling Evolution of Animation in the Film Industry
Unearthing the Secrets of the Egyptian Pyramids
Robots and Their Influence on Future Society
The Thrilling World of Extreme Sports: Not for the Faint-Hearted
The Peculiarities and Beauty of Bioluminescent Creatures
The Influence of Comic Books on Popular Culture
Discover the Intriguing Origins of Internet Memes
The Art and Science Behind Making Perfect Sushi
Dive Into the History of the World’s Most Famous Landmarks

Informative Speech Topics for High School

Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Society
Climate Change: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
Renewable Energy Sources: Exploring Sustainable Options
Effective Study Techniques for College Students
Exploring the Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Personal Information Online
The Role of Women in Leadership Positions
Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting Food Security
The Influence of Music on Mood and Emotions
Exploring Different Cultural Perspectives on Marriage
The Health Benefits of Regular Exercise and Fitness
The Future of Space Exploration and Colonization
Strategies for Stress Management in School Life
The Evolution and Impact of Social Networking Sites
Understanding and Addressing Food Waste in Society
Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Healthcare Innovations
The Psychology of Persuasion: Understanding Influential Techniques
Exploring Alternative Medicine and Its Efficacy
The Role of Robotics in Manufacturing Industries
Sustainable Tourism: Preserving Natural Resources and Cultures
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

Informative Speech Topics for College Students

Renewable Energy Sources: Harnessing the Power of the Sun, Wind, and Water
Genetic Engineering: Advancements in Agriculture and Medicine
Artificial Intelligence: Exploring the Future of Technology
Climate Change: Understanding the Impact on Our Planet
Space Exploration: Journeying Into the Unknown
Mental Health Awareness: Breaking the Stigma and Seeking Help
Sustainable Living: Eco-Friendly Practices for a Better Future
The Importance of Voting: Exercising Your Civic Duty
Human Rights: Advocating for Equality and Justice
The Influence of Social Media: Impacts on Communication and Society
Healthy Eating Habits: Nourishing Your Body and Mind
Renewable Energy: Transitioning to a Greener World
Effects of Bullying: Building a Safe and Inclusive Community
Robotics and Automation: Transforming Industries and the Workforce
Animal Conservation: Preserving Biodiversity for Future Generations
Mental Resilience: Strategies for Coping With Life’s Challenges
The History and Impact of the Internet: Connecting the World
Financial Literacy: Managing Money and Building a Secure Future
Climate Action: Individual and Collective Efforts for a Sustainable Planet
The Significance of Cultural Diversity: Celebrating Differences
Drug Abuse Prevention: Educating for a Drug-Free Society
Gender Equality: Promoting Fairness and Empowerment

Informative Speech Topics for University

Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Digital Assets in the Modern Era
Renewable Energy: Harnessing Sustainable Power Sources
Genetic Engineering: Advancements and Ethical Considerations
Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Industries and Human Lives
Climate Change: Understanding the Impact and Solutions
Space Exploration: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Universe
The Human Brain: Unlocking Its Potential and Limitations
Sustainable Agriculture: Feeding the World While Protecting the Environment
Blockchain Technology: Revolutionizing Industries and Enhancing Security
Virtual Reality: Expanding Possibilities in Entertainment and Beyond
Mental Health Awareness: Breaking Stigma and Promoting Well-Being
Autonomous Vehicles: Transforming Transportation and Road Safety
The Power of Social Media: Impact on Communication and Society
Globalization: Effects on Economics, Culture, and Politics
Robotics: Advancements and Applications in Various Industries
The Importance of Financial Literacy in the Modern World
Sustainable Fashion: Balancing Style and Environmental Responsibility
Biotechnology: Innovations and Contributions to Health and Agriculture
Green Building: Designing Sustainable Structures for a Greener Future
The History and Impact of Feminism on Society
Ocean Conservation: Preserving Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity
The Future of Work: Automation, AI, and Job Market Trends
Food Security: Addressing Hunger and Nutrition Challenges
The Psychology of Motivation: Understanding Drivers of Human Behavior

Presentation Informative Speech Topics

Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Modern Industries
Climate Change: The Global Challenge We Must Address
Renewable Energy: Powering a Sustainable Future
Space Exploration: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe
Cybersecurity: Protecting Data in the Digital Age
Blockchain Technology: Transforming Business and Finance
Mental Health Awareness: Breaking the Stigma
Genetic Engineering: Advancements in Biotechnology
The Importance of Early Childhood Education
Sustainable Agriculture: Feeding the World Responsibly
The Future of Work: Automation and Job Market Trends
Alternative Medicine: Holistic Approaches to Health
Ocean Conservation: Preserving Marine Ecosystems
Robotics: Enhancing Efficiency and Productivity
The Art of Public Speaking: Effective Communication Skills
Urbanization: Challenges and Opportunities in Cities
The Power of Storytelling: Connecting People and Ideas
Financial Literacy: Building a Strong Foundation
The Science Behind Meditation and Mindfulness
Exploring Cultural Diversity: Celebrating Differences
The Evolution of Transportation: From Horse Carriages to Electric Vehicles
The Impact of Advertising on Consumer Behavior

Informative Speech Topics for Public Speaking

The Power of Positive Thinking in Achieving Personal Success
Understanding the Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Influencers on Youth Culture
Exploring the Science of Happiness and Well-Being
Investigating the History and Significance of Human Rights Movements
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Universe: Black Holes and Dark Matter
Examining the Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife and Biodiversity
Discovering the Benefits of Mindfulness and Stress Reduction Techniques
Evaluating the Role of Education in Empowering Individuals and Communities
Unraveling the Secrets of Effective Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
Investigating the Evolution and Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Robotics
Analyzing the Psychological Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness
Exploring the Benefits of Meditation and Yoga for Mental and Physical Health
Understanding the Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Personal and Professional Life
Delving into the History and Influence of Ancient Civilizations
Examining the Implications of Genetic Engineering on Agriculture and Food Production
Investigating the Role of Mass Media in Shaping Political Discourse
Discovering the Health Benefits of Regular Exercise and Physical Activity
Unveiling the History and Cultural Significance of Traditional Festivals
Exploring the Impact of Technology on Work-Life Balance

Informative Speech Topics on Important Days & Events

World Environment Day: Preserving Our Planet’s Future
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Achievements and Empowering Women
World AIDS Day: Promoting Awareness and Support for Those Affected
World Mental Health Day: Breaking the Stigma and Promoting Well-Being
International Day of Peace: Building a Harmonious Global Society
World Water Day: Ensuring Access to Clean Water for All
International Day of Education: Empowering Individuals Through Learning
World Cancer Day: Spreading Awareness and Supporting Research
World Refugee Day: Understanding the Plight and Supporting Refugees
International Day of Forests: Preserving and Restoring Our Woodlands
World Humanitarian Day: Recognizing and Honoring Humanitarian Work
International Day of Happiness: Promoting Well-Being and Joy
World Food Day: Addressing Hunger and Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
World Diabetes Day: Raising Awareness and Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles
World Wildlife Day: Protecting Biodiversity and Endangered Species
World Hepatitis Day: Promoting Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis
International Day of Families: Celebrating the Importance of Family Bonds
World Autism Awareness Day: Increasing Understanding and Acceptance
International Day of Older Persons: Honoring the Contributions and Challenges of Seniors
World Blood Donor Day: Encouraging Life-Saving Blood Donations
International Day of Democracy: Nurturing Democratic Values and Participation
World Tuberculosis Day: Combating Tuberculosis and Promoting Treatment

Science & Technology Informative Speech Topics

Augmented Reality Technology: Advantages and Challenges
Genetic Editing: The Potential for Disease Cures
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: The Science Behind
Machine Learning in Personalized Medicine
Evolution of Smartphones and Mobile Technology
Energy Storage and Batteries: Future Innovations
Virtual Assistants and Natural Language Processing: The Science Behind
Gene Therapy: Benefits and Risks
Quantum Cryptography: Ensuring Data Security
Brain-Computer Interfaces: Advancements in Communication and Control
Innovations in Sustainable Energy: Harnessing Renewable Resources
The Role of Robotics in Healthcare and Medicine
Ethics of Gene Editing and Genetic Manipulation
Breakthroughs in Quantum Computing: Unleashing Computing Power
The Evolution of Cybersecurity: Protecting Digital Assets
Biometrics in Modern Society: Balancing Convenience and Privacy
Cloud Computing: Transforming Business Operations
The Science of Nanomaterials and Their Applications
Advancements in Virtual Reality Gaming and Entertainment
The Power of Data Analytics in Business Decision Making

Informative Speech Topics About Animals

The Evolution of Primates: A Journey Through Time
Endangered Species Conservation Efforts: Making a Difference
Incredible Adaptations: How Do Animals Survive in Extreme Environments?
The Mysterious World of Marine Life: Exploring the Depths
Animal Intelligence: Unveiling the Secrets of the Animal Mind
The Role of Bees in Pollination: Nature’s Unsung Heroes
Wildlife Trafficking: Combating Illegal Trade and Protecting Species
The Importance of Conservation: Preserving Biodiversity for Future Generations
Animal-Assisted Therapy: The Healing Power of Animals
Animal Camouflage: Nature’s Master Disguises
The Plight of Sea Turtles: Challenges and Conservation Efforts
Animal Migration: A Phenomenon of Epic Proportions
The Fascinating World of Insects: Diversity and Adaptations
Animal Agriculture: Balancing Food Production and Animal Welfare
Endangered Big Cats: Protecting Lions, Tigers, and Leopards
The Incredible Journey of Monarch Butterflies: Migration and Conservation
Animal Communication: Unlocking the Language of the Wild
The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef: A World Heritage Site Under Threat
The Surprising Social Lives of Elephants: Complex Family Structures
The Intricate Web of Coral Reefs: Sustaining Marine Ecosystems

Informative Speech Topics for Sports

The Evolution of Basketball: From Naismith to the NBA
The Impact of Sports on Promoting Gender Equality
Sports Nutrition: Fueling Your Performance
Exploring the Science of Sports Injuries and Recovery
The History and Cultural Significance of Soccer
Mental Toughness in Sports: Strategies for Success
The Importance of Teamwork in Competitive Sports
Exploring the Psychology of Sports Fandom
The Role of Technology in Enhancing Sports Performance
Sports and Social Media: A Powerful Partnership
The Economics of Professional Sports: Money and Beyond
The Olympic Games: A Symbol of Unity and Excellence
Sports and Youth Development: Building Character and Skills
The Health Benefits of Regular Physical Activity
Sports Diplomacy: Building Bridges Through Athletics
The Rise of E-Sports: A New Frontier in Competitive Gaming
The History and Traditions of American Football
Exploring the Psychology of Winning and Losing in Sports
The Evolution of Sports Broadcasting: From Radio to Live Streaming
Sports and Ethical Dilemmas: Fair Play and Sportsmanship
The Rise of Extreme Sports: Pushing the Limits of Human Potential

Health Informative Speech Topics

The Role of Nutrition in Promoting Heart Health
Preventing Chronic Diseases Through Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Exploring Alternative Medicine: Benefits and Risks
Understanding the Effects of Stress on the Immune System
Managing and Preventing Obesity in Modern Society
Promoting Mental Wellness: Strategies for Stress Reduction
The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity for Aging Adults
Improving Digestive Health through Diet and Lifestyle Modifications
Unveiling the Truth About Popular Diets and Weight Loss Programs
Exploring the Dangers of Sedentary Lifestyles
Effects of Smoking on Respiratory Health
Understanding and Managing Food Allergies and Intolerances
Mental Health Stigma: Breaking the Silence and Seeking Support
The Importance of Regular Health Check-Ups and Screenings
Promoting Healthy Habits for Children and Adolescents
Understanding the Connection between Gut Health and the Immune System
The Impact of Technology on Sleep Quality and Sleep Disorders
Exploring the Link between Nutrition and Brain Function
The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity for Mental Health
Preventing Burnout: Strategies for Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Informative Speech Topics for Literature & History

The Impact of Shakespeare’s Tragedies on Modern Theater
The Influence of Charles Dickens on Social Reform
The Symbolism of Colors in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
Analyzing the Historical Accuracy of the Arthurian Legends
The Evolution of the Hero’s Journey in Literature
Examining the Themes of War in Ernest Hemingway’s Novels
The Significance of the Harlem Renaissance in African American Literature
The Origins and Legacy of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Unraveling the Secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”
Exploring the Mythology and Folklore of Native American Tribes
The Influence of Ancient Greek Philosophy on Western Literature
Analyzing the Historical Context of Jane Austen’s Novels
The Power of Satire in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
Investigating the Historical Events Behind William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
The Evolution of Gothic Literature From Horace Walpole to Edgar Allan Poe
Understanding the Political Allegories in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
Examining the Historical Significance of the Renaissance Period
The Influence of Greek Tragedies on Modern Drama
The Symbolism of Nature in William Wordsworth’s Romantic Poetry
The Cultural Impact of Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote”
Analyzing the Historical Accuracy of Shakespeare’s Historical Plays
The Role of Religion in Colonial American Literature

Music Informative Speech Topics

The Impact of Classical Music on Brain Development
Exploring the Influence of Hip-Hop Culture on Contemporary Society
The Rise of Electronic Dance Music and its Global Phenomenon
Unveiling the Power of Music Therapy for Mental Health
How Music Shapes Cultural Identity: A Comparative Study
Examining the Life and Legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Role of Music in Historical Movements: Protest Songs and Social Change
The Science Behind Musical Instruments: Acoustics and Engineering
Decoding the Secrets of Film Scores: Enhancing Emotion in Cinema
The Cultural Significance of Indigenous Music Traditions
The Art of Musical Improvisation: Techniques and Styles
Exploring the World of Opera: From Aria to Libretto
The Revolutionary Sound of Rock and Roll: Icons and Innovations
The Healing Power of Rhythm: Drumming and Percussion Therapy
Impacts of Music Streaming Services on the Music Industry
The Intersection of Music and Fashion: Styles and Subcultures
Examining the Legacy of Ludwig van Beethoven: Genius and Innovation
The Psychology of Music: How Does Sound Affect Human Emotion and Behavior?
The Power of Lyrics: Poetry and Storytelling in Songwriting
Uncovering the Origins of Blues Music: African Roots and American Heritage
Music and Memory: Exploring the Relationship Between Sound and Recall

Environment Informative Speech Topics

Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies
Protecting Endangered Species: Conservation Efforts and Success Stories
The Role of Wetlands in Ecosystem Health
Sustainable Agriculture: Methods for Preserving Soil Quality
Ocean Acidification: Threats to Marine Life
The Importance of Recycling: Reducing Waste and Environmental Impact
Climate Change and Its Effects on Global Weather Patterns
Water Scarcity: Challenges and Solutions for a Thirsty Planet
Urbanization and Its Impact on Natural Habitats
Sustainable Fishing Practices: Balancing Human Needs and Marine Ecosystems
Ecotourism: Promoting Conservation and Local Economies
Natural Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies
The Significance of National Parks: Preserving Natural Beauty
Restoring Degraded Landscapes: Reforestation and Ecological Rehabilitation
The Benefits of Green Spaces in Urban Environments
Renewable Energy Sources: Exploring Solar, Wind, and Hydroelectric Power
The Effects of Pesticides on Wildlife and Ecosystems
Sustainable Transportation: Promoting Alternatives to Reduce Carbon Footprint
The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Stewardship
Coral Reef Conservation: Protecting Biodiversity Hotspots

Informative Speech Topics on Education

Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills in the Classroom
Implementing Technology in Education: Trends and Benefits
Promoting Inclusive Education for Students With Disabilities
Addressing the Achievement Gap in Education
Effective Strategies for Classroom Management
Understanding Different Learning Styles and Tailoring Instruction
The Role of Arts Education in Developing Well-Rounded Individuals
Advantages of Bilingual Education in a Globalized World
Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Education
Exploring Project-Based Learning: Engaging Students in Real-World Applications
Teaching Financial Literacy: Preparing Students for Economic Independence
Benefits of Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence in Schools
Assessing the Impact of Standardized Curriculum on Education Quality
The Role of School Counseling in Supporting Students’ Mental Health
Examining the Effects of Homework on Student Achievement
The Power of Teacher-Student Relationships in Academic Success
Promoting Gender Equality in Education: Breaking Stereotypes and Barriers
The Importance of Multicultural Education in a Diverse Society
Examining the Benefits and Challenges of Online Education

Informative Speech Topics About Society & Sociology

The Role of Gender Stereotypes in Society
Exploring the Effects of Income Inequality on Social Mobility
Analyzing the Influence of Media on Body Image Perception
Understanding the Rise of Online Activism in Modern Society
Examining the Causes and Consequences of Bullying in Schools
The Evolution of Family Structures and Its Impact on Society
Unraveling the Psychological Effects of Loneliness in the Digital Age
Investigating the Relationship between Education and Social Equality
The Power of Language: Exploring the Impact of Rhetoric on Society
Analyzing the Socioeconomic Factors Contributing to Crime Rates
The Significance of Cultural Diversity in Building Stronger Communities
Exploring the Effects of Social Class on Access to Healthcare
Understanding the Impact of Mass Incarceration on Communities
Examining the Relationship Between Religion and Society
Analyzing the Factors Contributing to Political Polarization
The Impact of Technology on Socialization and Human Interaction
Unveiling the Dynamics of Power and Authority in Societies
Investigating the Roots and Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination
The Role of Social Movements in Promoting Social Change
Analyzing the Impact of Globalization on Cultural Identity
Understanding the Psychology of Social Conformity in Groups
Effects of Urbanization on Social Structures and Quality of Life

Business & Finance Informative Speech Topics

Global Economic Trends: Opportunities and Challenges
Sustainable Business Practices: Enhancing Profitability and Environmental Responsibility
The Rise of E-Commerce: Transforming the Retail Industry
Effective Strategies for Personal Financial Management
Entrepreneurship: Navigating Risks and Achieving Success
Mergers and Acquisitions: Examining the Impacts on Companies and the Economy
Financial Literacy: Empowering Individuals for a Secure Future
The Gig Economy: Adapting to the Changing Nature of Work
The Importance of Business Ethics in Today’s Corporate World
The Role of Central Banks in Managing Monetary Policy
Green Investments: Promoting Environmental and Financial Returns
Innovation and Disruption: Key Drivers of Business Growth
Understanding the Stock Market: Basics and Investment Strategies
The Future of Banking: Digital Transformation and Fintech Innovations
Corporate Governance: Ensuring Accountability and Transparency
The Impact of Global Trade Policies on Businesses and Economies
Financial Planning for Retirement: Building a Secure Future
Effective Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Driving Change in Business
The Economics of Climate Change: Addressing Environmental Challenges Through Business Initiatives

Informative Speech Topics on Banking & Economics

The Role of Central Banks in Economic Stability
Investment Strategies for Wealth Accumulation
The Evolution of Online Banking and Its Benefits
Analyzing the Causes and Consequences of Economic Recessions
Understanding the Stock Market: Key Concepts and Terminology
Exploring the Effects of Global Trade on Local Economies
The Importance of Financial Literacy in Personal Finance
The Influence of Government Policies on Economic Growth
Exploring Cryptocurrencies: Advantages and Risks
Analyzing the Impact of Interest Rates on Borrowing and Saving
The Economic Effects of Taxation Policies
Exploring the Concept of Supply and Demand in Economics
The Rise of Fintech: Disruption and Innovation in Banking
Understanding the Role of Credit Rating Agencies in Financial Markets
Exploring the Relationship Between Unemployment and Economic Growth
The Impact of Economic Inequality on Society
Analyzing the Causes and Consequences of Stock Market Crashes
Exploring the Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
The Influence of Economic Factors on Consumer Behavior
Analyzing the Role of Banks in Financing Small Businesses

Family Informative Speech Topics

Importance of Communication Within the Family
Benefits of Shared Family Meals
Roles of Parenting Styles in Child Development
Significance of Family Traditions and Rituals
Impacts of Technology on Family Dynamics
Strategies for Resolving Family Conflicts
Effects of Divorce on Children’s Well-Being
Exploring the Concept of Unconditional Love in Families
Understanding Sibling Relationships and Their Influence
Promoting Emotional Intelligence Within the Family
Exploring Multigenerational Family Dynamics
Nurturing a Healthy and Supportive Family Environment
Challenges and Rewards of Blended Families
Exploring Cultural Diversity within Families
Impacts of Social Media on Family Relationships
Exploring the Benefits of Family Therapy
Balancing Work and Family Life
Importance of Family Bonding Activities
Strategies for Building Strong Family Connections
Exploring the Role of Extended Family in Childrearing
Understanding the Effects of Substance Abuse on Family Units

Informative Speech Topics on Politics

The Importance of Media in Political Communication
Gender Equality in Politics: Breaking Barriers and Shifting Paradigms
The Art of Diplomacy: Negotiating Peace in Conflict Zones
The Impact of Globalization on Political Structures
Political Corruption: Unveiling the Dark Side of Governance
Environmental Policies: Balancing Economic Growth and Sustainability
Populism in Politics: Understanding Its Rise and Implications
Human Rights: Striving for Equality and Justice in Political Systems
The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Shaping Political Agendas
Political Leadership: Characteristics and Challenges in a Changing World
The Importance of Education in Fostering Political Engagement
Immigration Policies: Balancing National Security and Humanitarianism
Technological Advancements: Transforming Political Landscapes
The Role of Lobbying in Influencing Political Decision-Making
Political Ideologies: From Conservatism to Liberalism and Beyond
Nationalism and Patriotism: Navigating the Boundaries in Politics
Political Violence: Understanding Its Causes and Consequences
The Role of Religion in Politics: Examining the Intersection
Freedom of Speech: Protecting Democracy’s Fundamental Right

Informative Speech Topics for History & Culture

The Renaissance Era: Artistic Revival and Cultural Transformation
Industrial Revolution: Societal and Economic Evolution
Ancient Civilizations: Egypt, Greece, and Mesopotamia
American Revolution: Birth of a Nation’s Independence
Harlem Renaissance: Cultural Resurgence and African-American Contributions
World War II: Global Conflict and Its Lasting Impacts
Maya Civilization: Achievements, Culture, and Ancient Mysteries
French Revolution: From Monarchy to Republic
Civil Rights Movement: Striving for Equality and Social Justice
Ancient China: Dynasties, Inventions, and Cultural Heritage
Age of Exploration: Discovery, Trade, and New Horizons
Aztec Empire: Society, Religion, and Military Power
Russian Revolution: Overthrowing the Tsar and Soviet Union’s Formation
Roaring Twenties: Jazz Age, Cultural Shifts, and Prohibition
Civil War: Divided Nation, Abolition of Slavery, and Reconstruction
Vikings: Exploration, Conquests, and Norse Culture
Cultural Revolution in China: Mao’s Socio-Political Movement
Inca Empire: Engineering Feats, Social Organization, and Andean Civilization
Holocaust: Genocide, Nazi Regime, and Lessons From History
Age of Enlightenment: Intellectual Awakening and Philosophical Ideas

Law Informative Speech Topics

Analyzing the Effects of Mandatory Sentencing Laws
Exploring the Complexities of Intellectual Property Rights
Implications of Privacy Laws in the Age of Technology
Evaluating the Role of International Law in Global Governance
Unveiling the Truth Behind Wrongful Convictions
Understanding the Dynamics of Family Law and Child Custody
Investigating the Impact of Hate Crime Legislation
The Influence of Media on Public Perception of Legal Issues
Delving Into the Controversies of Capital Punishment
Analyzing the Impacts of Immigration Laws on Society
Possible Challenges and Benefits of Alternative Dispute Resolution
Exploring the Legal Framework of Environmental Protection
Unraveling the Intricacies of Corporate Law and Ethics
The Rights and Limitations of Free Speech in the Digital Era
Examining the Intersection of Technology and Privacy Laws
The Consequences of Drug Policy on Public Health
Analyzing the Role of Criminal Profiling in Investigations
Understanding the Implications of Gun Control Laws
The Rights and Protections of Workers in Employment Law
The Challenges of Intellectual Property Theft in the Digital Age

Short Informative Speech Topics

Climate Change and Its Impact on Biodiversity
Sustainable Fashion: Reducing the Environmental Footprint
Exploring the Importance of Financial Literacy
Renewable Energy Sources and Their Advantages
Understanding the Benefits of Meditation for Mental Health
Delving into the World of Virtual Reality
The Rise of Electric Vehicles in Transportation
The Science Behind Vaccinations and Their Importance
Examining the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life
The Evolution and Advancements in Video Games
Harnessing the Power of Solar Energy for Sustainability
Emphasizing the Significance of Early Childhood Education
The Growing Trend of Remote Work and Its Implications
The Influence of Technology on Modern Communication Channels
Analyzing the Effects of Globalization on Culture and Society
Promoting Mental Health Awareness and its Importance
Embracing Sustainable Tourism for a Greener Future
Enhancing Education with the Integration of Artificial Intelligence
The Role of Nonprofits in Addressing Social Issues
Exploring the Future of Robotics and Automation
History and Significance of Human Rights
The Role of Technology in Enhancing Education
Exploring the Wonders of the Deep Sea
Benefits of Meditation for Stress Reduction

1-3 Minutes Informative Speech Topics

Exploring the Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle
Understanding the Intricacies of Quantum Physics
Debunking Myths About the Human Brain
Unveiling the Truth about Genetically Modified Organisms
Dissecting the Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife
Analyzing the Causes and Effects of Cyberbullying
Discovering the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Encountering the Benefits of Renewable Energy Sources
Navigating the History of the Silk Road
Appreciating the Beauty of the Fibonacci Sequence in Nature
Grasping the Concept of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Probing the Influence of Social Media on Youth
Observing the Evolution of Feminism Through History
Pursuing the Concept of Dark Matter in Cosmology
Revealing the Truth about Animal Testing in Cosmetics Industry
Contemplating the Impact of Meditation on Mental Health
Recognizing the Role of Microplastics in Ocean Pollution
Investigating the Science Behind Aeroponics and Hydroponics
Unraveling the Power of Vaccination in Disease Prevention
Delving into the Mysteries of Black Holes
Comprehending the Functioning of Autonomous Vehicles
Admiring the Wonders of Bio-Luminescence in Deep Sea Creatures

4-6 Minutes Informative Speech Topics

Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Health
The Influence of Social Media on Society’s Perception of Beauty
Financial Literacy and its Importance for Young Adults
The History and Advancement of Electric Vehicles
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning
The Significance of Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future
Women’s Empowerment in Business Leadership
Psychological Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity
Understanding Climate Change and Global Warming
The Power of Storytelling in Effective Communication
Exploring Virtual Reality and Its Various Applications
The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Decision-Making
Early Childhood Education and its Impact on Cognitive Development
The Role of Technology in Transforming Education
Effects of Social Media on Mental Well-Being
The Value of Volunteerism for Building Stronger Communities
Overcoming Addiction: The Path to Recovery and Healing
Science Behind Human Nutrition and Its Impact on Health
Emotional Intelligence: A Key to Personal and Professional Success
Harnessing Renewable Energy Sources for a Sustainable Future
The Evolution and Cultural Significance of Music
Mass Media and Its Influence on Shaping Public Opinion
Early Detection and Prevention of Chronic Diseases

7-10 Minutes Informative Speech Topics

Renewable Energy Sources: A Sustainable Future
Artificial Intelligence and Its Role in Modern Industries
Benefits of Exercise for Overall Well-Being
Exploring the Evolution of Technology in Education
Understanding Space Exploration and Its Wonders
The Significance of Cultural Diversity in a Globalized World
Exploring the History and Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Understanding Climate Change and its Consequences
Women in Leadership Positions: Their Role and Significance
The Power of Effective Communication in Relationships
Exploring the Influence of Media on Body Image Perception
The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping
Exploring the World of Virtual Reality
The Significance of Financial Literacy in Personal Finance
Understanding the Importance of Cybersecurity in the Digital Age
Exploring the History and Significance of Human Rights Movements
The Impact of Globalization on Local Economies
Education’s Roles in Empowering Individuals and Societies
Understanding the Science Behind Climate Change
Exploring the Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
The Evolution of Transportation Technology

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11.1 Informative Speeches

Learning objectives.

Identify common topic categories for informative speeches.
Identify strategies for researching and supporting informative speeches.
Explain the different methods of informing.
Employ strategies for effective informative speaking, including avoiding persuasion, avoiding information overload, and engaging the audience.

Many people would rather go see an impassioned political speech or a comedic monologue than a lecture. Although informative speaking may not be the most exciting form of public speaking, it is the most common. Reports, lectures, training seminars, and demonstrations are all examples of informative speaking. That means you are more likely to give and listen to informative speeches in a variety of contexts. Some organizations, like consulting firms, and career fields, like training and development, are solely aimed at conveying information. College alumni have reported that out of many different speech skills, informative speaking is most important (Verderber, 1991). Since your exposure to informative speaking is inevitable, why not learn how to be a better producer and consumer of informative messages?

Creating an Informative Speech

As you’ll recall from Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , speaking to inform is one of the three possible general purposes for public speaking. The goal of informative speaking is to teach an audience something using objective factual information. Interestingly, informative speaking is a newcomer in the world of public speaking theorizing and instruction, which began thousands of years ago with the ancient Greeks (Olbricht, 1968). Ancient philosophers and statesmen like Aristotle, Cicero, and Quintilian conceived of public speaking as rhetoric, which is inherently persuasive. During that time, and until the 1800s, almost all speaking was argumentative. Teaching and instruction were performed as debates, and even fields like science and medicine relied on argumentative reasoning instead of factual claims.

Until the 1800s, even scientific fields and medicine relied on teaching that was based on debate and argument rather than the informative-based instruction that is used today.

Monash University – Surgery Workshop 2012 – CC BY-NC 2.0.

While most instruction is now verbal, for most of modern history, people learned by doing rather than listening, as apprenticeships were much more common than classroom-based instruction. So what facilitated the change from argumentative and demonstrative teaching to verbal and informative teaching? One reason for this change was the democratization of information. Technical information used to be jealously protected by individuals, families, or guilds. Now society generally believes that information should be shared and made available to all. The increasing complexity of fields of knowledge and professions also increased the need for informative speaking. Now one must learn a history or backstory before actually engaging with a subject or trade. Finally, much of the information that has built up over time has become commonly accepted; therefore much of the history or background information isn’t disputed and can now be shared in an informative rather than argumentative way.

Choosing an Informative Speech Topic

Being a successful informative speaker starts with choosing a topic that can engage and educate the audience. Your topic choices may be influenced by the level at which you are speaking. Informative speaking usually happens at one of three levels: formal, vocational, and impromptu (Verderber, 1991). Formal informative speeches occur when an audience has assembled specifically to hear what you have to say. Being invited to speak to a group during a professional meeting, a civic gathering, or a celebration gala brings with it high expectations. Only people who have accomplished or achieved much are asked to serve as keynote speakers, and they usually speak about these experiences. Many more people deliver informative speeches at the vocational level, as part of their careers. Teachers like me spend many hours lecturing, which is a common form of informative speaking. In addition, human resources professionals give presentations about changes in policy and provide training for new employees, technicians in factories convey machine specifications and safety procedures, and servers describe how a dish is prepared in their restaurant. Last, we all convey information daily in our regular interactions. When we give a freshman directions to a campus building, summarize the latest episode of American Idol for our friend who missed it, or explain a local custom to an international student, we are engaging in impromptu informative speaking.

Whether at the formal, vocational, or impromptu level, informative speeches can emerge from a range of categories, which include objects, people, events, processes, concepts, and issues. An extended speech at the formal level may include subject matter from several of these categories, while a speech at the vocational level may convey detailed information about a process, concept, or issue relevant to a specific career.

Subjects of informative speaking at the vocational level usually relate to a speaker’s professional experience or expertise.

Peter Long – Business Meeting – CC BY 2.0.

Since we don’t have time to research or organize content for impromptu informative speaking, these speeches may provide a less detailed summary of a topic within one of these categories. A broad informative speech topic could be tailored to fit any of these categories. As you draft your specific purpose and thesis statements, think about which category or categories will help you achieve your speech goals, and then use it or them to guide your research. Table 11.1 “Sample Informative Speech Topics by Category” includes an example of how a broad informative subject area like renewable energy can be adapted to each category as well as additional sample topics.

Table 11.1 Sample Informative Speech Topics by Category

Speeches about objects convey information about any nonhuman material things. Mechanical objects, animals, plants, and fictional objects are all suitable topics of investigation. Given that this is such a broad category, strive to pick an object that your audience may not be familiar with or highlight novel relevant and interesting facts about a familiar object.

Speeches about people focus on real or fictional individuals who are living or dead. These speeches require in-depth biographical research; an encyclopedia entry is not sufficient. Introduce a new person to the audience or share little-known or surprising information about a person we already know. Although we may already be familiar with the accomplishments of historical figures and leaders, audiences often enjoy learning the “personal side” of their lives.

Speeches about concepts are less concrete than speeches about objects or people, as they focus on ideas or notions that may be abstract or multifaceted. A concept can be familiar to us, like equality, or could literally be a foreign concept like qi (or chi ), which is the Chinese conception of the energy that flows through our bodies. Use the strategies discussed in this book for making content relevant and proxemic to your audience to help make abstract concepts more concrete.

Speeches about events focus on past occasions or ongoing occurrences. A particular day in history, an annual observation, or a seldom occurring event can each serve as interesting informative topics. As with speeches about people, it’s important to provide a backstory for the event, but avoid rehashing commonly known information.

Informative speeches about processes provide a step-by-step account of a procedure or natural occurrence. Speakers may walk an audience through, or demonstrate, a series of actions that take place to complete a procedure, such as making homemade cheese. Speakers can also present information about naturally occurring processes like cell division or fermentation.

Informative speeches about processes provide steps of a procedure, such as how to make homemade cheese.

Joel Kramer – curdle – CC BY 2.0.

Last, informative speeches about issues provide objective and balanced information about a disputed subject or a matter of concern for society. It is important that speakers view themselves as objective reporters rather than commentators to avoid tipping the balance of the speech from informative to persuasive. Rather than advocating for a particular position, the speaker should seek to teach or raise the awareness of the audience.

Researching an Informative Speech Topic

Having sharp research skills is a fundamental part of being a good informative speaker. Since informative speaking is supposed to convey factual information, speakers should take care to find sources that are objective, balanced, and credible. Periodicals, books, newspapers, and credible websites can all be useful sources for informative speeches, and you can use the guidelines for evaluating supporting materials discussed in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” to determine the best information to include in your speech. Aside from finding credible and objective sources, informative speakers also need to take time to find engaging information. This is where sharp research skills are needed to cut through all the typical information that comes up in the research process to find novel information. Novel information is atypical or unexpected, but it takes more skill and effort to locate. Even seemingly boring informative speech topics like the history of coupons can be brought to life with information that defies the audience’s expectations. A student recently delivered an engaging speech about coupons by informing us that coupons have been around for 125 years, are most frequently used by wealthier and more educated households, and that a coupon fraud committed by an Italian American businessman named Charles Ponzi was the basis for the term Ponzi scheme , which is still commonly used today.

As a teacher, I can attest to the challenges of keeping an audience engaged during an informative presentation. While it’s frustrating to look out at my audience of students and see glazed-over eyes peering back at me, I also know that it is my responsibility to choose interesting information and convey it in a way that’s engaging. Even though the core content of what I teach hasn’t change dramatically over the years, I constantly challenge myself to bring that core information to life through application and example. As we learned earlier, finding proxemic and relevant information and examples is typically a good way to be engaging. The basic information may not change quickly, but the way people use it and the way it relates to our lives changes. Finding current, relevant examples and finding novel information are both difficult, since you, as the researcher, probably don’t know this information exists.

Here is where good research skills become necessary to be a good informative speaker. Using advice from Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” should help you begin to navigate through the seas of information to find hidden treasure that excites you and will in turn excite your audience.

To avoid boring an audience, effective informative speakers possess good research skills and the ability to translate information to be engaging and relevant for an audience.

Niall Kennedy – Sleep – CC BY-NC 2.0.

As was mentioned earlier, the goal for informative speaking is to teach your audience. An audience is much more likely to remain engaged when they are actively learning. This is like a balancing act. You want your audience to be challenged enough by the information you are presenting to be interested, but not so challenged that they become overwhelmed and shut down. You should take care to consider how much information your audience already knows about a topic. Be aware that speakers who are very familiar with their speech topic tend to overestimate their audience’s knowledge about the topic. It’s better to engage your topic at a level slightly below your audience’s knowledge level than above. Most people won’t be bored by a brief review, but many people become lost and give up listening if they can’t connect to the information right away or feel it’s over their heads.

A good informative speech leaves the audience thinking long after the speech is done. Try to include some practical “takeaways” in your speech. I’ve learned many interesting and useful things from the informative speeches my students have done. Some of the takeaways are more like trivia information that is interesting to share—for example, how prohibition led to the creation of NASCAR. Other takeaways are more practical and useful—for example, how to get wine stains out of clothing and carpet or explanations of various types of student financial aid.

Organizing and Supporting an Informative Speech

You can already see that informing isn’t as easy as we may initially think. To effectively teach, a speaker must present quality information in an organized and accessible way. Once you have chosen an informative speech topic and put your research skills to the test in order to locate novel and engaging information, it’s time to organize and support your speech.

Organizational Patterns

Three organizational patterns that are particularly useful for informative speaking are topical, chronological, and spatial. As you’ll recall, to organize a speech topically, you break a larger topic down into logical subdivisions. An informative speech about labor unions could focus on unions in three different areas of employment, three historically significant strikes, or three significant legal/legislative decisions. Speeches organized chronologically trace the development of a topic or overview the steps in a process. An informative speech could trace the rise of the economic crisis in Greece or explain the steps in creating a home compost pile. Speeches organized spatially convey the layout or physical characteristics of a location or concept. An informative speech about the layout of a fire station or an astrology wheel would follow a spatial organization pattern.

Methods of Informing

Types of and strategies for incorporating supporting material into speeches are discussed in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , but there are some specific ways to go about developing ideas within informative speeches. Speakers often inform an audience using definitions, descriptions, demonstrations, and explanations. It is likely that a speaker will combine these methods of informing within one speech, but a speech can also be primarily organized using one of these methods.

Informing through Definition

Informing through definition entails defining concepts clearly and concisely and is an important skill for informative speaking. There are several ways a speaker can inform through definition: synonyms and antonyms, use or function, example, and etymology (Verderber, 1991). Defining a concept using a synonym or an antonym is a short and effective way to convey meaning. Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings, and antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. In a speech about how to effectively inform an audience, I would claim that using concrete words helps keep an audience engaged. I could enhance your understanding of what concrete means by defining it with synonyms like tangible and relatable . Or I could define concrete using antonyms like abstract and theoretical .

Identifying the use or function of an object, item, or idea is also a short way of defining. We may think we already know the use and function of most of the things we interact with regularly. This is true in obvious cases like cars, elevators, and smartphones. But there are many objects and ideas that we may rely on and interact with but not know the use or function. For example, QR codes (or quick response codes) are popping up in magazines, at airports, and even on t-shirts (Vuong, 2011). Many people may notice them but not know what they do. As a speaker, you could define QR codes by their function by informing the audience that QR codes allow businesses, organizations, and individuals to get information to consumers/receivers through a barcode-like format that can be easily scanned by most smartphones.

An informative speaker could teach audience members about QR codes by defining them based on their use or function.

Douglas Muth – My QR Code – CC BY-SA 2.0.

A speaker can also define a topic using examples, which are cited cases that are representative of a larger concept. In an informative speech about anachronisms in movies and literature, a speaker might provide the following examples: the film Titanic shows people on lifeboats using flashlights to look for survivors from the sunken ship (such flashlights weren’t invented until two years later) (The Past in Pictures, 2012); Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar includes a reference to a clock, even though no mechanical clocks existed during Caesar’s time (Scholasticus K., 2012). Examples are a good way to repackage information that’s already been presented to help an audience retain and understand the content of a speech. Later we’ll learn more about how repackaging information enhances informative speaking.

Etymology refers to the history of a word. Defining by etymology entails providing an overview of how a word came to its current meaning. The Oxford English Dictionary is the best source for finding etymology and often contains interesting facts that can be presented as novel information to better engage your audience. For example, the word assassin , which refers to a person who intentionally murders another, literally means “hashish-eater” and comes from the Arabic word hashshashin . The current meaning emerged during the Crusades as a result of the practices of a sect of Muslims who would get high on hashish before killing Christian leaders—in essence, assassinating them (Oxford English Dictionary Online, 2012).

Informing through Description

As the saying goes, “Pictures are worth a thousand words.” Informing through description entails creating verbal pictures for your audience. Description is also an important part of informative speeches that use a spatial organizational pattern, since you need to convey the layout of a space or concept. Good descriptions are based on good observations, as they convey what is taken in through the senses and answer these type of questions: What did that look like? Smell like? Sound like? Feel like? Taste like? If descriptions are vivid and well written, they can actually invoke a sensory reaction in your audience. Just as your mouth probably begins to salivate when I suggest that you imagine biting into a fresh, bright yellow, freshly cut, juicy lemon wedge, so can your audience be transported to a setting or situation through your descriptions. I once had a student set up his speech about the history of streaking by using the following description: “Imagine that you are walking across campus to your evening class. You look up to see a parade of hundreds upon hundreds of your naked peers jogging by wearing little more than shoes.”

Informing through Demonstration

When informing through demonstration , a speaker gives verbal directions about how to do something while also physically demonstrating the steps. Early morning infomercials are good examples of demonstrative speaking, even though they are also trying to persuade us to buy their “miracle product.” Whether straightforward or complex, it’s crucial that a speaker be familiar with the content of their speech and the physical steps necessary for the demonstration. Speaking while completing a task requires advanced psycho-motor skills that most people can’t wing and therefore need to practice. Tasks suddenly become much more difficult than we expect when we have an audience. Have you ever had to type while people are reading along with you? Even though we type all the time, even one extra set of eyes seems to make our fingers more clumsy than usual.

Television chefs are excellent examples of speakers who frequently inform through demonstration. While many of them make the process of speaking while cooking look effortless, it took much practice over many years to make viewers think it is effortless.

Television chefs inform through demonstration. Although they make it seem easy, it is complex and difficult.

Gordonramsaysubmissions – gordon ramsay 7 – CC BY 2.0.

Part of this practice also involves meeting time limits. Since television segments are limited and chefs may be demonstrating and speaking live, they have to be able to adapt as needed. Demonstration speeches are notorious for going over time, especially if speakers haven’t practiced with their visual aids / props. Be prepared to condense or edit as needed to meet your time limit. The reality competition show The Next Food Network Star captures these difficulties, as many experienced cooks who have the content knowledge and know how to physically complete their tasks fall apart when faced with a camera challenge because they just assumed they could speak and cook at the same time.

Tips for Demonstration Speeches

Include personal stories and connections to the topic, in addition to the “how-to” information, to help engage your audience.
Ask for audience volunteers (if appropriate) to make the demonstration more interactive.
Include a question-and-answer period at the end (if possible) so audience members can ask questions and seek clarification.
Follow an orderly progression. Do not skip around or backtrack when reviewing the steps.
Use clear signposts like first , second , and third .
Use orienting material like internal previews and reviews, and transitions.
Group steps together in categories, if needed, to help make the information more digestible.
Assess the nonverbal feedback of your audience. Review or slow down if audience members look lost or confused.
Practice with your visual aids / props many times. Things suddenly become more difficult and complicated than you expect when an audience is present.
Practice for time and have contingency plans if you need to edit some information out to avoid going over your time limit.

Informing through Explanation

Informing through explanation entails sharing how something works, how something came to be, or why something happened. This method of informing may be useful when a topic is too complex or abstract to demonstrate. When presenting complex information make sure to break the topic up into manageable units, avoid information overload, and include examples that make the content relevant to the audience. Informing through explanation works well with speeches about processes, events, and issues. For example, a speaker could explain the context surrounding the Lincoln-Douglas debates or the process that takes place during presidential primaries.

“Getting Plugged In”

TED Talks as a Model of Effective Informative Speaking

Over the past few years, I have heard more and more public speaking teachers mention their use of TED speeches in their classes. What started in 1984 as a conference to gather people involved in Technology, Entertainment, and Design has now turned into a worldwide phenomenon that is known for its excellent speeches and presentations, many of which are informative in nature. [1] The motto of TED is “Ideas worth spreading,” which is in keeping with the role that we should occupy as informative speakers. We should choose topics that are worth speaking about and then work to present them in such a way that audience members leave with “take-away” information that is informative and useful. TED fits in with the purpose of the “Getting Plugged In” feature in this book because it has been technology focused from the start. For example, Andrew Blum’s speech focuses on the infrastructure of the Internet, and Pranav Mistry’s speech focuses on a new technology he developed that allows for more interaction between the physical world and the world of data. Even speakers who don’t focus on technology still skillfully use technology in their presentations, as is the case with David Gallo’s speech about exotic underwater life. Here are links to all these speeches:

Andrew Blum’s speech: What Is the Internet, Really? http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_blum_what_is_the_internet_really.html
Pranav Mistry’s speech: The Thrilling Potential of Sixth Sense Technology. http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html
David Gallo’s speech: Underwater Astonishments. http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html
What can you learn from the TED model and/or TED speakers that will help you be a better informative speaker?
In what innovative and/or informative ways do the speakers reference or incorporate technology in their speeches?

Effective Informative Speaking

There are several challenges to overcome to be an effective informative speaker. They include avoiding persuasion, avoiding information overload, and engaging your audience.

Avoiding Persuasion

We should avoid thinking of informing and persuading as dichotomous, meaning that it’s either one or the other. It’s more accurate to think of informing and persuading as two poles on a continuum, as in Figure 11.1 “Continuum of Informing and Persuading” (Olbricht, 1968). Most persuasive speeches rely on some degree of informing to substantiate the reasoning. And informative speeches, although meant to secure the understanding of an audience, may influence audience members’ beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors.

Figure 11.1 Continuum of Informing and Persuading

Speakers can look to three areas to help determine if their speech is more informative or persuasive: speaker purpose, function of information, and audience perception (Verderber, 1991). First, for informative speaking, a speaker’s purpose should be to create understanding by sharing objective, factual information. Specific purpose and thesis statements help establish a speaker’s goal and purpose and can serve as useful reference points to keep a speech on track. When reviewing your specific purpose and thesis statement, look for words like should / shouldn’t , good / bad , and right / wrong , as these often indicate a persuasive slant in the speech.

Second, information should function to clarify and explain in an informative speech. Supporting materials shouldn’t function to prove a thesis or to provide reasons for an audience to accept the thesis, as they do in persuasive speeches. Although informative messages can end up influencing the thoughts or behaviors of audience members, that shouldn’t be the goal.

Third, an audience’s perception of the information and the speaker helps determine whether a speech is classified as informative or persuasive. The audience must perceive that the information being presented is not controversial or disputed, which will lead audience members to view the information as factual. The audience must also accept the speaker as a credible source of information. Being prepared, citing credible sources, and engaging the audience help establish a speaker’s credibility. Last, an audience must perceive the speaker to be trustworthy and not have a hidden agenda. Avoiding persuasion is a common challenge for informative speakers, but it is something to consider, as violating the speaking occasion may be perceived as unethical by the audience. Be aware of the overall tone of your speech by reviewing your specific purpose and thesis to make sure your speech isn’t tipping from informative to persuasive.

Words like should / shouldn’t , good / bad , and right / wrong in a specific purpose and/or thesis statement often indicate that the speaker’s purpose is tipping from informative to persuasive.

Hans Splinter – balance – CC BY-ND 2.0.

Avoiding Information Overload

Many informative speakers have a tendency to pack a ten-minute speech with as much information as possible. This can result in information overload , which is a barrier to effective listening that occurs when a speech contains more information than an audience can process. Editing can be a difficult task, but it’s an important skill to hone, because you will be editing more than you think. Whether it’s reading through an e-mail before you send it, condensing a report down to an executive summary, or figuring out how to fit a client’s message on the front page of a brochure, you will have to learn how to discern what information is best to keep and what can be thrown out. In speaking, being a discerning editor is useful because it helps avoid information overload. While a receiver may not be attracted to a brochure that’s covered in text, they could take the time to read it, and reread it, if necessary. Audience members cannot conduct their own review while listening to a speaker live. Unlike readers, audience members can’t review words over and over (Verderber, 1991). Therefore competent speakers, especially informative speakers who are trying to teach their audience something, should adapt their message to a listening audience. To help avoid information overload, adapt your message to make it more listenable.

Although the results vary, research shows that people only remember a portion of a message days or even hours after receiving it (Janusik, 2012). If you spend 100 percent of your speech introducing new information, you have wasted approximately 30 percent of your time and your audience’s time. Information overload is a barrier to effective listening, and as good speakers, we should be aware of the limitations of listening and compensate for that in our speech preparation and presentation. I recommend that my students follow a guideline that suggests spending no more than 30 percent of your speech introducing new material and 70 percent of your speech repackaging that information. I specifically use the word repackaging and not repeating . Simply repeating the same information would also be a barrier to effective listening, since people would just get bored. Repackaging will help ensure that your audience retains most of the key information in the speech. Even if they don’t remember every example, they will remember the main underlying point.

Avoiding information overload requires a speaker to be a good translator of information. To be a good translator, you can compare an unfamiliar concept with something familiar, give examples from real life, connect your information to current events or popular culture, or supplement supporting material like statistics with related translations of that information. These are just some of the strategies a good speaker can use. While translating information is important for any oral presentation, it is especially important when conveying technical information. Being able to translate complex or technical information for a lay audience leads to more effective informing, because the audience feels like they are being addressed on their level and don’t feel lost or “talked down to.” The History Channel show The Universe provides excellent examples of informative speakers who act as good translators. The scientists and experts featured on the show are masters of translating technical information, like physics, into concrete examples that most people can relate to based on their everyday experiences.

Comparing the turbulent formation of the solar system to the collisions of bumper bars and spinning rides at an amusement park makes the content more concrete.

Alexander Svensson – Ferris Wheel – CC BY 2.0.

Following the guidelines established in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” for organizing a speech can also help a speaker avoid information overload. Good speakers build in repetition and redundancy to make their content more memorable and their speech more consumable. Preview statements, section transitions, and review statements are some examples of orienting material that helps focus an audience’s attention and facilitates the process of informing (Verderber, 1991).

Engaging Your Audience

As a speaker, you are competing for the attention of your audience against other internal and external stimuli. Getting an audience engaged and then keeping their attention is a challenge for any speaker, but it can be especially difficult when speaking to inform. As was discussed earlier, once you are in the professional world, you will most likely be speaking informatively about topics related to your experience and expertise. Some speakers fall into the trap of thinking that their content knowledge is enough to sustain them through an informative speech or that their position in an organization means that an audience will listen to them and appreciate their information despite their delivery. Content expertise is not enough to be an effective speaker. A person must also have speaking expertise (Verderber, 1991). Effective speakers, even renowned experts, must still translate their wealth of content knowledge into information that is suited for oral transmission, audience centered, and well organized. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the stereotype of the absentminded professor or the genius who thinks elegantly in his or her head but can’t convey that same elegance verbally. Having well-researched and organized supporting material is an important part of effective informative speaking, but having good content is not enough.

Audience members are more likely to stay engaged with a speaker they view as credible. So complementing good supporting material with a practiced and fluent delivery increases credibility and audience engagement. In addition, as we discussed earlier, good informative speakers act as translators of information. Repackaging information into concrete familiar examples is also a strategy for making your speech more engaging. Understanding relies on being able to apply incoming information to life experiences.

Repackaging information is also a good way to appeal to different learning styles, as you can present the same content in various ways, which helps reiterate a point. While this strategy is useful with any speech, since the goal of informing is teaching, it makes sense to include a focus on learning within your audience adaptation. There are three main learning styles that help determine how people most effectively receive and process information: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (Fleming, 2012). Visual learners respond well to information presented via visual aids, so repackage information using text, graphics, charts and other media. Public speaking is a good way to present information for auditory learners who process information well when they hear it. Kinesthetic learners are tactile; they like to learn through movement and “doing.” Asking for volunteers to help with a demonstration, if appropriate, is a way to involve kinesthetic learners in your speech. You can also have an interactive review activity at the end of a speech, much like many teachers incorporate an activity after a lesson to reinforce the material.

“Getting Real”

Technical Speaking

People who work in technical fields, like engineers and information technology professionals, often think they will be spared the task of public speaking. This is not the case, however, and there is actually a branch of communication studies that addresses public speaking matters for “techies.” The field of technical communication focuses on how messages can be translated from expert to lay audiences. I actually taught a public speaking class for engineering students, and they basically had to deliver speeches about the things they were working on in a way that I could understand. I ended up learning a lot more about jet propulsion and hybrid car engines than I ever expected!

Have you ever been completely lost when reading an instruction manual for some new product you purchased? Have you ever had difficulty following the instructions of someone who was trying to help you with a technical matter? If so, you’ve experienced some of the challenges associated with technical speaking. There are many careers where technical speaking skills are needed. According to the Society for Technical Communication, communicating about specialized or technical topics, communicating by using technology, and providing instructions about how to do something are all examples of technical speaking (Society for Technical Communication, 2012). People with technical speaking skills offer much to organizations and businesses. They help make information more useable and accessible to customers, clients, and employees. They can help reduce costs to a business by reducing unnecessary work that results from misunderstandings of instructions, by providing clear information that allows customers to use products without training or technical support and by making general information put out by a company more user friendly. Technical speakers are dedicated to producing messages that are concise, clear, and coherent (Society for Technical Communication, 2012). Such skills are used in the following careers: technical writers and editors, technical illustrators, visual designers, web designers, customer service representatives, salespeople, spokespeople, and many more.

What communication skills that you’ve learned about in the book so far do you think would be important for a technical speaker?
Identify instances in which you have engaged in technical speaking or received information from a technical speaker. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, were the speakers effective or not, and why?

Sample Informative Speech

Title: Going Green in the World of Education

General purpose: To inform

Specific purpose: By the end of my speech, the audience will be able to describe some ways in which schools are going green.

Thesis statement: The green movement has transformed school buildings, how teachers teach, and the environment in which students learn.

Introduction

Attention getter: Did you know that attending or working at a green school can lead students and teachers to have less health problems? Did you know that allowing more daylight into school buildings increases academic performance and can lessen attention and concentration challenges? Well, the research I will cite in my speech supports both of these claims, and these are just two of the many reasons why more schools, both grade schools and colleges, are going green.

Introduction of topic: Today, I’m going to inform you about the green movement that is affecting many schools.

Credibility and relevance: Because of my own desire to go into the field of education, I decided to research how schools are going green in the United States. But it’s not just current and/or future teachers that will be affected by this trend. As students at Eastern Illinois University, you are already asked to make “greener” choices. Whether it’s the little signs in the dorm rooms that ask you to turn off your lights when you leave the room, the reusable water bottles that were given out on move-in day, or even our new Renewable Energy Center, the list goes on and on. Additionally, younger people in our lives, whether they be future children or younger siblings or relatives, will likely be affected by this continuing trend.

Preview statement: In order to better understand what makes a “green school,” we need to learn about how K–12 schools are going green, how college campuses are going green, and how these changes affect students and teachers.

Transition: I’ll begin with how K–12 schools are going green.

In order to garner support for green initiatives, the article recommends that local leaders like superintendents, mayors, and college administrators become involved in the green movement.
Once local leaders are involved, the community, students, parents, faculty, and staff can be involved by serving on a task force, hosting a summit or conference, and implementing lessons about sustainability into everyday conversations and school curriculum.
The US Green Building Council’s website also includes a tool kit with a lot of information about how to “green” existing schools.
For example, Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, was built in 2006 and received LEED certification because it has automatic light sensors to conserve electricity and uses wind energy to offset nonrenewable energy use.
To conserve water, the school uses a pond for irrigation, has artificial turf on athletic fields, and installed low-flow toilets and faucets.
According to the 2006 report by certified energy manager Gregory Kats titled “Greening America’s Schools,” a LEED certified school uses 30–50 percent less energy, 30 percent less water, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent compared to a conventional school.
Many new building materials, carpeting, and furniture contain chemicals that are released into the air, which reduces indoor air quality.
So green schools purposefully purchase materials that are low in these chemicals.
Natural light and fresh air have also been shown to promote a healthier learning environment, so green buildings allow more daylight in and include functioning windows.

Transition: As you can see, K–12 schools are becoming greener; college campuses are also starting to go green.

According to the Sturm College of Law’s website, the building was designed to use 40 percent less energy than a conventional building through the use of movement-sensor lighting; high-performance insulation in the walls, floors, and roof; and infrared sensors on water faucets and toilets.
Electric car recharging stations were also included in the parking garage, and the building has extra bike racks and even showers that students and faculty can use to freshen up if they bike or walk to school or work.
Some of the dining halls on campus have gone “trayless,” which according to a 2009 article by Calder in the journal Independent School has the potential to dramatically reduce the amount of water and chemical use, since there are no longer trays to wash, and also helps reduce food waste since people take less food without a tray.
The Renewable Energy Center uses slow-burn technology to use wood chips that are a byproduct of the lumber industry that would normally be discarded.
This helps reduce our dependency on our old coal-fired power plant, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The project was the first known power plant to be registered with the US Green Building Council and is on track to receive LEED certification.

Transition: All these efforts to go green in K–12 schools and on college campuses will obviously affect students and teachers at the schools.

Many schools are literally going green by including more green spaces such as recreation areas, gardens, and greenhouses, which according to a 2010 article in the Journal of Environmental Education by University of Colorado professor Susan Strife has been shown to benefit a child’s cognitive skills, especially in the areas of increased concentration and attention capacity.
Additionally, the report I cited earlier, “Greening America’s Schools,” states that the improved air quality in green schools can lead to a 38 percent reduction in asthma incidents and that students in “green schools” had 51 percent less chance of catching a cold or the flu compared to children in conventional schools.
The report “Greening America’s Schools” notes that a recent synthesis of fifty-three studies found that more daylight in the school building leads to higher academic achievement.
The report also provides data that show how the healthier environment in green schools leads to better attendance and that in Washington, DC, and Chicago, schools improved their performance on standardized tests by 3–4 percent.
According to the article in Education Week that I cited earlier, the Sustainability Education Clearinghouse is a free online tool that provides K–12 educators with the ability to share sustainability-oriented lesson ideas.
The Center for Green Schools also provides resources for all levels of teachers, from kindergarten to college, that can be used in the classroom.
The report “Greening America’s Schools” claims that the overall improved working environment that a green school provides leads to higher teacher retention and less teacher turnover.
Just as students see health benefits from green schools, so do teachers, as the same report shows that teachers in these schools get sick less, resulting in a decrease of sick days by 7 percent.

Transition to conclusion and summary of importance: In summary, the going-green era has impacted every aspect of education in our school systems.

Review of main points: From K–12 schools to college campuses like ours, to the students and teachers in the schools, the green movement is changing the way we think about education and our environment.

Closing statement: As Glenn Cook, the editor in chief of the American School Board Journal , states on the Center for Green Schools’s website, “The green schools movement is the biggest thing to happen to education since the introduction of technology to the classroom.”

Ash, K. (2011). “Green schools” benefit budgets and students, report says. Education Week , 30 (32), 10.

Calder, W. (2009). Go green, save green. Independent School , 68 (4), 90–93.

The Center for Green Schools. (n.d.). K–12: How. Retrieved from http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/main-nav/k-12/buildings.aspx

Eastern Illinois University. (n.d.). Renewable Energy Center. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.edu/sustainability/eiu_renewable.php

Kats, G. (2006). Greening America’s schools: Costs and benefits. A Capital E Report. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2908

Strife, S. (2010). Reflecting on environmental education: Where is our place in the green movement? Journal of Environmental Education , 41 (3), 179–191. doi:10.1080/00958960903295233

Sturm College of Law. (n.d.). About DU law: Building green. Retrieved from http://www.law.du.edu/index.php/about/building-green

USGBC. (n.d.). About us. US Green Building Council . Retrieved from https://new.usgbc.org/about

Key Takeaways

Getting integrated: Informative speaking is likely the type of public speaking we will most often deliver and be audience to in our lives. Informative speaking is an important part of academic, professional, personal, and civic contexts.
Informative speeches teach an audience through objective factual information and can emerge from one or more of the following categories: objects, people, concepts, events, processes, and issues.
Effective informative speaking requires good research skills, as speakers must include novel information, relevant and proxemic examples, and “take-away” information that audience members will find engaging and useful.

The four primary methods of informing are through definition, description, demonstration, or explanation.

Informing through definition entails defining concepts clearly and concisely using synonyms and antonyms, use or function, example, or etymology.
Informing through description entails creating detailed verbal pictures for your audience.
Informing through demonstration entails sharing verbal directions about how to do something while also physically demonstrating the steps.
Informing through explanation entails sharing how something works, how something came to be, or why something happened.
An effective informative speaker should avoid persuasion by reviewing the language used in the specific purpose and thesis statements, using objective supporting material, and appearing trustworthy to the audience.
An effective informative speaker should avoid information overload by repackaging information and building in repetition and orienting material like reviews and previews.
An effective informative speaker engages the audience by translating information into relevant and concrete examples that appeal to different learning styles.
Getting integrated: How might you use informative speaking in each of the following contexts: academic, professional, personal, and civic?
Brainstorm potential topics for your informative speech and identify which topic category each idea falls into. Are there any risks of persuading for the topics you listed? If so, how can you avoid persuasion if you choose that topic?
Of the four methods of informing (through definition, description, demonstration, or explanation), which do you think is most effective for you? Why?

Fleming, N., “The VARK Helpsheets,” accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=helpsheets .

Janusik, L., “Listening Facts,” accessed March 6, 2012, http://d1025403.site.myhosting.com/files.listen.org/Facts.htm .

Olbricht, T. H., Informative Speaking (Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1968), 1–12.

Oxford English Dictionary Online, accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.oed.com .

The Past in Pictures, “Teaching Using Movies: Anachronisms!” accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.thepastinthepictures.wildelearning.co.uk/Introductoryunit!.htm .

Scholasticus K, “Anachronism Examples in Literature,” February 2, 2012, accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/anachronism-examples-in-literature.html .

Society for Technical Communication, “Defining Technical Communication,” accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.stc.org/about-stc/the-profession-all-about-technical-communication/defining-tc .

Verderber, R., Essentials of Informative Speaking: Theory and Contexts (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1991), 3.

Vuong, A., “Wanna Read That QR Code? Get the Smartphone App,” The Denver Post , April 18, 2011, accessed March 6, 2012, http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_17868932 .

“About TED,” accessed October 23, 2012, http://www.ted.com/pages/about . ↵

Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Over 200 Informative Speech Topics for Students

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Last Update: March 22, 2024

Informative speech topics for students are the topic of our blog post today!

Navigating the realm of public speaking can be daunting for students, but the heart of a compelling presentation is often the topic at hand. The right subject can captivate an audience, foster engagement, and turn the spotlight on issues that resonate. The quest for that perfect topic is where the adventure begins. In this post, I’ve carefully curated a diverse array of informative speech topics, tailored specifically for student speakers eager to explore and share their knowledge with others.

Whether you’re drawn to the latest breakthroughs in Science and Technology, intrigued by the pivotal moments of History and Culture, or fascinated by the dynamic interplay of Business and Finance, there’s a topic here to kindle your intellectual fire. For those with a penchant for the creative, topics in Art and Literature await your exploration. And for the aspiring change-makers concerned with Social Issues and Justice, this list provides a platform to voice your passions and advocate for change.

Informative Speech Topics for Students

I arranged these informative speech topics for students into the following categories:

Science and Technology

1. The future of artificial intelligence and its impact on society 2. The science behind climate change and its effects on the world 3. The potential of gene editing and its ethical implications 4. The benefits and risks of using renewable energy source 5. The history and advancements of space exploration 6. The evolution of smartphones and their effects on human behavior 7. The impact of social media on mental health and well-being 8. The use of virtual reality in education and training 9. The development of self-driving cars and their potential impact on transportation 10. The science behind addiction and the effects of technology on addictive behavior 11.The future of medicine and the potential of personalized medicine 12. The science behind quantum computing and its potential applications 13. The impact of technology on the job market and the future of work 14. The benefits and risks of using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology 15. The science behind the human brain and its potential for artificial intelligence 16. The history and advancements of robotics and their impact on society 17. The potential of blockchain technology and its applications beyond cryptocurrency 18. The science behind addiction and the effects of technology on addictive behavior 19. The impact of social media algorithms on news and information consumption 20. The development and potential of renewable energy storage technologies.

Health and Medicine

1. The importance of mental health awareness and destigmatization 2. The science behind the benefits of exercise on mental health 3. The history and advancements of vaccines and their impact on public health 4. The impact of stress on physical and mental health 5. The benefits and risks of using alternative medicine 6. The science behind the human microbiome and its impact on health 7. The impact of nutrition on physical and mental health 8. The benefits and risks of using CBD oil for medicinal purposes 9. The science behind addiction and the effects of substance abuse on physical and mental health 10. The importance of sleep and its impact on physical and mental health. 11. The science behind cancer and the latest advancements in cancer treatment 12. The impact of technology on healthcare and telemedicine 13. The benefits and risks of using medical marijuana for medicinal purposes 14. The importance of vaccinations and the potential risks of not vaccinating 15. The science behind the human brain and its potential for treating neurological disorders 16. The impact of social media on body image and mental health 17. The benefits and risks of using probiotics for gut health 18. The science behind the benefits of mindfulness and meditation on mental health 19. The impact of air pollution on respiratory health 20. The importance of mental health first aid training and its impact on reducing stigma and increasing support for those in need.

History and Culture

1. The history and impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures

2. The evolution of fashion and its impact on culture and society 3. The history and impact of the civil rights movement 4. The history and impact of feminism on society 5. The history and impact of the LGBTQ+ rights movement 6. The evolution of popular music and its impact on culture and society 7. The history and impact of the Industrial Revolution 8. The history and impact of the Renaissance on art and culture 9. The history and impact of the feminist movement on women’s rights 10. The history and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on racial justice. 11. The history and impact of the American Revolution on democracy 12. The history and impact of the French Revolution on democracy 13. The history and impact of the Cold War on international relations 14. The history and impact of the World Wars on global politics and society 15. The evolution of cinema and its impact on culture and society 16. The history and impact of the Civil War on American society 17. The history and impact of the Harlem Renaissance on African American culture 18. The history and impact of the Beat Generation on American literature and culture 19. The history and impact of the Suffragette movement on women’s rights 20. The history and impact of the Renaissance on science and technology.

Environment and Sustainability

1. The impact of climate change on the environment and society 2. The benefits and challenges of using renewable energy sources 3. The importance of biodiversity and its preservation 4. The effects of deforestation on the environment and society 5. The impact of plastic pollution on oceans and marine life 6. The benefits and challenges of sustainable agriculture 7. The impact of air pollution on human health and the environment 8. The importance of water conservation and the effects of water pollution 9. The benefits and challenges of sustainable urban development 10. The impact of overfishing on the environment and society. 11. The science behind the greenhouse effect and global warming 12. The benefits and challenges of using electric vehicles 13. The impact of industrialization on the environment and society 14. The importance of wildlife conservation and the effects of habitat destruction

15. The benefits and challenges of sustainable tourism 16. The impact of climate change on food security and agriculture 17. The importance of recycling and reducing waste 18. The benefits and challenges of green building and sustainable architecture 19. The impact of urbanization on the environment and society 20. The importance of environmental education and its impact on sustainability.

Business and Finance

1. The impact of globalization on business and finance 2. The benefits and challenges of entrepreneurship 3. The importance of financial literacy and its impact on personal finance 4. The impact of technology on the future of banking and finance 5. The benefits and challenges of sustainable business practices 6. The impact of corporate social responsibility on business and society 7. The importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace 8. The impact of the gig economy on the future of work 9. The benefits and challenges of investing in the stock market 10. The impact of cryptocurrency on the future of finance. 11. The importance of branding and its impact on consumer behavior 12. The benefits and challenges of international trade 13. The impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work and business 14. The importance of customer service and its impact on business success 15. The benefits and challenges of e-commerce and online shopping 16. The impact of social media on marketing and advertising 17. The importance of corporate culture and its impact on employee satisfaction and retention 18. The benefits and challenges of outsourcing and offshoring 19. The impact of economic cycles on business and finance 20. The importance of financial planning and its impact on personal and business success.

Education and Learning

1. The impact of technology on education and learning 2. The benefits and challenges of online learning and e-learning platforms 3. The importance of early childhood education and its impact on cognitive development 4. The impact of standardized testing on student learning and academic success 5. The benefits and challenges of inclusive education and special education programs 6. The importance of teacher training and professional development 7. The impact of student diversity on learning and academic success 8. The benefits and challenges of experiential learning and project-based learning 9. The importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in education 10. The impact of cultural education on social and emotional development. 11. The impact of social media on student learning and academic success 12. The benefits and challenges of homeschooling and alternative education 13. The importance of STEM education and its impact on the future workforce 14. The impact of arts education on creativity and innovation 15. The benefits and challenges of bilingual education and language immersion programs 16. The importance of early intervention and support for students with learning disabilities 17. The impact of student mental health on academic success and learning 18. The benefits and challenges of distance learning and remote education 19. The importance of financial literacy education and its impact on personal finance 20. The impact of teacher-student relationships on student engagement and academic success.

Social Issues and Justice

1. The impact of systemic racism on society and marginalized communities 2. The benefits and challenges of diversity and inclusion in the workplace 3. The importance of mental health awareness and destigmatization 4. The impact of poverty on society and the economy 5. The benefits and challenges of restorative justice and prison reform 6. The importance of gender equality and its impact on society 7. The impact of police brutality and its effects on marginalized communities 8. The benefits and challenges of immigration and refugee policies 9. The importance of human rights and their protection 10. The impact of hate crimes and their effects on society 11. The impact of social media on mental health and well-being 12. The benefits and challenges of affirmative action policies 13. The importance of LGBTQ+ rights and their protection 14. The impact of domestic violence and its effects on individuals and society 15. The benefits and challenges of gun control policies 16. The importance of disability rights and accessibility 17. The impact of climate change on vulnerable communities 18. The benefits and challenges of healthcare access and reform

19. The importance of voting rights and their protection 20. The impact of income inequality and its effects on society.

Art and Literature

1. The impact of art on society and culture

2. The benefits and challenges of storytelling in literature and film

3. The importance of representation in media and its effect on public perception

4. The impact of digital media on traditional forms of art and literature

5. The benefits and challenges of creative writing and its effect on personal expression

6. The importance of classic literature and its impact on modern society

7. The impact of art therapy and its effects on mental health

8. The benefits and challenges of preserving traditional art forms

9. The importance of popular culture and its effect on social norms

10. The impact of museums, galleries, and art centers on local communities

11. The benefits and challenges of censorship in literature and art

12. The importance of music education and its impact on creativity.

13. The impact of technology on the arts and its effect on creativity

14. The benefits and challenges of audio-visual media in art and literature

15. The importance of theater education and its impact on personal development

16. The impact of fashion and its effects on cultural values

17. The benefits and challenges of accessing arts and culture in rural areas.

18. The importance of art in public spaces and its effect on urban environments

19. The impact of artificial intelligence on artistic creation

20. The benefits and challenges of corporate sponsorship for the arts.

Sports and Recreation

1. The impact of sports on physical health and well-being

2. The benefits and challenges of youth sports programs

3. The importance of accessible recreational activities for everyone

4. The impact of physical activity on mental health and well-being

5. The benefits and challenges of recreational facilities in urban areas

6. The importance of team sports and its effect on collaboration

7. The impact of competitive sports on personal development

8. The benefits and challenges of safe sports practices

9. The importance of physical education in schools and its effect on academic performance

10. The impact of technology on sports broadcasting and fan culture

11. The benefits and challenges of sponsorships for professional sports teams

12. The importance of sports and its effect on cultural identity

13. The impact of recreation centers and parks on local communities

14. The benefits and challenges of integrating sports and technology

15. The importance of coaching in youth sports and its effect on development

16. The impact of extreme sports and its effects on physical health

17. The benefits and challenges of recreational activities for people with disabilities.

18. The importance of outdoor recreation and its effect on personal health.

Travel and Tourism

1. The impact of travel and tourism on local economies

2. The benefits and challenges of ecotourism

3. The importance of sustainable travel practices for preserving the environment

4. The impact of global tourism on cultural exchange and understanding

5. The benefits and challenges of online travel sites and booking systems

6. The importance of responsible tourism and its effect on local communities

7. The impact of travel restrictions and their effects on the tourism industry

8. The benefits and challenges of cultural heritage tourism

9. The importance of accessible travel options for people with disabilities

10. The impact of air travel and its effects on the environment

11. The benefits and challenges of responsible transportation for tourists

12. The importance of adventure tourism and its effect on personal development

13. The impact of travel blogging and its effects on the industry

14. The benefits and challenges of corporate travel policies

15. The importance of public transportation and its effect on tourism.

16. The impact of the sharing economy on travel and tourism

17. The benefits and challenges of travel apps for tourists

18. The importance of travel guides and their effect on traveler experiences.

Food and Cuisine

1. The impact of food culture on personal identity

2. The benefits and challenges of traditional cuisine in a globalized world

3. The importance of food education and its effect on healthy eating habits

4. The impact of processed foods and their effects on the environment

5. The benefits and challenges of vegetarianism and veganism

6. The importance of local food production and its effect on sustainability

7. The impact of fast-food consumption and its effects on health

8. The benefits and challenges of food waste reduction

9. The importance of organic farming and its effect on the environment

10. The impact of celebrity chefs and their effects on the industry

11. The benefits and challenges of healthy eating initiatives in schools

12. The importance of food-related holidays and their effects on local culture

13. The impact of food delivery services and their effects on the industry

14. The benefits and challenges of food labeling regulations.

1. The impact of music on personal identity

2. The benefits and challenges of creating a music-friendly environment

3. The importance of music education and its effect on creativity

4. The impact of new technologies on the music industry

5. The benefits and challenges of streaming services for musicians

6. The importance of live music performances and their effects on local communities

7. The impact of the Internet and its effects on music distribution

8. The benefits and challenges of supporting independent musicians

9. The importance of music festivals and their effects on local economies

10. The impact of music piracy and its effects on the industry

11. The benefits and challenges of creating a diverse music scene

12. The importance of radio stations and their effects on music promotion.

Final thoughts

Informative speeches are a powerful way to share knowledge, ignite curiosity, and inspire audiences. For students, crafting an informative speech is not only an academic exercise but also a chance to delve deeply into topics they’re passionate about, ranging from the intricacies of science and technology to the subtleties of art and literature. The speech topics I’ve gathered span a broad spectrum, designed to cater to varied interests and academic pursuits.

Each category—whether it’s Health and Medicine’s advancements, History and Culture’s rich tapestries, or Sports and Recreation’s impact on society—encourages students to explore and uncover new insights. This compilation serves as a stepping stone, encouraging learners to research, understand, and present complex subjects in an engaging and understandable way, fostering a learning environment that values information sharing and intellectual growth.

informative speech topics public speaking

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Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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14 Informative Speeches

Speeches to Educate, Explain, or Describe

In this chapter . . .

In this chapter we examine our first type of public speech, the informative speech. This is used in lectures, briefings, and anytime you want to transmit fact-based information to an audience. We cover what makes an informative speech unique, the types of informative speeches, and how to construct this type of speech.

What is an informative Speech? Defining what an informative speech is can be both straight-forward and somewhat tricky at the same time. Very simply, an informative speech can first be defined as a speech based entirely and exclusively on facts. An informative speech conveys knowledge, a task that every person engages in every day in some form or another. Whether giving someone who is lost driving directions, explaining the specials of the day as a server, or describing the plot of a movie to friends, people engage in forms of informative speaking daily.

An informative speech does not attempt to convince the audience that one thing is better than another. It does not advocate a course of action or incorporate opinion as its basis. This can be the tricky part of developing an informative speech because some opinion statements sound like facts (since they are generally agreed upon by many people) but are really opinions.

For example, in an informative speech on George Washington, you might want to say, “George Washington was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.” While this statement may be agreed upon by many people, it’s not irrefutable, meaning someone could argue against this claim. However, you could include this statement in an informative speech if you present the opinion from a reputable source: “Ron Chernow, in his 2011 best-selling biography of George Washington, describes the first president as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.” That is an acceptable way of presenting an opinion within the framework of a factual speech. While you may not be able to avoid opinion, you don’t want your central idea, your main points, and most of your supporting material to be opinion or argument in an informative speech.

Additionally, you should never take sides on an issue in an informative speech, nor should you “spin” the facts to influence the opinions of the listeners. Even if you are informing the audience about differences in views on controversial topics, you should simply and clearly explain the issues.

This doesn’t mean that an informative speech will have no effect on the audience. An audience can learn things from an informative speech that will affect what they do or how they think about something—that’s their choice. Your only focus is to provide the clearest and most factual information you can.

Types of Informative Speeches

While the topics to choose from for informative speeches are nearly limitless, they can be categorized according to five broad categories based on the primary goal of the speech. Understanding the type of informative speech that you will be giving can help you to figure out the best way to research and speechwriting.

Type 1: History

An informative speech on the history or development of something. Your focus is to explain to an audience how something came into existence. History speeches can be about objects, places, ideas, or even events. For example, imagine your informative speech was on the history of the football (the object, not the game). Someone at some point in history was the first to develop what is considered the modern football. Who was it? What was it originally made of? How did it evolve into the football that is used by the NFL today? For the history of a place, like a university, you would describe the specific year it opened, the number of students who were initially enrolled, and how it got its name. It’s also possible to provide the history of an idea, like “democracy.” By explaining the civilizations and cultures that adopted forms of democracy throughout history, it’s possible to provide an audience with a better understanding of how the idea has been shaped into what it has become today.

Type 2: Biography

A biographical speech is similar to a history one, but in this case the subject is a person, whether living or deceased. As with histories of objects, places, or ideas, there are specific and irrefutable facts that provide the details of someone’s life. Your focus is to tell the audience about someone’s life.

Type 3: Processes

Process speeches are informative speeches that explain how to do something or how something is achieved. These speeches require you to provide steps that will help your audience understand how to accomplish a specific task or process. We see examples of “how-to” presentations frequently—especially on YouTube. There’s a second type of process speech that focuses not on how the audience can achieve a result, but on how a process is achieved. The goal is understanding of a process instead of the performance of a process. After a speech on how to change a car tire, for example, the audience members could probably do it (they might not want to, but they would know the steps). However, after a speech on how a bill goes through Congress, the audience would understand this important part of democracy but not be ready to serve in Congress. Either way, if your speech aims at teaching the audience how something works, it’s a process speech.

Type 4: Ideas and Concepts

It is possible to have an informative speech about an idea or concept where your primary focus isn’t on the history of the idea, but how it exists now. In the examples above, we have seen two types of speeches about democracy: democracy as the topic of a speech that focuses on its history and democracy in a speech that focuses on a process in democratic legislation. In this fourth type of informative speech, you could focus on the concept of democracy as interpreted, for example, in three different countries. Your speech is neither about history nor about process but focuses on the definition itself.

Type 5: General

Sometimes an informative speech topic doesn’t lend itself to a focus on history, process, or concept. In those cases, the topics tend to fall into the general category of informative speeches. The focus in this type of informative speech is determined by the topic. For example, imagine a speech about customs to know when traveling in Japan. This isn’t a speech about the history of anime , nor a biography of a former emperor. It’s not about the process of planning a trip to Japan, nor is it about the concept of kawaii . Customs of Japan falls into the “general” type of informative speech.

Tips for Informational Speeches

Use the type of speech to determine the structure.

Identifying the type of informative speech being given can help in several ways (conducting research, writing the introduction and conclusion), but the biggest benefit is that the type of informative speech being given will help determine the organizational pattern that is best for a speech.

For example, a How-To speech must be in chronological order (step 1, step 2, step 3). Similarly, most speeches that focus on providing history or biography will be organized chronologically, but not always. It makes sense to use chronology to explain the history of the football from the moment it was first developed to where it’s today, but for an informative speech on Benjamin Franklin a student might choose a topical pattern (idea 1, idea 2, idea 3) as their three main points: 1) His time as a printer, 2) His time as an inventor, 3) His time as a diplomat. These main points are not in strict chronological order because Franklin was a printer, inventor, and diplomat at the same time during periods of his whole life. However, this example would still be one way to inform an audience about him without using the chronological organizational pattern.

As for general informative speeches, since the topics that can be included in this category are so diverse and cover a range of possible subject matter, the way they are organized will be varied as well and may use chronological, spatial, or topical structures. (Refer to Chapter x on speech structure and organization).

Keep Your Topic Specific

One of the biggest and most common mistakes students make is pursuing a topic that is much too broad. Let’s consider the example of a student who proposes the topic “To inform my audience about the Civil War.” The Civil War was, conservatively speaking, four years long, resulted in over 750,000 casualties, and arguably changed the course of human history. To think that it’s possible to cover all of that in a speech is unrealistic. Even a very experienced professor in American history would find it difficult to deliver a one-hour lecture that accomplished that goal.

The better approach in this case is to be as specific as possible. A revised specific purpose for this speech might be something like “To inform my audience about the Gettysburg Address.” This topic is much more compact (the Gettysburg Address is only a few minutes long) and doing research will be easier—although you will still find hundreds of sources on it. An even more specific topic would be “To inform my classmates of the specific places in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that are considered haunted.”

Avoid Fake Informative Speech Topics

Sometimes students think that because something sounds like an informative speech topic, it’s one. This happens a lot with political issues that are usually partisan in nature. Some students may feel that the speech topic “To inform my audience why William Henry Harrison was a bad president” sounds factual, but really this is an opinion—in other words, it’s a fake informational speech because it’s a persuasive speech disguised as an informational speech. Similarly, a few topics that include conspiracy and paranormal subject matter are usually mistaken for good informative topics as well. It is common for a student to propose the topic “To inform my audience about the existence of extraterrestrials,” thinking it’s a good topic. After all, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim, right? There are pictures of unidentified objects in the sky that people claim are from outer space, there are people who claim to have seen extraterrestrials, and most powerful of all, there are people who say that they have been abducted by aliens and taken into space.

The problem here, as you have probably already guessed, is that these facts are not irrefutable. Not every single person who sees something unknown in the sky will agree it’s an alien spacecraft, and there can be little doubt that not everyone who claims to have been abducted by a UFO is telling the truth. This isn’t to say that you can’t still do an informative speech on alien sites. For example, two viable options are “To inform my audience about the SETI Project” or “To inform my audience of the origin of the Area 51 conspiracy.” However, these types of speeches can quickly devolve into opinion if you aren’t careful, which would then make them persuasive speeches. Even if you start by trying to be objective, unless you can present each side equally, it will end up becoming a persuasive speech. Additionally, when a speaker picks such a topic, it’s often because of a hidden desire to persuade the audience about them.

Be Selective about Content

Even if you have chosen a specific and focused topic, you must still make choices about what you can and cannot include. Writing an informative speech isn’t about dumping enormous amounts of information on your audience that you can only get to by speaking at breakneck speed. It’s about carefully choosing what to include, making it interesting and clear, and presenting it to your audience at a comfortable pace. What’s better: too much information that audiences can’t grasp or less information for audiences that hear every word? Regardless of the topic, you will never be able to cover everything that is known about your topic, so don’t try. Select the things that will best help the audience gain a general understanding of the topic that will interest them, and that they hopefully will find valuable.

Be Accurate, Clear, and Interesting

A good informative speech conveys accurate information to the audience clearly and keeps the listener interested in the topic. Achieving all three of these goals—accuracy, clarity, and interest—is the key to being an effective speaker. If information is inaccurate, incomplete, or unclear, it will be of limited usefulness to the audience.

Part of being accurate is making sure that your information is current. Even if you know a great deal about your topic or wrote a good paper on the topic in a high school course, you will need to verify the accuracy and completeness of what you know, especially if it’s medical or scientific information.

What defines “interesting?” In approaching the informative speech, you should keep in mind the good overall principle that the audience is asking, “what’s in it for me?” The audience is either consciously or unconsciously wondering “What in this topic for me? How can I use this information? Of what value is this speech content to me? Why should I listen to it?”

Keep in Mind Audience Diversity

Finally, remember that not everyone in your audience is the same, so an informative speech should be prepared with audience diversity in mind. If the information in a speech is too complex or too simplistic, it will not hold the interest of the listeners. Determining the right level of complexity can be hard. Audience analysis is one important way to do this (see Chapter 2). Do the members of your audience belong to different age groups? Did they all go to public schools in the United States, or are some of them international students? Are they all students majoring in the same subject, or is there a mixture of majors? Never assume that just because an audience is made up of students, they all share a knowledge set.

Learning how to give informative speeches will serve you well in your college career and your future work. Keep in mind the principles in this chapter but also those of the previous chapters: relating to the informational needs of the audience, using clear structure, and incorporating interesting and attention-getting supporting evidence.

Something to Think About

Here are three general topics for informative speeches. Write specific purposes for them and explain how you would answer the WIIFM question.

Type 1 diabetes
The psychological effects of using social media

Informative Speech

Informative Speech Topics

Good Informative Speech Topics & Ideas

16 min read

Informative Speech Topics for Students

If you're a student in search of captivating informative speech topics, you're in the right place.

These topics are designed to align with your academic needs and are suitable for various situations, including class presentations and speech competitions.

Informative Speech Topics for High School

The Impact of Social Media on Education
How to Research Scholarships and Grants for College
The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
Balancing Academic Performance with Extracurricular Activities
Understanding the Implications of Stress and Mental Health Issues among Teens
Exploring Different Career Paths and Their Benefits
Learning the Necessary Skills to Succeed in College
Analyzing the Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment
The Impact of Technology on Society
Understanding Financial Literacy and its Relevance for Students' Futures

Easy Informative Speech Topics For College Students

A mentor is necessary for every student. Discuss.
Should college students start looking for jobs before passing from college?
Students should learn basic skills like washing and cooking before going to college.
Allowing college students to earn extra credit is unfair for hard-working students.
Peer pressure is a common thing in college for both boys and girls. How can students avoid it?
Exercise and extra-curricular activities are important for every student.
Getting an on-campus job is a wise and beneficial decision for a student.
The college tour is an important activity for the new students, and they should try to get as much information from the tour
guide as possible.
Students should visit the college before considering it for future studies.
Students should schedule their study time in the day rather than putting it late in the evening.

Informative Speech Topics for University Students

The Impact of Social Media on Contemporary Culture
Mental Health Awareness: Taking Care of Our Minds and Bodies
Exploring the Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
Exposing Gender Inequality in the Workplace
Understanding the Role of Technology in Education
Investing In Your Financial Future
Strategies For Stress Management and Self-Care
Exploring the Benefits of a Meditation Practice
Examining Racial Inequality in the United States
Building Healthy Relationships with Friends and Loved Ones

Informative Speech Topics on Health

The harmful effects of fast food on health.
How to maintain health while being on a diet?
What types of food are essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind?
Does good health mean a good life?
Why should we eat healthy foods?
How to keep our skin looking fresh and healthy?
How to deal with diabetes?
The harmful effects of alcohol.
The disadvantages of dark chocolate.
Home-cooked foods are better than restaurant foods.

Mental Health Informative Speech Topics

Check out these informative speech topics about mental health.

The Impact of Stress on Mental Health
Interventions and Coping Strategies for Anxiety
Overview of Depression: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
Understanding the Effects of Trauma on Mental Health
Examining the Link Between Physical Health and Mental Well-Being
Recognizing and Managing the Signs of Mental Illness
Exploring the Role of Technology in Mental Health
Promoting Self-Care for Optimal Mental Health
Addiction: Its Impact on Mental and Emotional Well-Being
The Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation for Positive Mental Health

Medical Informative Speech Topics

The Importance of Vaccination for Public Health
Alzheimer's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
The Impact of Stress on Physical and Mental Health
The Science of DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
The Benefits and Risks of Telemedicine
Organ Donation: Saving Lives through Transplants
The Opioid Epidemic: Causes and Solutions
The Role of Nutrition in Preventing Chronic Diseases
The History and Advances in Medical Imaging Technologies

Psychology Informative Speech Topics

The Neuroscience of Happiness and Well-Being
Understanding the Psychology Behind Addiction
Exploring Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Analyzing Group Dynamics in Workplaces
Examining Attachment Theory & Its Effects
Describing the Developmental Stages of Childhood
Investigating Factors That Contribute to Stress
Exploring the Psychology of Personality Traits
The Cognitive Processes Involved in Decision-Making
Understanding the Psychology of Learning and Memory
Examining the Phenomenon of Social Influence.

Informative Speech Topics About History

The Influence of Ancient Greece on Modern Democracy
The Secrets of the Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Architecture
The Industrial Revolution: Transforming Society and Economy
The Impact of World War I on the 20th Century
The Underground Railroad: A Network for Freedom
The Space Race: The United States and the Soviet Union
The Legacy of Ancient Rome in Modern Law and Governance
The Story of the American Civil Rights Movement
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire
The Impact of the Silk Road on Global Trade and Culture

Informative Speech Topics About Animals

Comparing and Contrasting Domesticated and Wild Animals
The Impact of Captive Breeding on Endangered Species Preservation
Exotic Animals as Pets: Benefits and Risks
Exploring the Relationship Between Humans and Animals
Understanding Animal Behavior: Studies of Hunting, Migration, & Social Interactions
Exploring the Evolution of Animal Intelligence
Investigating the Role of Animals in Ecosystems
The Development and Use of Animal-Assisted Therapy
Analyzing Human Attitudes towards Endangered
Why are wolves considered majestic animals?

Informative Speech Topics About Education

Teachers and students should not be friends on social media. Support your claim with evidence.
Our traditional education system needs to be transformed into a modern education system.
Students should be permitted to eat in the classroom. Support your claim.
Do grades really matter to get a good job?
What is the best age for kids to start schooling?
How is higher education affecting the business world?
The success rate of high school grads vs. college grads.
Can we judge a student's knowledge on the basis of his grades?
How education helps in combating poverty?
Why are educational institutes unable to train students for professional worlds?

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Informative Speech Topics Related to Literature

The Life and Works of William Shakespeare
The Impact of Classic Literature on Modern Writing
The Symbolism in George Orwell's "1984"
The Feminist Themes in Jane Austen's Novels
The Origins and Influence of the Beat Generation Writers
The History and Significance of Gothic Literature
The Literary Techniques of Magical Realism
The Evolution of Detective Fiction in Literature
The Role of Satire in Political Literature
The Influence of Shakespearean Sonnets on Poetry

Interesting Informative Speech Topics for Teens

Steve Jobs is considered the Einstein of our society.
What is the digital generation? How digitized is our present generation?
What are the effects of television on the children of our nation?
Propose a useful business model for today’s world.
Discuss some of the key issues of our society.
What is the millennial generation, and what are their fundamental beliefs and features?
Discuss the origin and evolution of video games.
Describe the cosmos and the reasons why they can access some zones.
Modernism Vs. Postmodernism: Discuss the Pros and Cons.
Parents should try to understand the psyche of children and especially young adults.

Informative Speech Topics About Music

The Influence of Music on Emotions
The Evolution of Hip-Hop Music
The History of Classical Music
The Impact of Music on Memory and Learning
The Role of Music in Different Cultures
The Connection Between Music and Mental Health
The Origins of Jazz Music
The Science of Sound and Music Production
The Significance of Music Festivals
The Contribution of Music in Film and TV

Informative Speech Topics Related to Media

The role of the media in our lives.
Why is digital media badly influencing the youngsters
How to make a Drama for TV?
How to shoot a video for Youtube?
How to learn the basic skills of photography?
The best reality show of the year.
How important are the performance awards in the life of an actor?
The worst movie of the year.
How to start a band?
How to become a producer?

Fun Informative Speech Topics

Let’s read out some fun and cool informative speech topics for your next task:

Discuss the origins of Valentine’s Day, and how is it celebrated in different countries?
Does sending monkeys to space have any positive research benefits?
Describe an Irish celebration and the reasons it is considered funny.
Discuss some funny games for a beach day.
Describe the origins and evolution of ice-cream making.
Discuss the tattoo culture and the reasons people like to have different kinds of tattoos.
Discuss and explain the process of people getting into the selfie culture.
Do horoscopes paint a real picture of people belonging to different zodiac signs?
What are the pros and cons of working at Disneyland?
How to cheat and get away with it in the Poker game?

Entertaining Informative Speech Topics

Is it necessary to get a formal education to get into showbiz?
Reality shows have caused a drastic decrease in television viewership. How far is it true?
Should there be any limits on the usage of special effects?
Should the shows based on pranks be added into the entertainment and showbiz category?
Who are the best Hollywood actors marked according to the recent census?
Who are the best record artists of recent times?
Can AI be used in the movie industry? If yes, then how and to what extent it could be used?
Classics Vs. Modern movies: Which ones are better?
Models and actresses are the contemporary role models of the young generation.
Who is the best actor to play the role of the iconic Joker, and why?

Unique Informative Speech Topics

The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
The History of Unsolved Mysteries
The Art of Origami: Its Origins and Techniques
The Impact of Virtual Reality on Healthcare
The Cultural Significance of Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremonies
The Evolution of Sign Language
The Secrets of the World's Oldest Known Manuscripts
The Language of Whales: How They Communicate
The Surprising History of Board Games
The Art of Underwater Basket Weaving

Easy Informative Speech Topics

The Benefits of Drinking Water
How to Save Money on Everyday Expenses
The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
The Importance of Good Hygiene
The Basics of CPR
The History of Your Hometown
How to Make a Simple Origami Craft
A Brief Introduction to a Well-Known Author
The Process of Making Chocolate
The Impact of a Popular Children's Book

5-Minute Informative Speech Topics For College

The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
The Origins and Significance of the International Space Station
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
The Science Behind Climate Change
The Influence of Cybersecurity in the Digital Age
The History and Cultural Significance of Hip-Hop Music
The Benefits of Sustainable Farming Practices
The Art of Effective Time Management
The Psychology of Decision-Making
The Evolution of Modern Cryptocurrency

Informative Speech Topics About Government

Role of government in a democracy.
How difficult is it to run a country of more than 1 million people?
How do good and bad governments affect the country's economy?
What role do youngsters play in the selection of a government?
How is journalism helping in controlling corruption?
Why are government jobs preferred over private jobs?
What are the stages of passing a bill?
The ratio of women in governmental authorities.
Dictatorship vs. democracy? Which one is better for a country's progress?
How much should the state authorities be paid?

Informative Speech Topics Related to Politics and Current Affairs

The role of women in politics.
Why is politics such an underrated profession?
Why don't youngsters opt for politics as a career?
Why does Canada promote immigration?
How does free trade agreement work?
Why is the military force essential for national security?
The role of the air force in national security.
How is coronavirus affecting our society?
The decline in the world's economy.
Social distancing or self-quarantine? What to do to protect ourselves from COVID-19?

Informative Speech Topics About Science

Why is science discipline preferred over humanities?
Why is the psychology behind the lack of sleep?
The contribution of Einstein to the field of science.
How does listening to some good music influence our brain?
How to become a nuclear scientist?
When the world first stepped on the moon?
How is science helping in improving human health?
What is the role of science in education?
How to overcome the fear of chemicals?
What role do physicists perform in the blackhole discovery?

Informative Speech Topics About Sports

The History and Evolution of the Olympics
The Science of Sports Nutrition
The Impact of Title IX on Women's Sports
The Cultural Significance of Soccer Around the World
The Psychology of Sports Performance
The Role of Technology in Modern Sports
The Benefits of Youth Participation in Sports
The Origins of American Football
The Rise of Esports and Competitive Gaming
The Health Risks and Benefits of Extreme Sports

Public Speaking Informative Speech Topics

Overcoming Stage Fright: Tips for Confident Presentations
The Art of Persuasion: Techniques for Effective Public Speaking
The Impact of Nonverbal Communication in Public Speaking
The Power of Storytelling in Speeches
The Importance of Audience Analysis in Public Speaking
The History and Influence of Famous Speeches
The Role of Visual Aids in Presentations
The Psychology of Effective Speech Introductions
The Art of Impromptu Speaking
Public Speaking and the Digital Age: Navigating Virtual Presentations

Informative Speech Topics About Environment

2020 has brought some good environmental changes. Prove with evidence.
The Ozone layer is recovering rapidly. Provide evidence.
How to protect our environment?
Air pollution has caused depletion in the ozone layer.
Humans are destroying nature. Prove with evidence.
How to stop global warming?
Are we going to lose the rainforest?
Why is it important to have a healthy environment?
The harmful impacts of water pollution.
How to efficiently use natural resources?

Creative Informative Speech Topics

How can the biosources be used to provide electricity for the cities?
Can Elon Musk refashion the space race? Support your claims with evidence.
Discuss some funny and unique traditions of different cultures.
Can a hobby turn into a profitable business? If yes, then how?
How can domestic violence be minimized?
College dropouts are more successful than college pass outs. Discuss the claim.
No one is born a genius, and success is a product of hard work.
Can we train our minds to think outside the box? Explain with examples.
Children should be trained in different languages and skills.
How did the fashion industry change over time?

How to Choose an Informative Speech Topic?

Now that you have examples of informative speech topics, you might be confused about which topic you should choose.

Remember that persuasive and informative speech topics are different, so you have to choose them appropriately.

Here's a guide to help you make an informed decision when choosing your informative speech topic:

Consider Your Audience: Tailoring your topic to your audience interests and needs can help keep them engaged.
Depth of Information: Ensure there is enough information available on the topic to provide a comprehensive overview. Research availability is crucial.
Clarity and Focus: A focused and well-defined topic will make your speech more coherent and easier to follow. Avoid overly broad subjects.
Uniqueness: Consider presenting a fresh perspective or a lesser-known aspect of a well-known topic. This can make your speech more intriguing.
Practicality: Ensure that you can cover the type of informative speech relevant to the audience and topic.

To sum it up, if you keep these tips in mind, the topic selection process will become easier for you. Once you choose a topic, the next step is to write an essay for your speech.

In case you think that writing a speech is tough, then getting professional help is the best thing to do. You can buy speech online by contacting a professional writing service.

MyPerfectWords.com is the best custom essay writing service that offers affordable help for informative speech writing, informative presentation designing, finding a good essay topic, and writing an outstanding informational essay.

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100+ Informative Speech Topics & Ideas for All Students

Post category: Uncategorized
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As a student tasked with delivering an informative speech, finding the right topic can be a difficult first step. The challenge doesn’t just end with selecting a topic; it extends to researching, preparing, and effectively presenting it. We’ve got you covered.

Our selection of informative speech topics is filled with captivating and relevant ideas to keep your audience engaged while educating them. You can choose any of these topics as a starting point for an informative and memorable speech.

List of Informative Speech Topics for Students

When selecting informative speech topics for students, the aim is to find subjects that are educational, engaging, and relevant to their interests and experiences. Here are some diverse and thought-provoking informative topic ideas that college students can explore for their informative speeches:

Good Informative Speech Topics for Students

First Aid Basics and Their Importance
Cold and Flu: Symptoms and Prevention
Pediatric Nursing: Caring for Children
Mental Health Awareness in Adolescence
Essentials of Nutritional Health
The Science and Importance of Vaccines
Hygiene Practices to Prevent Illness
The Role of Sleep in Maintaining Health
Understanding and Managing Allergies
An Introduction to Human Anatomy
Special Considerations in Geriatric Nursing
Effective Stress Management Techniques
The Health Benefits of Regular Exercise
Ethical Considerations in Nursing
Managing and Understanding Diabetes
Fundamentals of Wound Care
Common Skin Conditions and Treatments
The Diverse Role of Nurses in Healthcare
Basics of Pain Management
Promoting Cardiovascular Health

Best Informative Speech Topics for College

Advanced First Aid and Crisis Management
In-depth Analysis of Mental Health Disorders
Pediatric Oncology: Challenges and Care
Lifestyle’s Impact on Chronic Diseases
Nutritional Therapy in Healthcare Settings
Vaccine Development and Effectiveness
Infection Control Techniques in Hospitals
Sleep Psychology and Related Disorders
Comprehensive Allergy Management
Detailed Study of Human Physiology
Geriatric Nursing and Age-Related Diseases
Advanced Stress and Anxiety Management
Exercise Physiology in Disease Prevention
Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing
In-depth Look at Diabetes and Endocrine Health
Advanced Techniques in Wound Healing
Dermatology from a Nursing Perspective
Leadership and Management in Nursing
Comprehensive Approaches to Pain Management
Cardiac Care and Rehabilitation Techniques

Easy Informative Speech Topics

Basic First Aid Techniques Everyone Should Know
The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Preventing Infections
Understanding Common Cold: Symptoms and Treatment
Introduction to Healthy Eating and Nutrition
Basic Steps for Blood Pressure Monitoring
Sleep Hygiene: Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
Stress Management: Simple Relaxation Techniques
Basics of Diabetes: Types and Management
Understanding and Preventing Seasonal Allergies
Basic Wound Care: Do’s and Don’ts
The Role of Vaccinations in Public Health
The Impact of Smoking on Health
Introduction to Mental Health and Well-being
Basic Skin Care and Sun Protection
The Importance of Regular Exercise
Understanding Asthma: Basics and Management
Principles of Healthy Weight Management
Dehydration: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
Introduction to Geriatric Health Issues
Pediatric Health: Common Childhood Illnesses

Short Informative Speech Topics

Handwashing: The Best Way to Prevent Germs
Quick Tips for a Healthy Heart
Introduction to CPR: Basic Steps
The Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance
Understanding Migraines and Headache Management
Basic Nutrition: Vitamins and Minerals Essentials
The Significance of Breast Cancer Awareness
Recognizing and Responding to a Stroke
Basic Eye Care and Common Eye Problems
Importance of Vaccines in Disease Prevention
Ear Health and Preventing Hearing Loss
Simple Techniques for Anxiety Relief
Oral Hygiene and Dental Health Basics
Foot Care for Diabetics
Dealing with Common Digestive Disorders
Bone Health: Preventing Osteoporosis
Overview of Common Respiratory Diseases
Basic Understanding of Arthritis
Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention
Basics of Maternal and Child Health

Interesting/ Fun Informative Speech Topics

The Evolution of Nursing Throughout History
Fascinating Medical Discoveries and Innovations
The Role of Pets and Animals in Healing
Bizarre but True: Unusual Medical Conditions
Medical Miracles: Remarkable Recovery Stories
How Laughter Benefits Physical Health
Exploring the Power of the Placebo Effect
Myths and Facts About the Human Brain
Pioneering Women in the Field of Nursing
The Science Behind Love and Its Health Benefits
Unique Traditional Healing Practices Around the World
The Future of Telemedicine and Virtual Healthcare
The Psychology of Pain: Perception vs. Reality
The Weird World of Rare Genetic Conditions
How Music Therapy Enhances Health and Well-being
The History and Significance of World Health Day
Famous Medical Experiments in History
The Impact of Space Travel on Human Health
The Influence of Social Media on Health Trends
Nursing in War: Stories from the Frontline

Unique Informative Speech Topics

The Link Between Climate Change and Public Health
The Future of Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Exploring the World of Rare Diseases
Nursing Practices in Different Cultures
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
The Psychology of Color in Healing Environments
The Impact of Globalization on Healthcare
Revolutionary Medical Treatments Under Development
The Ethical Dilemmas of Modern Medicine
The Role of Nutrition in Chronic Disease Management
Virtual Reality and its Application in Healthcare
The Evolution of Surgical Techniques
The Role of Nurses in Disaster Response
Breakthroughs in Brain-Computer Interfaces
The Connection Between Art and Healing
The Growing Field of Gerontechnology
The Science of Sleep Disorders
The Challenges of Healthcare in Remote Areas
The Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health
The Role of Robotics in Modern Surgery

Informative Speech Topics – 2024 Ideas

The Role of Nursing in Global Health Initiatives
Advances in Stem Cell Research and Therapy
The Future of Personalized Medicine
The Ethics of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Patient Care
The Growing Trend of Plant-Based Diets and Health
The Use of Big Data in Healthcare
The Challenges of Providing Healthcare in Conflict Zones
The Role of Mental Health First Aid
The Impact of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases
Innovations in Wound Care and Healing
The Future of Nursing Education
The Role of Nurses in Palliative and End-of-Life Care
The Effects of Pollution on Respiratory Health
The Importance of Global Vaccine Equity
The Challenges of Rural Healthcare Delivery
Emerging Trends in Healthcare Technology
The Psychology Behind Chronic Pain Management
The Importance of Cultural Competence in Nursing
The Growing Field of Nursing Informatics

Creative Informative Speech Topics

The Art and Science of Nursing
The Role of Storytelling in Patient Care
Innovative Approaches to Patient Education
The Impact of Urban Design on Public Health
The Intersection of Fashion and Medical Wearables
Creative Therapies in Mental Health Care
The Use of Gamification in Health Education
The Role of Nurses in Health Policy Development
Exploring the World of Holistic Nursing
The Future of 3D Printing in Medicine
The Importance of Empathy in Healthcare
The Use of Augmented Reality in Surgical Training
The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention
Innovations in Home Health Care Technology
The History and Future of Epidemics and Pandemics
The Role of Nurses in Climate Change Advocacy
The Use of Social Media in Health Awareness Campaigns
The Evolution of Maternal and Neonatal Care
Exploring the Benefits of Alternative Medicine
The Role of Nurses in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

What Is An Informative Speech?

An informative speech is a type of speech that aims to educate the audience on a specific topic, providing them with facts, insights, and information in a clear and understandable manner. Its main objective is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the listeners about the subject being discussed.

What are the 4 Types of Informative Speeches?

Informative speeches are a cornerstone of effective communication, especially in educational and professional settings. They serve the crucial purpose of educating and enlightening audiences on various topics. Broadly categorized, there are four distinct types of informative speeches, each serving a unique role in conveying information.

The four types of informative speeches are:

Descriptive Speeches: These speeches aim to provide a detailed, vivid, and clear picture of a person, place, object, or event. The goal is to make the audience feel as if they are familiar with the subject through the use of descriptive language.

Explanatory Speeches: These focus on explaining a concept, idea, or phenomenon. The objective is to clarify the subject matter and help the audience understand it better, often involving the breaking down of complex ideas into simpler parts.

Demonstrative Speeches: These speeches are about showing or demonstrating how to do something. They are often accompanied by visual aids and step-by-step instructions, making them particularly useful for teaching processes or procedures.

Definition Speeches: This type involves explaining the meaning, context, or background of a specific term, concept, or issue. It’s about providing a clear and precise definition that enhances the audience’s understanding of a subject that might be abstract or complex.

Choosing Informative Speech Ideas

When writing an informative speech, one of the most critical steps is selecting a compelling and appropriate topic. Choose an informative speech topic that is interesting and can captivate your audience and ensure your message is conveyed and understood. Here’s how to choose a topic using the Five W’s – Who, What, When, Where, and Why – approach:

Who: Consider your audience. Who are they? What are their interests, age group, and educational background? Selecting an interesting topic that resonates with the specific demographics of your audience will make your speech more impactful.

What: Determine the subject of your information speech. What topic do you want to address? Ensure it’s informative, interesting, and something you’re passionate about. The ‘what’ should also align with the purpose of your speech – are you aiming to educate, explain, demonstrate, or define?

When: Timing can be crucial. When is the best time to talk about these essay topics? Choose a subject that is timely and relevant. For instance, discussing technological advancements would be more engaging if aligned with recent breakthroughs.

Where: The setting or context where your professional speech will be delivered can influence your choice. Where will you be speaking? In a classroom, a business meeting, or a community event? The environment and occasion can dictate the appropriateness and tone of your topic.

Why: Finally, consider why this topic is essential. Why should your audience care about it? The ‘why’ is crucial for creating a compelling speech that informs and connects with the audience on a deeper level.

How to Write a Killer Informative Speech

Writing a good informative speech involves several key steps, each designed to ensure that your speech is engaging, informative, and memorable. Here’s a guide to help you craft an effective informative speech:

Choose a Topic

When selecting a topic for an informative speech essay, choose one that aligns with your interests and expertise, ensuring a passionate and knowledgeable presentation that resonates with your audience. The topic should be engaging, offering new insights or a deeper understanding of a subject, and appropriately scoped to be thoroughly covered within the time allotted for your speech. This balance ensures that your speech is informative, interesting, relevant, and impactful to those listening.

Understand Your Audience

Understanding your audience is a crucial aspect of preparing an informative speech. This involves analyzing their interests, background knowledge, and expectations to tailor your presentation for maximum engagement and relevance. For instance, a speech aimed at industry professionals should differ in complexity and terminology compared to one intended for high school students.

Knowing the audience’s baseline understanding of the topic helps avoid oversimplification or excessive complexity. Additionally, understanding their interests can guide you in choosing which aspects of the topic to emphasize, making the speech more appealing and relatable. A well-tailored speech, cognizant of its audience, delivers information effectively and ensures that the audience remains engaged and interested throughout the presentation.

Gather Evidence and Facts From Credible Scholarly Sources

Gathering evidence and facts from credible scholarly sources is fundamental in preparing an informative speech. This process involves extensive research to ensure the information you present is accurate, current, and authoritative. Utilizing sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable online databases adds depth and credibility to your speech. It’s important to critically evaluate these sources for their reliability and relevance to your topic.

Incorporating well-researched facts and evidence strengthens your arguments and enhances your speech’s overall quality. It demonstrates to your audience that you thoroughly understand the subject and are committed to providing them with trustworthy and informative information. This careful attention to source selection and fact verification is key to delivering a speech that is engaging and intellectually robust.

Deconstruct the Topic to Select the Best Ideas

Deconstructing the topic involves brainstorming and breaking down the overarching subject into its constituent components or key ideas. By identifying these core elements, you can structure your speech in a logical and organized manner.

This ensures you cover all relevant aspects of the topic and enables you to prioritize and emphasize the most significant and compelling ideas. Through this deconstruction and selection process, you can create a clear, focused, and engaging speech, providing your audience with a well-structured and informative presentation.

Write a Thesis Statement for Your Informative Speech

A thesis statement serves as the compass that guides the entire public speaking presentation. It encapsulates the main message you aim to convey and provides a roadmap for both you as the speaker and your audience.

A well-constructed thesis statement should state the topic and indicate the specific angle, perspective, or key points you plan to cover. It’s the nucleus around your informative essay speech, ensuring your content remains focused and relevant. Moreover, a strong thesis statement provides your audience with a clear understanding of what to expect, enhancing their comprehension and engagement throughout your speech.

Inform Rather Than Persuade the Audience

Here, the primary objective is to inform and educate the audience rather than to persuade or convince them. This key distinction underlines the importance of objectively presenting facts, data, and information without bias or attempting to sway opinions. The aim is to give the audience a well-rounded understanding of the topic, enabling them to form opinions and make informed decisions.

While persuasive speeches focus on advocating for a particular viewpoint, informative speeches prioritize clarity, objectivity, and the dissemination of knowledge. By adhering to this principle of informing rather than persuading, speakers can build trust with their audience and ensure that their message is received as credible and unbiased.

Write the First Draft of Your Speech

Here, you transform your research, unique ideas, and thesis statement into a cohesive and structured narrative. Focusing on getting your ideas down on paper without being overly concerned about perfection is important. Start with a strong introduction that grabs the audience’s attention and presents your thesis statement. In the body of the speech, present your key points or ideas logically, providing supporting evidence and examples.

Finally, craft a conclusion summarizing the main points and leaving a lasting impression. While the first draft may be rough around the edges, it serves as the foundation for refining and improving your speech in subsequent revisions. It’s a critical step in turning your knowledge and insights into an informative and engaging presentation.

Start Writing Your Essay with Power Words

Power words can include compelling statistics, vivid anecdotes, thought-provoking questions, or impactful quotations. The goal is to grab your audience’s attention immediately, piquing their curiosity and drawing them into your speech. They set the tone for your presentation and create an initial impression that can linger throughout the speech.

They also serve as hooks, enticing the audience to listen attentively and setting the stage for the valuable information you are about to impart. Starting your speech with such impactful words creates an engaging opening that sets the tone for the rest of your presentation.

Develop the Body of the Speech

The body of your informative speech is where you delve into the core content, presenting your key points, supporting evidence, and explanations. Each key point should be organized logically, and transitions between them should be smooth to maintain the flow of your speech. To ensure clarity, providing examples, statistics, and relevant facts that bolster your main ideas is essential. Visual aids, if applicable, can enhance comprehension and engagement.

Remember to maintain an objective and informative tone, steering clear of persuasion or bias. By developing the body of your speech with a clear structure and comprehensive content, you enable your audience to follow along easily and gain a deep understanding of the topic. This is where the substance of your speech lies, and a well-structured body ensures that your informative message is effectively conveyed to your audience.

End Your Informative Speech with a Bang

Concluding your informative speech with impact is essential to leave a lasting impression on your audience. This closing section is where you summarize your main points, reinforcing the key takeaways for your listeners. It’s also an opportunity to make a final statement or leave the audience with something to ponder.

An effective conclusion can involve a powerful quote, a thought-provoking question, or a call to action, depending on the nature of your speech. By ending your speech with a “bang,” you ensure that your audience departs with a clear understanding of the topic and a sense of closure, making your presentation memorable and impactful.

Proofread and Edit, Then Present

Proofreading and editing your informative speech is the final critical step before the presentation. Carefully review your speech for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Check for any factual inaccuracies or inconsistencies in your content. Ensure that your speech flows smoothly, with logical transitions between ideas. Pay attention to your pacing and tone to ensure a natural and engaging delivery.

If using visual aids, ensure they are well-prepared and integrated seamlessly into your presentation. You must practice your speech multiple times to refine your delivery and become comfortable with the content. Effective proofreading and editing, followed by diligent rehearsal, contribute to a polished and confident presentation that will effectively inform and engage your audience.

Bottom Line

Selecting topics for an informative speech requires thoughtful consideration to ensure the audience is engaged, informed, and enlightened. The key is to choose subjects that are not only interesting and relevant but also rich in content, allowing for a deep dive into facts, data, and insights. A compelling informative speech topic should entertain and cater to the audience’s interests and knowledge level while offering new perspectives or information.

Balancing complexity with clarity is crucial, ensuring the topic is neither too esoteric nor overly simplistic. Whether the speech aims to educate, raise awareness, or provide a fresh outlook on a familiar subject, the topic should spark curiosity and invite further exploration. Ultimately, the success of an informative speech lies in its ability to convey knowledge in a compelling and accessible manner.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Informative Speech Outline – Template & Examples

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Informative Speech Outline - Template & Examples featured image intro image

Informative speeches are used in our day-to-day lives without even noticing it, we use these speeches whenever we inform someone about a topic they didn’t have much knowledge on, whenever we give someone instructions on how to do something that they haven’t done before, whenever we tell someone about another person. Informative speaking is fairly new to the world of public speaking. Ancient philosophers like Aristotle, Cicero and, Quintilian envisioned public speaking as rhetoric, which is inherently persuasive.

In this article:

What is an Informative Speech?

Here are some ways to prepare for your speech, 1. develop support for your thesis, 2. write your introduction and conclusion, 3. deliver the speech, example of an informative speech outline.

Woman Pointing to White Background While Smiling

An informative speech is designed to inform the audience about a certain topic of discussion and to provide more information. It is usually used to educate an audience on a particular topic of interest. The main goal of an informative speech is to provide enlightenment concerning a topic the audience knows nothing about. The main types of informative speeches are descriptive, explanatory, demonstrative, and definition speeches. The topics that are covered in an informative speech should help the audience understand the subject of interest better and help them remember what they learned later. The goal of an informative speech isn’t to persuade or sway the audience to the speaker’s point of view but instead to educate. The details need to be laid out to the audience so that they can make an educated decision or learn more about the subject that they are interested in.

It is important for the speaker to think about how they will present the information to the audience.

Informative Speech Preparation

When you are preparing your informative speech, your preparation is the key to a successful speech. Being able to carry your information across to the audience without any misunderstanding or misinterpretation is very important.

1. Choose Your Topic

Pick a topic where you will explain something, help people understand a certain subject, demonstrate how to use something.

2. Make a Thesis Statement

Think about what point you are trying to get across, What is the topic that you want to educate your audience on? “I will explain…” “I will demonstrate how to…” “I will present these findings…”

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3. Create Points That Support Your Thesis

Take a moment to think about what would support your thesis and take a moment to write the points down on a sheet of paper. Then, take a moment to elaborate on those points and support them.

Typical Organization for an Informative Speech:

How to Speech: 4 Key steps to doing what you are talking about.

Example: Step One: Clean the chicken of any unwanted feathers and giblets. Step Two: Spice the chicken and add stuffings. Step Three: Set oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Step Four: Place chicken in the oven and cook for an hour.

History/ What Happened Speech: Points listing from the beginning to the latest events that you want to discuss in your speech.

Example: First, Harry met Sally. Second, Harry took Sally out to the roadhouse. Third, Harry and Sally started their courtship. Fourth, Harry and Sally moved in together and adopted a dog named Paco.

What is it Speech: Two to Four main points that discuss the key elements of your subject.

Example: First, there must be four wheels. Second, the car’s engine must be functioning. Third, the doors must be functional. Fourth, in order to get to your destination, the car’s steering has to be functional.

Explain it Speech: Two to Four main points that go through the key elements of the topic to explain it.

Example: Firstly, the car drives by the engine that powers it to move forward. Secondly, by the wheels that rotate in a forward or backward motion. Thirdly, the car’s engine is powered by gas which gives it the ability to function and essentially move the car.

Write down support for your points. Take some time to research your topic thoroughly. It is good to gather statistics, expert opinions, facts, and much more to make your speech unique and effective.

There are three main types of support you should use to strengthen your speech:

Interest supports.

Interest supports are used to increase the audience’s interest in the topic you are presenting.

Personal experiences
Interaction (e.g., Questions to the audience)

Evidence Supports

Evidence increases solid factual support in your speech. Examples of evidence supported are statistics, expert opinions, direct quotations. Studies, surveys, and facts.

Multimedia Aids

Multimedia aids such as posters with pictures and writing, DVDs, music or recordings on a stereo player, videotapes, and PowerPoint presentations.

Write your introduction. Provide a quick attention getter, state your thesis, elaborate on why it is important to you and your audience. It is expected that you preview your main points in the introduction by listing all your main points of discussion in your introduction.

Write your conclusion. Tie the speech together, build to a higher point and give it a sense of conclusion.

Practice your speech until you feel confident. Present your material as effectively as possible.

Informative Speech Outline

Woman Speaking in a Conference Room - Four People Smiling and Clapping

Creating an outline for an informative speech will help you organize your ideas and information to share with your audience in an effective manner. A well-planned outline will ensure that all the important information is included in your speech and ensure that you don’t wander off-topic.

Topic: This will be the title of your speech.

Purpose: To inform the audience about the topic.

Thesis: A theme statement that clearly describes the topic and points made in the presentation.

Introduction
Attention-grabbing opening statement
Reason to listen to the speech
Thesis statement
Preview of points to be covered
First main point
First subpoint
Supporting detail
Second subpoint
Second main point
Third main point
Restatement of main points
Restatement of thesis
Concluding remarks

When developing an outline, follow these rules to ensure a successful speech:

Include one idea for every point, subpoint, or supporting detail.
If there is one point, there must be a second point. If there is one supporting point, there should be a second supporting point.
Be consistent. If you are using full sentences to describe points and subpoints, use full sentences throughout the outline. Ensure that the verb tense is consistent throughout your outline as well.

Informative Speech Outline Examples

Man Holding a Book With the Words Information Written on it

Topic: Adoption

Purpose: To inform people about adoption

Thesis: Adoption is the act of transferring parental rights and duties to someone other than the adopted person’s biological parents. The number of children adopted each year by American families is an estimate only.

What do Edgar Allan Poe, John Lennon, Steve Jobs, and Eleanor Roosevelt all have in common? They were all adopted. Adoption is the act of transferring parental rights and duties to someone other than the adopted person’s biological parents. The adoption process is lengthy, expensive, and varies from country to country and even state to state. Not only does adoption vary from state to state, but sometimes the adoption process even varies within regions of a state.
Many children get adopted every year. No one knows how adoption works.
Adoption is a life-changing event, not just for the children involved but also for every single family made whole through adoption.
Adoption processes vary from place to place. Types of adoption. Benefits and detriments to adoption. Many children who are adopted have experienced neglect and abuse.
Adoption processes vary from place to place.
The adoption process varies from state to state.
It is more expensive in certain states than in others.
The amount of paperwork throughout the process also depends on the state legislature.
The adoption process varies within a state.
In certain states, the adoption process is different from one region to the next.
The process is different depending on the child protection laws set in each region inside a state.
Types of adoption
There are different types of adoption.
There is step-parent or other family member adoption
There is also adoption across state lines
The more traditional adoption types are commonly known.
There is private adoption which is most commonly found throughout the U.S.
Adoption through foster care is a good thing to try for first-time adopters.
The adoption process is expensive.
There are a lot of upfront expenses.
You are subjected to adoption agency fees to help you find a suitable match for your family.
You also have to pay to adopt the child you want to adopt.
There are a lot of big expenses in terms of the child too.
Readying a living space to suit a child’s wants and needs can be expensive.
Many new expenses come to light like healthcare, school, etc.
Adoption processes vary from state to state. There are many different types of adoption. Adoption can be expensive, so you have to ensure that you are financially capable of caring for another human being.
Adoption is the act of transferring parental rights and duties to someone other than the adopted person’s biological parents. The number of children adopted each year by American families is an estimate only.
Adoption is an absolutely life-changing adventure, but everyone needs to be more educated before walking into a demanding process. There will be many emotions, expenses, and frustration, but it truly is worth it in the end.

Topic: Snakebites and how they’re treated

Purpose: To inform the audience of the dangers of snakes and how to respond to being bitten by a snake.

Thesis: Snakebites are dangerous and could ultimately lead to loss of life if not acted upon correctly.

Imagine that you and your friend are walking in the woods, one sunny day in the fall when leaves cover the ground. Suddenly, your friend accidentally steps on a snake and gets bitten.
Your friend’s chance of survival depends on your knowledge of acting promptly and taking proper measures in this situation.
Today I will inform you about three common poisonous snakes seen in our country and explain to you the effects of a snake bite.
Three poisonous snakes. Effects of the snake’s venom. How to administer first aid in the event of a snake bite.
Three poisonous snakes
There are two types of Rattlesnakes.
William Pinkston: Responsible for more deaths in this country.
Western diamondback: found from Texas to Eastern California.
Copperhead and Cottonmouth
Before striking, it opens its mouth wide to reveal its white inside.
That’s how it got its name.
The effects of snake venom on the human body
Hepatotoxic
Destroys blood vessels and red blood cells.
Deadly and fatal to the victim.
It affects the optic nerves in the eyes, causing blindness.
It affects the nerves controlling the respiratory muscles, causing suffocation and eventually leading to death if left untreated.
How to administer first aid in the event of a snake bite.
Immobilize the bitten area slightly lower than the heart.
Apply a flat constricting band 2-4 inches above the bite.
With a sterile scalpel or knife, make one incision that connects the fang marks.
Squeeze venom gently from the incision with your fingers for 30 minutes.
Get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.
Snake bites are dangerous and could ultimately lead to loss of life if not acted upon correctly.
Snake bites are dangerous and could ultimately lead to loss of life if they are not cared for properly, and the victim doesn’t get the necessary treatment in time.

Informative speeches have one main goal: to inform the audience of a specific topic of interest. For you to have an effective and successful informative speech, it is important to do your research and draw up an informative speech outline. The speech outline ensures that you do not wander off topic or get carried away with one point.

If, on the other hand, you have to prepare persuasive speech, we have a guide on outlining and preparing for it the right way right here .

Avoid Any Awkward Silence With These 35+ Topics to Talk About

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Informative Speeches — Types, Topics, and Examples

What is an informative speech?

An informative speech uses descriptions, demonstrations, and strong detail to explain a person, place, or subject. An informative speech makes a complex topic easier to understand and focuses on delivering information, rather than providing a persuasive argument.

Types of informative speeches

The most common types of informative speeches are definition, explanation, description, and demonstration.

A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about which the audience knows little. The purpose of the speech is to inform the audience so they understand the main aspects of the subject matter.

An explanatory speech presents information on the state of a given topic. The purpose is to provide a specific viewpoint on the chosen subject. Speakers typically incorporate a visual of data and/or statistics.

The speaker of a descriptive speech provides audiences with a detailed and vivid description of an activity, person, place, or object using elaborate imagery to make the subject matter memorable.

A demonstrative speech explains how to perform a particular task or carry out a process. These speeches often demonstrate the following:

How to do something

How to make something

How to fix something

How something works

How to write an informative speech

Regardless of the type, every informative speech should include an introduction, a hook, background information, a thesis, the main points, and a conclusion.

Introduction

An attention grabber or hook draws in the audience and sets the tone for the speech. The technique the speaker uses should reflect the subject matter in some way (i.e., if the topic is serious in nature, do not open with a joke). Therefore, when choosing an attention grabber, consider the following:

What’s the topic of the speech?

What’s the occasion?

Who’s the audience?

What’s the purpose of the speech?

Common Attention Grabbers (Hooks)

Ask a question that allows the audience to respond in a non-verbal way (e.g., a poll question where they can simply raise their hands) or ask a rhetorical question that makes the audience think of the topic in a certain way yet requires no response.

Incorporate a well-known quote that introduces the topic. Using the words of a celebrated individual gives credibility and authority to the information in the speech.

Offer a startling statement or information about the topic, which is typically done using data or statistics. The statement should surprise the audience in some way.

Provide a brief anecdote that relates to the topic in some way.

Present a “what if” scenario that connects to the subject matter of the speech.

Identify the importance of the speech’s topic.

Starting a speech with a humorous statement often makes the audience more comfortable with the speaker.

Include any background information pertinent to the topic that the audience needs to know to understand the speech in its entirety.

The thesis statement shares the central purpose of the speech.

Demonstrate

Include background information and a thesis statement

Preview the main ideas that will help accomplish the central purpose. Typically, informational speeches will have an average of three main ideas.

Body paragraphs

Apply the following to each main idea (body) :

Identify the main idea ( NOTE: The main points of a demonstration speech would be the individual steps.)

Provide evidence to support the main idea

Explain how the evidence supports the main idea/central purpose

Transition to the next main idea

Review or restate the thesis and the main points presented throughout the speech.

Much like the attention grabber, the closing statement should interest the audience. Some of the more common techniques include a challenge, a rhetorical question, or restating relevant information:

Provide the audience with a challenge or call to action to apply the presented information to real life.

Detail the benefit of the information.

Close with an anecdote or brief story that illustrates the main points.

Leave the audience with a rhetorical question to ponder after the speech has concluded.

Detail the relevance of the presented information.

Before speech writing, brainstorm a list of informative speech topic ideas. The right topic depends on the type of speech, but good topics can range from video games to disabilities and electric cars to healthcare and mental health.

Informative speech topics

Some common informative essay topics for each type of informational speech include the following:

Informative speech examples

The following list identifies famous informational speeches:

“Duties of American Citizenship” by Theodore Roosevelt

“Duty, Honor, Country” by General Douglas MacArthur

“Strength and Dignity” by Theodore Roosevelt

Explanation

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry

“The Decision to Go to the Moon” by John F. Kennedy

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill

Description

“I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Pearl Harbor Address” by Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“Luckiest Man” by Lou Gehrig

Demonstration

The Way to Cook with Julia Child

This Old House with Bob Vila

Bill Nye the Science Guy with Bill Nye

13.1 What is an Informative Speech?

An informative speech can first be defined as a speech based entirely and exclusively on facts. Basically, an informative speech conveys knowledge, a task that every person engages in every day in some form or another. Whether giving someone who is lost driving directions, explaining the specials of the day as a server, or describing the plot of a movie to friends, people engage in forms of informative speaking daily. Secondly, an informative speech does not attempt to convince the audience that one thing is better than another. It does not advocate a course of action.

Consider the following two statements:

George Washington was the first President of the United States.

In each case, the statement made is what can be described as irrefutable, meaning a statement or claim that cannot be argued. In the first example, even small children are taught that having two apples and then getting two more apples will result in having four apples. This statement is irrefutable in that no one in the world will (or should!) argue this: It is a fact.

Similarly, with the statement “George Washington was the first President of the United States,” this again is an irrefutable fact. If you asked one hundred history professors and read one hundred history textbooks, the professors and textbooks would all say the same thing: Washington was the first president. No expert, reliable source, or person with any common sense would argue about this.

(Someone at this point might say, “No, John Hanson was the first president.” However, he was president under the Articles of Confederation for a short period—November 5, 1781, to November 3, 1782—not under our present Constitution. This example shows the importance of stating your facts clearly and precisely and being able to cite their origins.)

Informative Speech is Not a Persuasive Speech

Informative speech is fundamentally different from a persuasive speech in that it does not incorporate opinion as its basis. This can be the tricky part of developing an informative speech, because some opinion statements sometimes sound like facts (since they are generally agreed upon by many people), but are really opinion. For example, in an informative speech on George Washington, you might say, “George Washington was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.” While this statement may be agreed upon by most people, it is possible for some people to disagree and argue the opposite point of view. The statement “George Washington was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States” is not irrefutable, meaning someone could argue this claim. If, however, you present the opinion as an opinion from a source, that is acceptable: it is a fact that someone (hopefully someone with expertise) holds the opinion. You do not want your central idea, your main points, and the majority of your supporting material to be opinion or argument in an informative speech.

Unlike in persuasive speeches, in an informative speech, you should never take sides on an issue, nor should you “spin” the issue in order to influence the opinions of the listeners. Even if you are informing the audience about differences in views on controversial topics, you should simply and clearly describe and explain the issues. This is not to say, however, that the audience’s needs and interests have nothing to do with the informative speech. We come back to the WIIFM principle (“What’s in it for me?”) because even though an informative speech is fact-based, it still needs to relate to people’s lives in order to maintain their attention.

Why Informative Speech Is Important

The question may arise here, “If we can find anything on the Internet now, why bother to give an informative speech?” The answer lies in the unique relationship between audience and speaker found in the public speaking context. The speaker can choose to present information that is of most value to the audience. Secondly, the speaker is not just overloading the audience with data. As we have mentioned before, that’s not really a good idea because audiences cannot remember great amounts of data and facts after listening. The focus of the content is what matters. This is where the specific purpose and central idea come into play. Remember, public speaking is not a good way to “dump data” on the audience, but to make information meaningful.

Finally, although we have stressed that the informative speech is fact-based and does not have the purpose of persuasion, information still has an indirect effect on someone. If a classmate gives a speech on correctly using the Heimlich Maneuver to help a choking victim, the side effect (and probably desired result) is that the audience would use it when confronted with the situation.

It’s About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century Copyright © 2022 by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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60 Interesting Public Speaking Topics to Engage Your Audience

If you’re the type of person who gets head spinningly, palms-sweaty nervous when asked to make a public speech, you’re certainly not alone. As intimating and intimidating as it may seem, it’s true that having the ability to confidently stand in front of an audience and deliver a speech can be a super useful tool. Not only could it bring you better marks in school, it’ll also come in handy in future job applications, leadership positions, and even in everyday conversation. Now that you’re serious about conquering public speaking , the next step is knowing what to say. We’ve got your back on this one. Here’s a list of 60 interesting public speaking topics which promise to keep your audience engaged and eager to hear what you have to say. Customize them however you please, add more information and ideas of your own, and let your ideas do the talking! Let’s get going!

Interesting Public Speaking Topics

Public speaking provides a unique opportunity for speakers to share their opinions, experiences, and knowledge in an interesting way. Interesting public speaking topics can range from controversial to informative, from historical to present day, from fun to serious. When selecting a topic , it’s important to consider the interests of your audience as well as what you can provide appropriate supporting information on. Controversial or opinion-based topics can be engaging, but it’s important that all sides of the argument are presented fairly and no one in the audience is disparaged or excluded. Additionally, providing both sides of an argument here helps inform your audience and may even expose them to different perspectives. Informative topics are great for teaching audiences about specific subjects or movements, while delivering the information in an entertaining and interesting way. Explain how each piece fits into the bigger picture and build suspense throughout your talk. Additionally, if you have personal stories associated with the topic, by all means include them; these stories help make your presentation more memorable and engaging for your audience. Historical topics provide excellent fodder for a public speaking engagement; beyond teaching about specific events that occurred in our past, you can also shed light on important dates in history or major events of the past century. Providing context helps bring to life lessons from those points in time that still influence us today. Current events are also great platforms for public speaking – highlighting what is happening now provides a powerful connection between speaker and audience as everyone is probably equally (or almost equally) knowledgeable about it—and if not? You get to teach them! When presenting current events as your topic, make sure you use up-to-date sources and highlight any compliance changes or other political matters that could affect your audience directly. Now let’s move on to discuss current events as an interesting public speaking topic…

Current Events

When it comes to public speaking, current events make for a highly engaging topics. Depending on the agenda and purpose of the speech, current events can be used either to inform and educate the audience or to galvanize support and motivate action. When dealing with current events, speakers should strive to remain impartial while bringing forth both sides of the argument. For example, if the event is to discuss international trade policy in light of recent tariffs disputes between major trading partners, speakers should present both advantages and disadvantages of increased tariffs. Understanding the core issue at hand without commenting on the efficacy of each side’s policies is key in order to maintain an impartial outlook. Similarly, when addressing a complex social issue like discrimination against minority groups or income equality, it is important to provide a sober and nuanced overview of the issue while ensuring that all sides are properly represented. Naturally, as certain issues become particularly salient in the public debate , more detailed analysis may be necessary in order to provide a full account of the situation. With that said, presenters must always exercise caution when discussing hot-button topics so as not to alienate any portion of their audience. Finally, speakers may choose to conclude their discussion by proposing a plan for action or connecting their topic with wider implications for society. As such, choosing current events as one’s topic allows for an opportunity to create real change that can have tangible benefits for members of their audience. With this potential impact in mind, let us now explore creative ideas that are just as interesting but offer a different approach.

10 Current Events Topics

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on society, economy, and healthcare systems
Climate change and environmental issues, including wildfires, hurricanes, and rising sea levels
Global politics and international relations, including tensions between countries and geopolitical conflicts
Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of work
Social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, and their impact on society
Mental health and wellbeing, including the effects of the pandemic on mental health and access to mental health services
Education and the challenges of remote learning and hybrid learning models
Immigration and refugee crises, including the global response and the impact on individuals and communities
Economic inequality and the wealth gap, including the effects of the pandemic on job losses and income disparities
The role of media and technology in shaping public opinion and discourse, including issues of censorship and misinformation.

Fun Public Speaking Topics

Public speaking can be an incredibly effective method of communication and expressing ideas to an audience. When selecting a topic for a public speaking event, it is important to choose one that will be engaging, exciting and entertaining . Fun public speaking topics are a great way to captivate your audience’s attention. Some fun topics popular today include conspiracy theories, humorous anecdotes and weird trivia questions. In addition to topics that can evoke laughter, you could opt for a conversation-like approach by selecting topics tailored towards discussing or debating current events or pop culture trends. This type of discussion creates a sense of involvement amongst your listeners, as they are likely to have their own opinions on the subject matter at hand. Knowing the interests of your audience makes it easier to pick one of these types of interesting conversation starters. Yet another type of enjoyable public speaking topic is one related to personal experience. By sharing stories from your own life you can create a connection with your audience because they realize you are not only knowledgeable about academic subjects but also about human experiences. For example, you could talk about how traveling abroad changed your perspective or how volunteer work with animals opened up new opportunities in your life. No matter what route you take, having a fun element in each speech encourages conversations , making it more engaging for the listener.

Here are 10 fun topics for public speaking:

The science of laughter and how it can improve mental and physical health
The history of popular board games and how they have evolved over time
The art of cake decorating and how to create beautiful and delicious desserts
The world of cosplay and the art of creating intricate costumes
The benefits of travel and tips for planning the perfect vacation
The world of online gaming and the rise of esports
The history of memes and how they have impacted popular culture
The art of mixology and how to make creative cocktails at home
The joys and challenges of pet ownership and the benefits of having a furry friend
The world of improv comedy and how to master the art of improvisation.

These fun public speaking topics spark imagination and interest from all those involved in the discussion. While brainstorming ideas, it is important to keep in mind that the topic should contain enough material to elaborate upon while maintaining a lighthearted spirit; balance is key!

Controversial Public Speaking Topics

Controversial public speaking topics can be excellent ways to engage your audience and spark a lively discussion. It is best to keep the language used respectful, as well as being mindful of the makeup of the audience you are presenting to. Popular controversial public speaking topics range from opinions about current events and politics, religion, gender roles and LGBTQ issues, amongst other things. When debating each side of the argument, it is important to make sure that one doesn’t invalidate or insult the opposing views.

Here are 10 controversial public speaking topics:

Gun control and the right to bear arms
Abortion and reproductive rights
Capital punishment and the death penalty
Immigration policy and border control
Affirmative action and equal opportunity employment
LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality
The legalization of marijuana and other drugs
Animal rights and animal testing
Freedom of speech and hate speech laws
Climate change and the role of humans in causing and combating it.

No matter which topic you decide to explore, controversial public speaking topics provide a great opportunity for learning experiences. With great research beforehand, ambitious speakers can use these occasions to inform their audiences in meaningful ways. Moving on to the next section, motivational public speaking topics have become increasingly popular within the last several years. This type of speech aims to inspire its audience by inciting positive feelings and emotions while promoting an inspiring idea or action plan.

Key Points to Remember

Controversial public speaking topics can be engaging to an audience, but the language used should remain respectful regardless of opinions held. Popular topics include current events, politics, religion, gender roles, and LGBTQ issues. When debating both sides of a controversial argument, it is important not to insult or invalidate another viewpoint. Controversial public speaking gives speakers a great opportunity to enhance learning experiences with thorough research and information .

Motivational Public Speaking Topics

Motivation is a powerful tool that can influence and inspire people to realize their potential and reach unseen levels of success. When applied effectively, motivational public speaking topics can be incredibly impactful and help an audience take action on ideas they can implement in their daily life. The key to delivering an effective motivational talk is to focus on the idea of progress. Talk about how something good can be accomplished over time if dedication and hard work are continually applied. Present stories of real-life successes, as well as struggles, to illustrate these points and increase the audience’s engagement level. Make sure to inject positive energy into your speech by outlining strategies the audience can use to stay motivated while achieving their goals. By presenting topics in a motivational manner, you can help ensure that members of your audience feel encouraged, empowered, and inspired. If you are debating a controversial topic, make sure to present both sides of the argument within the same motivating framework.

Here are 10 motivational public speaking topics:

Overcoming obstacles and achieving success
Finding purpose and meaning in life
Building self-confidence and self-esteem
The power of perseverance and determination
Mindfulness and living in the present moment
Overcoming fear and taking risks
The importance of setting and achieving goals
Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth
Developing a positive mindset and attitude
The benefits of gratitude and appreciation in life.

Keeping these important principles in mind will allow you to deliver a compelling motivational presentation that helps your audience believe in themselves and develop clear directions for taking action. Taking the right steps today will bring better results tomorrow — this is a concept worth discussing during your talk.

Historical Topics for Public Speaking

History is a rich and complex tapestry of events, ideas, and movements that have shaped the world we live in today. Exploring historical topics can help us gain a deeper understanding of our collective past, and shed light on the challenges and triumphs of human experience. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Civil Rights Movement, there are countless historical topics that continue to fascinate and inspire us. In this list, we explore ten historical topics that offer a glimpse into the great events and movements that have shaped our world.

Here are 10 historical topics to talk about:

The fall of the Roman Empire and its impact on European civilization
The French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
The Industrial Revolution and its impact on society, economy, and technology
The American Revolution and the birth of the United States of America
The Renaissance and its impact on art, science, and culture
The colonization of the Americas and the impact on indigenous populations
The World Wars and their impact on global politics and international relations
The Age of Exploration and the impact of European colonization on the world
The Civil Rights Movement and the fight for racial equality in the United States
The Cold War and the global tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Persuasive Speech Topics

Persuasive speeches are designed to convince the audience to take a particular action, adopt a certain viewpoint, or support a specific idea. These speeches can be powerful tools for effecting change and promoting important causes. From protecting the environment to advocating for social justice, persuasive speech topics cover a wide range of issues that are relevant to our world today. In this list, we explore ten persuasive speech topics that can inspire and motivate audiences to take action and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Here are 10 persuasive speech topics:

The importance of recycling and reducing waste to protect the environment
The benefits of meditation and mindfulness for mental health and well-being
The need for stricter gun control laws to reduce gun violence
The importance of early childhood education for future success
The benefits of a plant-based diet for health and the environment
The need to address income inequality through progressive taxation
The importance of access to affordable healthcare for all individuals
The need for comprehensive sex education in schools
The benefits of renewable energy sources for a sustainable future
The need for increased support for mental health resources and services

Public speaking is not always an easy task. Whether you are presenting a persuasive or informative speech, it can be difficult to keep your audience interested and engaged. In order to do this, it is essential to choose the appropriate public speaking topics. The fifty-plus interesting public speakings topics suggested in this article can provide plenty of inspiration and help you deliver a powerful message to your audience. Whether you take a light-hearted approach or focus on a more serious subject matter, picking the right public speaking topics can make all the difference. Larger philosophical questions may prove intimidating and impractical as public speaking topics, while trivial conversation starters may bore your audience before they even start listening. To get the most out of your speeches, it is important to pick a topic that walks the line between engaging your listeners without making them uncomfortable or unsure of how to respond. It is also imperative that you develop solid argumentation and presentation skills if you want to succeed in public speaking. An entertaining speech must still provide solid facts and evidence while at the same time grabbing the attention of your listeners. A good balance between interesting content and persuasive rhetoric should help make any speech successful.

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative public speaking topics.

Creative public speaking topics can range from the exploration of current trends, to unique takes on traditional topics. For example, if discussing the current state of education, one could focus on the trend of more expensive tuition for higher education and dive into the implications this has for students and the job market, or discuss emergent strategies for providing greater access to educational opportunities in economically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, one could explore the current technology landscape and how it will shape future generations, or investigate developments in artificial intelligence that are redefining our understanding of what “intelligence” means. One could also take a more artful approach to public speaking and open up a dialogue about the power of creativity in solving problems or elicit discussion around empathy as a form of communication. Ultimately, creative public speaking topics are limited only by creative thought and provide an exciting opportunity for speakers to present inspiring ideas in entertaining ways.

What are some tips for choosing public speaking topics?

Some tips for choosing public speaking topics include: 1. Choose topics that are relevant to your audience. Make sure the topic is of interest to them and will keep their attention. 2. Research the topic thoroughly before speaking. Knowing the subject matter well will make it easier to engage your audience. 3. Select a topic that is both challenging and interesting. While choosing a subject that people might be familiar with can be safe, make sure it is still engaging and stimulating. 4. Avoid topics that are too controversial or sensitive. Refrain from such topics as they could lead to arguments or displeasing reactions amongst the audience members. 5. Expand on popular material but don’t plagiarize other speakers’ ideas. People like new concepts and appreciate hearing new information so challenge yourself to come up with something original!

How to Write an Informative Speech in 12 Easy Steps

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How to Write an Informative Speech in 12 Easy Steps

Public speaking isn’t everyone’s forte. Many people panic when asked to give a speech, whether it’s about a person or on a specific subject.

However, this mustn’t be your story or experience. With proper guidance, you can beat the anxiety and become a master communicator. In this short article, we’ll guide you on how to write a winning informative speech for your targeted audience. Let’s delve into the main issue – the critical steps involved in crafting one!

From novice to orator: 12 simple steps to write an effective informative speech

Choose an interesting topic

Your topic can break or make your speech. Take your time and choose a subject that interests you and your audience. This way, you’ll get everyone involved from start to end. Your topic should be relevant and captivating. For example, talking about the advantages of farming in a local farmer meeting can’t be as impactful as discussing the latest farming techniques.

If you have trouble choosing an updated and relevant subject, you can seek assistance from friends, family, or professionals. Quick speech writing services like FastEssay also have teams of qualified experts in different fields to help you generate ideas. You can place an order with them and get feedback quickly.

Do your research

It’s boring listening to a clueless speaker. Always remember that no audience is stupid. There are always individuals who are more connected, learned, curious, or informed than you are. Respect them by carrying out thorough research before writing and delivering your speech.

Strive to be ahead of the curve by reading the latest publications on your subject. It wouldn’t hurt to explore fringe or emerging issues in your topic as well.

Create a clear and concise thesis statement

A thesis statement is like a roadmap that guides your speech. It shows the audience your stand on the topic and what to expect, plus it guides your footsteps as you deliver the speech.

Don’t gamble with it because your audience will hold you accountable. Instead, give yourself enough time to write a thesis that resonates with you. Remember, your job is to inform your audience and persuade them to join you.

Adopt a clear outline

A good speech must have an introduction, body, and conclusion. There’s no shortcut to this.

Know what you’ll include in each section and follow them in chronological order. If you write an informative speech outline that starts with a conclusion and ends with body points, it will be awkward. Stick to the basic structure whether delivering a formal or informal speech.

Start with an attention-grabbing intro

Your introduction can make you win or lose the audience. Some speakers use alarmist statements while others opt for utopian imaginations. Still, others prefer deafening silence, the kind that sends the entire crowd into eerie suspense. Whichever the technique, use it to grab your audience’s attention if you’re to deliver an engaging speech.

Support your points with evidence

We’re talking about an informative speech here, not public speaking at political rallies. While a politician can get away with anything through manipulation or cunning, you can’t do so when delivering informative speeches. You must provide logical points and support them with evidence. Your arguments must also flow and connect seamlessly.

Incorporate stories and anecdotes

It doesn’t matter how informative your speech is if it’s boring. We’ve seen people sleep during some of the most important speeches. This isn’t a unique problem.

However, good orators know when to introduce a short story, proper anecdote, or visual effect to awaken the audience. Give them something to laugh at, be excited about, or even frown upon. The objective is to keep them alert and engaged.

Use simple language

Your objective is to be understood, not revered. While using jargon can earn you respect in some instances, it’s often likely to backfire. In fact, many people consider the use of complex language a showoff. Don’t allow your audience to judge you in the pursuit of self-gratification. Make your speech memorable, but not by using big words.

Use emotional devices

Studies have shown that people respond better to emotions than anything else. So when you write an informative speech, incorporate vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that can deeply connect with the audience. A good example is to share a personal story that evokes people’s empathy. They’ll likely relate to it and get inspired.

Practice delivering your speech

Public speaking has numerous risks, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. For instance, you may expect a lively audience but end up with a dead one. You may plan for an hour’s speech and finish in 10 minutes, or tell a “funny” story that no one laughs at. That’s why it’s important to rehearse your speech before delivery. This helps improve your delivery and timing and creates various scenarios for countering negative responses.

Create a memorable conclusion

How you finish your speech is just as important as how you start it. The conclusion is an opportunity to reinforce your main points. You should treat it like the only thing your audience will remember; a punchline in a comedy show. To write a conclusion for an informative speech, include only your main points. If possible, reframe them in a new, exciting way.

Seek feedback

Real growth comes from small continuous improvements – the principle of Kaizen. You should seek feedback from reliable friends, relatives, and professionals to refine your speech and make it more effective.

The importance of writing an informative speech

Why write a good informative speech? There are many motivations for this:

To educate and inform the masses

To inspire and motivate

To elevate your status and authority on a subject

To help build credibility and trust

To stimulate critical thinking

To help raise awareness about important issues

To enhance communication skills, especially public speaking

It’s all about a solid thesis statement and a punchline

Writing a great informative speech can be both involving and demanding. However, with the right guidance, even novices can be successful.

The 12 steps and examples included in the article can be a good starting point. While the format is flexible, you should include a solid thesis statement and a powerful punchline for maximum impact.

Disclaimer: this article includes a paid product promotion.

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Module 9: Informative Speaking

Organizing the informative speech, learning objectives.

Discern the best organizational approach for types of informative speeches.

Like an essay, a speech should have a clear organizational structure with a recognizable beginning, middle, and end. But unlike an essay where your reader can go back and re-read sections they may not understand or follow, in a speech in front of a live audience your audience can’t stop, rewind, and re-listen to parts of your speech they didn’t follow. For that reason it is especially important to have a clear and easy-to-follow structure to a speech.

In this section, we introduce the characteristic organizational structures of an informative speech. Later on, we’ll explore each of the organizational structural elements in greater detail.

An informative speech can be broken up into three sections:

Section 1: Introduction. The first section of the speech contains an attention-getter to grab the interest of the audience and orient them to the topic of the speech, a clear thesis that states the purpose of the speech, and a preview of the main points of the speech.
Section 2: Body. The heart of the speech is the body. The body is where you provide your audience all the information they will need to understand your topic. To make the body of the speech easier for the audience to follow, divide it up into at least two but no more than five main points . Organize the main points in a clear structure appropriate to the topic and thesis and provide supporting examples and/or evidence for each main point.
Section 3: Conclusion. The conclusion is a short section that reinforces the thesis, summarizes the main points, and provides a sense of closure.

Video example

To see an example of an informative speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, watch this speech where the speaker informs her audience how to manage the stress that comes with being a college student.

You can view the transcript for “Stress Informative Speech (with captions)” here (opens in new window) .

Specific Purpose Statement

Once you have a speech topic selected, develop a specific purpose statement. Your purpose statement describes what you want your audience to know as a result of listening to your speech. Here are some examples of informative speech purpose statements:

To inform my audience about different types of coffee makers.
To inform my audience about the historical significance of Harriet Tubman.
To inform my audience about how to prune roses.

Central Idea

Your purpose statement helps you determine the thesis or central idea of your speech. You will present your central idea in the introduction to the speech and everything you say in the speech will support that central idea.

For example, if your purpose is to inform your audience about different types of coffee makers you could develop a central idea like this:

There are two main types of coffee makers, automatic drip machines and manual coffee makers.

Main Points

Once you have a purpose statement you want to develop your main points. The body of the speech is where you will present and provide support for the main points of the speech. Remember that you should generally aim to have at least two but no more than five main points. Keep time constraints in mind when developing your main points. If you are given four minutes to speak, for instance, trying to have four main points might be too ambitious, so you might instead focus on two or at the most three main points.

You’ll want to organize the body of the speech in a way that helps you present your main points in the most effective order. Your purpose statement helps you decide what kind of organizational pattern would make the most sense for your topic.

Organizational Patterns

There are many types of organizational patterns you can use for an informative speech, as you can see in more detail in Module 6: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech. Here are a few examples:

In a topical organization structure, each point fits into one of a few topic categories.

Topical : This is a good, all-purpose organizational pattern where you divide your main points into topics. It works well for speeches where the main points are clearly distinct from each other and the order they are placed in isn’t critical like it would be for some other organizational patterns. The example above about coffee makers, for example, could be divided into two topical main points: 1) automatic drip coffee makers and 2) manual coffee makers. Each main point would be supported by subpoints that elaborate on the characteristics of each type of coffee maker.

Compare/contrast: With compare/contrast organizational patterns, you explain the similarities and differences between two or more things. A speech about the similarities and differences between video game consoles PlayStation and Xbox would fit this type of organizational pattern. You could devote one main point to the qualities they share in common and a second point to how they differ from each other.

A spatially organized speech about the Mississippi River might follow the river from north to south.

Spatial: Do you have a topic that lends itself to being explained in a directional order such as from top to bottom, left to right, or east to west? If so, you could organize your speech in a spatial pattern. This can be a good organizational pattern to use when you want to describe a place to an audience. For instance, if you gave a speech about the major cities the Mississippi River passes through you could start in the north by describing its origin in Minnesota near Minneapolis and St. Paul, then work south and explain how it flows through other cities like St. Louis before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans.

Chronological: This is a speech that follows a time order. This is a good choice for speeches where you want to explain a sequence of events. For example, you could use a chronological pattern for a speech explaining the steps Apple took in developing the iPhone or the significant decisions made by the Supreme Court affecting rights of the LGBTQIA community. Chronological can also be a good organizational choice for speeches where you are explaining a process or demonstrating how to do something.

Step by step description of how to draw an airplane

To describe or demonstrate a process, step by step may be the best structure.

Step-by-Step: When you’re speaking about a process, the most logical organizational structure may be step by step. Step-by-step organization is useful for “how-to” or demonstration speeches where you are teaching or showing how to do a task. If you were speaking about how to spray-paint a mural, you might describe each layer of the painting step by step.

Biographical : A biographical organization tells the story of a person’s life. The person could be a well-known person or someone who is not. The subject of the speech could even be the speaker themselves. It can be similar to the chronological pattern in that it can be organized by time but it doesn’t have to be. A biographical speech could start by focusing on an important event late in someone’s life and then going back in time to explain how the person got to that point.

A causal structure talks about why something happened.

Causal: If you want to explain a cause/effect relationship, you want to use the causal organizational pattern. Typically with this pattern, you would have two main points: one focused on the causes of an event, the second about its effects. A speech about hurricanes might be organized this way, for example. One main point could be devoted to oceanic and atmospheric causes of hurricanes and the second main point about the effects of hurricanes such as storm surge, strong winds, and flooding.

We cover outlining in detail elsewhere, but at this point once you have a purpose statement, general idea, main points, and an organizational pattern, you are ready to develop an outline.

Some important reminders about outlines:

Working outlines are what you start with and they help you with speech preparation and planning. This isn’t the outline you will use for speaking.
The full-sentence outline develops the full details of the message. But, again, it is not the outline you use to speak.
The speaking outline includes key words or phrases and helps you stay organized in front of the audience without reading to them. This is the outline you will speak from so that you are speaking extemporaneously rather than reading your outline word for word.
Tip: Using notecards for your speaking outline helps with delivery and makes it easier to find information if you lose your place or draw a blank.
Silverware. Authored by : Peter Griffin. Located at : https://www.needpix.com/photo/download/1307472/silverware-drawer-utensils-knife-fork-spoon-silverware-free-pictures-free-photos . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved
Mississippi River Watershed. Authored by : Shannon1. Located at : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mississippiriver-new-01.png . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
Airplane. Authored by : Spacefem. Located at : https://openclipart.org/detail/274994/draw-a-single-engine-airplane . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved
Dominoes. Authored by : Clint Budd. Located at : https://flic.kr/p/MN2WaG . License : CC BY: Attribution
Stress Informative Speech (with captions). Authored by : RITPublicSpeaking. Located at : https://youtu.be/f4RLULR6iNg . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
Organizing the Informative Speech. Authored by : Mike Randolph with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
Organizing the Informative Speech. Authored by : Sandra K. Winn with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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49 Types of Informative Speeches

While the topics to choose from for informative speeches are nearly limit- less, they can generally be pared down into five broad categories. Understanding the type of informative speech that you will be giving can help you to figure out the best way to organize, research, and prepare for it, as will be discussed below.

Type 1: History

A common approach to selecting an informative speech topic is to discuss the history or development of something. With so much of human knowledge available via the Internet, finding information about the origins and evolution of almost anything is much easier than it has ever been (with the disclaimer that there are quite a few websites out there with false information). With that in mind, some of the areas that a historical informative speech could cover would include:

(Example: the baseball; the saxophone). Someone at some point in history was the first to develop what is considered the modern baseball. Who was it? What was it originally made of? How did it evolve into the baseball that is used by Major League Baseball today?

(Example: your college; DisneyWorld). There is a specific year that you college or university opened, a specific number of students who were initially enrolled, and often colleges and universities have name and mission changes. All of these facts can be used to provide an overall understanding of the college and its history. Likewise, the DisneyWorld of today is different from the DisneyWorld of the early 1970s; the design has developed over the last fifty years.

(Example: democracy; freedom of speech). It is possible to provide facts on an idea, although in some cases the information may be less precise. For example, while no one can definitively point to a specific date or individual who first developed the concept of democracy, it is known to have been conceived in ancient Greece (Raaflaub, Ober, & Wallace, 2007). By looking at the civilizations and cultures that adopted forms of democracy throughout history, it is possible to provide an audience with a better understanding of how the idea has been shaped into what it has become today.

Type 2: Biography

A biography is similar to a history, but in this case the subject is specifically a person, whether living or deceased. For the purposes of this class, biographies should focus on people of some note or fame, since doing research on people who are not at least mildly well-known could be difficult. But again, as with histories, there are specific and irrefutable facts that can help provide an overview of someone’s life, such as dates that President Lincoln was born (February 12, 1809) and died (April 15, 1865) and the years he was in office as president (1861-1865).

This might be a good place to address research and support. The basic dates of Abraham Lincoln’s life could be found in multiple sources and you would not have to cite the source in that case. But it you use the work of a specific historian to explain how Lincoln was able to win the presidency in the tumultuous years before the Civil War, that would need a citation of that author and the publication.

Type 3: Processes

Examples of process speech topics would be how to bake chocolate chip cookies; how to throw a baseball; how a nuclear reactor works; how a bill works its way through Congress.

Process speeches are sometimes referred to as demonstration or “how to” speeches because they often entail demonstrating something. These speeches require you to provide steps that will help your audience understand how to accomplish a specific task or process. However, How To speeches can be tricky in that there are rarely universally agreed upon (i.e. irrefutable) ways to do anything. If your professor asked the students in his or her public speaking class to each bring in a recipe for baking chocolate chip cookies, would all of them be the exact same recipe?

Probably not, but they would all be similar and, most importantly, they would all give you chocolate chip cookies as the end result. Students giving a demonstration speech will want to avoid saying “You should bake the cookies for 12 minutes” since that is not how everyone does it. Instead, the student should say something like:

“You can bake the cookies for 10 minutes.”

“One option is to bake the cookies for 10 minutes.”

“This particular recipe calls for the cookies to be baked for 10 minutes.”

Each of the previous three statements is absolutely a fact that no one can argue or disagree with. While some people may say 12 minutes is too long or too short (depending on how soft or hard they like their cookies), no one can reasonably argue that these statements are not true.

On the other hand, there is a second type of process speech that focuses not on how the audience can achieve a result, such as changing oil in their cars or cooking something, but on how a process is achieved. The goal is understanding and not performance. After a speech on how to change a car tire, the audience members could probably do it (they might not want to, but they would know the steps). However, after a speech on how a bill goes through Congress, the audience would understand this important part of democracy but not be ready to serve in Congress.

Type 4: Ideas and Concepts

Sometimes an informative speech is designed to explain an idea or concept. What does democracy mean? What is justice? In this case, you will want to do two things. First, use the definition methods listed in Chapter 6, such as classification and differentiation. The second is to make your concept concrete, real, and specific for your audience with examples.

Type 5: Categories or divisions

Sometimes an informative speech topic doesn’t lend itself to a specific type of approach, and in those cases the topics tend to fall into a “general” category of informative speeches. For example, if a student wanted to give an informative speech on the four “C’s” of diamonds (cut, carat, color, and clarity), they certainly wouldn’t approach it as if they were providing the history of diamonds, nor would they necessarily be informing anyone on “how to” shop for or buy diamonds or how diamonds are mined. The approach in this case would simply be to inform an audience on the four “C’s” and what they mean. Other examples of this type of informative speech would be positions in playing volleyball or the customs to know when traveling in China.

As stated above, identifying the type of informative speech being given can help in several ways (conducting research, writing the introduction and conclusion), but perhaps the biggest benefit is that the type of informative speech being given will help determine, to some degree, the organizational pattern that will need to be used (see Chapter 6). For example, a How To speech must be in chronological order. There really isn’t a way (or reason) to present a How To speech other than how the process is done in a time sequence. That is to say, for a speech on how to bake chocolate chip cookies, getting the ingredients (Main Point 1) must come before mixing the ingredients (Main Point 2), which must come before baking them (Main Point 3). Putting them in any other order will only confuse the audience.

Similarly, most Histories and Biographies will be organized chronologically, but not always. It makes sense to explain the history of the baseball from when it was first developed to where it is today, but certain approach es to Histories and Biographies can make that irrelevant. For an informative speech on Benjamin Franklin, a student might choose as his or her three main points: 1) His time as a printer, 2) His time as an inventor, 3) His time as a diplomat. These main points are not in strict chronological order because Franklin was a printer, inventor, and diplomat at the same time during periods of his whole life. However, this example would still be one way to inform an audience about him without using the chronological organizational pattern.

As for general informative speeches, since the topics that can be included in this category are very diverse and cover a range of subject matter, the way they are organized will be varied as well. However, if the topic is “types of” something or “kinds of” something, the organizational pattern would be topical; if it were the layout of a location, such as the White House, it would be spatial (refer to Chapter 6 for more on Organization).

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7 Types of Informative Speeches

Learning Objectives

Distinguish types of general informative speech topics.
Determine an appropriate informative approach.

Informative Speeches

Now that you know the difference between informative and persuasive approaches, this chapter will explore types of topics and approaches suited well for informative speeches. Again, while any topic can be informative or persuasive, certain topics and approaches will help you to ensure you are delivering an informative speech. As you read the chapter, consider specific topics for each category that you may be able to deliver an informative speech on.

Types of Informative Speech Topics

O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein identified six general types of informative speech topics: objects, people, events, concepts, processes, and issues (O’Hair, et al., 2007).

Objects: Your speech may include how objects are designed, how they function, and what they mean. For example, a student of one of our coauthors gave a speech on the design of corsets, using a mannequin to demonstrate how corsets were placed on women and the amount of force necessary to lace one up. Or you may speak about an artifact and what it means to a certain culture. For instance, the belt (and color of the belt) is significant to the karate culture.

People: People-based speeches tend to be biography-oriented. Such topics could include recounting an individual’s achievements and explaining why the person is important in history. Some speakers, who are famous themselves, will focus on their own lives and how various events shaped who they ultimately became. Dottie Walters is most noted as being the first female in the United States to run an advertising agency. In addition to her work in advertising, Dottie also spent a great deal of time as a professional speaker. She often would tell the story about her early years in advertising when she would push around a stroller with her daughter inside as she went from business to business trying to generate interest in her copywriting abilities. You don’t have to be famous, however, to give a people-based speech. Instead, you could inform your audience about a historical or contemporary hero whose achievements are not widely known.

Events: These are typically either historical or contemporary. For example, you could deliver a speech on a specific battle of World War II or a specific event that changed the course of history. If you’re a history buff, event-oriented speeches may be right up your alley. There are countless historical events that many people aren’t familiar with and would find interesting. You could also inform your audience about a more recent or contemporary event. Some examples include concerts, plays, and arts festivals; athletic competitions; and natural phenomena, such as storms, eclipses, and earthquakes. The point is to make sure that an informative speech is talking about the event (who, what, when, where, and why) and not attempting to persuade people to pass judgment upon the event or its effects.

Concepts: Concepts are “abstract and difficult ideas or theories” (O’Hair, et al., 2007). For example, you may want to explain a specific communication theory, a religious idea, or inflation. Whether you want to discuss theories related to business, sociology, psychology, religion, politics, art, or any other major area of study, this type of speech can be very useful in helping people to understand complex ideas.

Process: A process speech helps audience members understand how a specific object or system works. For example, you could explain how a bill becomes a law in the United States. There is a very specific set of steps that a bill must go through before it becomes a law, so there is a very clear process that could be explained to an audience.

Issues: This informative speech topic is probably the most difficult for novice public speakers because it requires walking a fine line between informing and persuading. If you attempt to deliver this type of speech, remember the goal is to be balanced when discussing both sides of the issue. You are only explaining an issue, you are not proposing solutions or trying to get your audience to agree with your ideas.

If you are struggling with an informative topic, it helps to brainstorm ideas in each of these categories. Once you have a list of potential ideas, you can begin to narrow your ideas. One way to narrow your ideas is to consider the approach you will use with potential topics.

Approaches to Informative Speeches

Once you have decided on a potential topic, you can help to narrow your focus by determining an informative approach. There are three common informative approaches we will discuss in this section. Those are speeches of definition, description, and explanation.

Definitional Speeches

In definitional speeches the speaker attempts to set forth the meaning of concepts, theories, philosophies, or issues that may be unfamiliar to the audience. In these types of speeches, speakers may begin by giving the historical derivation, classification, or synonyms of terms or the background of the subject. In a speech on “How to identify a sociopath,” the speaker may answer these questions: Where did the word ‘sociopath’ come from? What is a sociopath? How many sociopaths are there in the population? What are the symptoms? Carefully define your terminology to give shape to things the audience cannot directly sense. Describing the essential attributes of one concept compared to another (as through the use of analogies) can increase understanding as well. For a speech on “Elderly Abuse,” the speaker may compare this type of abuse to a child or spousal abuse for contrast.

Regardless of the listeners’ level of knowledge about the subject, it is very important in these types of speeches to show the relevance of the topic to their lives. Often the topics discussed in definitional speeches are abstract—distanced from reality. Speakers need to provide explicit, real-life examples and applications of the subject matter to engage audience members. If you were going to give a speech about civil rights, you would need to go beyond commonly held meanings and show the topic in a new light. In this type of speech, the speaker points out the unique and distinguishing properties or boundaries of a concept in a particular context (Rinehart, 2002). The meaning of “civil rights” has changed significantly over time. What does it mean today compared to the 1960s? How will knowing this distinction help audience members? What are some specific incidents involving civil rights issues in current news? What changes in civil rights legislation might listeners see in their lifetimes?

DEFINITIONAL EXAMPLE

Title: “Life is suffering,” and Other Buddhist Teachings (Thompson, 1999)

Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will understand the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path in Buddhism

Central Idea: Regardless of your religious beliefs, Buddhist philosophy teaches a number of useful lessons you can apply to your own life.

All life involves dukkha (suffering)
Suffering is caused by tanha (longing for things to be other than they are)
If this longing stops ( nirodha ), suffering will cease
The way to eliminate longing is to follow the Eightfold Path
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right contemplation

Descriptive Speeches

White domed structure with four surrounding pillars against a blue sky

To gaze in wonder at that magnificent dome and elegant gardens will be a moment that you remember for the rest of your life. The Taj Mahal just takes your breath away. What is immediately striking is its graceful symmetry—geometric lines run through formal gardens ending in a white marble platform. Atop this platform is great white bulbous dome complemented by four towering minarets in each corner. The whole image shimmers in a reflecting pool flanked by beautiful gardens—the effect is magical. The first stretch by the reflecting pool is where most people pose for their photos. But we were impressed by the fresh, green gardens. As you approach through the gardens two mosques come into view flanking the Taj—both exquisitely carved and built of red sandstone.

In the descriptive speech, determine the characteristics, features, functions, or fine points of the topic. What makes the person unique? How did the person make you feel? What adjectives apply to the subject? What kind of material is the object made from? What shape is it? What color is it? What does it smell like? Is it part of a larger system? Can it be seen by the naked eye? What is its geography or location in space? How has it changed or evolved over time? How does it compare to a similar object? When preparing for the speech, try to think of ways to appeal to as many of the senses as possible. As an example, in a speech about different types of curried dishes, you could probably verbally describe the difference between yellow, red, and green curry, but the speech will have more impact if the audience can see, smell, and taste samples.

DESCRIPTIVE EXAMPLE

An enormous stone carved into a human head

Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will be able to visualize some of the main attractions on Easter Island.

Central Idea: Easter Island hosts a number of ancient, mysterious, and beautiful attractions that make it an ideal vacation destination.

Average 13 feet high; 14 tons
Play sacred role for Rapa Nui (native inhabitants)
Central Ahu ceremonial sites
Snorkeling & Scuba
Giant crater
Sheer cliffs to ocean

Explanatory Speeches

An explanatory speech (also known as a briefing) is similar to a descriptive speech in that they both share the function of clarifying the topic. But explanatory speeches focus on reports of current and historical events, customs, transformations, inventions, policies, outcomes, and options. Whereas descriptive speeches attempt to paint a picture with words so that audiences can vicariously experience it, explanatory speeches focus on the how or why of a subject and its consequences. Thus, a speaker might give a descriptive speech on the daily life of Marie Antoinette, or an explanatory speech on how she came to her death. Recall that definitional speeches focus on delineating concepts or issues. In this case, a speaker might give a definitional speech about the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, or an explanatory speech on why the financial bailout was necessary for U.S. financial stability.

If a manager wanted to inform employees about a new workplace internet use policy, s/he might cover questions like: Why was a policy implemented? How will it help? What happens if people do not follow established policies? Explanatory speeches are less concerned with appealing to the senses than connecting the topic to a series of related other subjects to enhance a deep understanding (McKerrow, Gronbeck, Ehninger, & Monroe, 2000). For example, to explain the custom of the Thai wai greeting (hands pressed together as in prayer), you also need to explain how it originated to show one had no weapons, and the ways it is tied to religion, gender, age, and status.

EXPLANATORY EXAMPLE

Title: Giant Waves, Death, and Devastation: The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (National Geographic, 2006)

Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will be aware of the nature of the 2004 Tsunami and the destruction it caused.

Central Idea: The 2004 Asian Tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters in human history in terms of magnitude, loss of human life, and enduring impact.

Earthquake epicenter and magnitude
Tsunami forms (waves reach up to 100 feet)
Tsunami strikes land of various countries with no warning
The countries and people involved
Loss of food, water, hospitals, housing, electricity, and plumbing
Threat of disease
Environmental destruction
Economic devastation
Psychological trauma

Setting yourself up for a successful informative speech begins in the early stages when you first start thinking about your topic. Remember to consider the type of informative speech topics and the informative approaches you can take as you are selecting a topic.

Key Takeaways

Six general informative speech topics are objects, people, events, concepts, processes, and issues. Use these general categories to brainstorm ideas for your upcoming informative speech.
Once you have decided on a potential topic, you can help to narrow down your topic by considering which informative approach you will use. Will you define, describe, or explain your topic?

Licenses and Attributions

Chapter 15 Types of Informative Speeches. Authored by : Lisa Schreiber, Ph.D.. Provided by : Millersville University, Millersville, PA. Located at : http://publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext.html . Project : Public Speaking Project. License : CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Authored by : Yann. Located at : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taj_Mahal,_Agra,_India.jpg . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike

Maoi at Rano Raraku. Authored by : Aurbina. Located at : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moai_Rano_raraku.jpg . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright

Public Speaking Copyright © by Dr. Layne Goodman; Amber Green, M.A.; and Various is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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COMMENTS

333 Informative Speech Topics To Rock Your Presentation
The "what" of your speech is the meat of the presentation. Imagine a three-circle Venn diagram. The three circles are labeled: "things I am interested in," "things my audience cares about," and "things I can research.". The center point where these three circles overlap is the sweet spot for your speech topic.
509 Informative Speech Ideas [Updated April 2024 ]
Informative Speech Idea In 5 Steps. 1. Step One - Make a List. Make a short list of your personal interests and informative speech topic ideas. To help you determine your interests on an informative speech topic, think about your favorite objects, products, people, animals, events, places, processes, procedures, concepts, policies, theories ...
50+ Informative Speech Topics to Engage Your Audience
2. Make an introduction - Introduce yourself and the topic of your speech, as well as any relevant background information that the audience needs to understand the topic better. 3. Present facts and evidence - Use facts and evidence to support the points you make in your speech.
Informative Speech Topics and Ideas: The Ultimate Guide
2) Research on the topic. a) Carry out the initial research. b) Think about how your research might change your topic. 3) About writing the speech. a) Think about your audiences earlier than writing the speech. b) Summarize your speech. c) Elaborate the key points to make it interesting. d) Write an introduction.
50 Good Informative Speech Topics for College
Writing. Stage 3. Perfecting Speech Delivery. List of informative speech topics. Topics for informative speech about music. Informative speech topics about animals. Topics for informative speech about global warming. Informative speech ideas about sports. Interesting speech topics about food and drinks.
150+ Interesting Informative Speech Topics for 2024
An informative speech is a type of public speaking that aims to educate, inform, or explain a specific topic to an audience. It is written to educate the audience about a particular subject. The aim of this public speaking is to present the information in such a way that it allows the audience members to understand and remember it easily.
350+ Informative Speech Topics & Prompt Ideas in 2024
Informative speech topics usually fall into one of the following four highly-recognizable categories: definition speeches - they normally focus on explaining a concept or theory. explanatory speeches - these normally explain a state of a field, technology, etc. providing evidence, statistics, etc.
220+ Informative Speech Topics: Fresh Ideas for a Winning Speech
Educating your audience with informative speech topics you feel passionate about is the primary goal. Browse this list and let your enthusiasm shine through. ... Public Speaking Tips; 220+ Informative Speech Topics: Fresh Ideas for a Winning Speech By Mary Gormandy White, M.A. , Staff Writer . Updated March 31, 2021
630 Informative Speech Topics & Unique Ideas
630 Informative Speech Topics & Unique Ideas. Informative speech topics cover diverse subjects meant to educate the audience by providing relevant data and unique insights. They can range from scientific themes to historical subjects. Topics can also encompass health matters, discussing breakthroughs in mental health therapy, or decoding the ...
Selecting a Topic for an Informative Speech
You also want to keep your audience in mind and select a topic they are unlikely to know a lot about and that they would be interested in learning more about. When determining a topic, keep the following in mind: Know your speech purpose. In this case, it would be to inform or explain. Focus on topics that lend themselves to that purpose.
11.1 Informative Speeches
Creating an Informative Speech. As you'll recall from Chapter 9 "Preparing a Speech", speaking to inform is one of the three possible general purposes for public speaking.The goal of informative speaking is to teach an audience something using objective factual information. Interestingly, informative speaking is a newcomer in the world of public speaking theorizing and instruction, which ...
Over 200 Informative Speech Topics for Students
Informative speech topics for students are the topic of our blog post today! Navigating the realm of public speaking can be daunting for students, but the heart of a compelling presentation is often the topic at hand. The right subject can captivate an audience, foster engagement, and turn the spotlight on issues that resonate. The…
Informative Speeches
An informative speech conveys knowledge, a task that every person engages in every day in some form or another. Whether giving someone who is lost driving directions, explaining the specials of the day as a server, or describing the plot of a movie to friends, people engage in forms of informative speaking daily.
250+ Informative Speech Topics for Students (2024)
Public Speaking Informative Speech Topics. Overcoming Stage Fright: Tips for Confident Presentations; The Art of Persuasion: Techniques for Effective Public Speaking; The Impact of Nonverbal Communication in Public Speaking; The Power of Storytelling in Speeches; The Importance of Audience Analysis in Public Speaking
100+ Informative Speech Topics & Ideas for All Students
Good Informative Speech Topics for Students. First Aid Basics and Their Importance. Cold and Flu: Symptoms and Prevention. Pediatric Nursing: Caring for Children. Mental Health Awareness in Adolescence. Essentials of Nutritional Health. The Science and Importance of Vaccines. Hygiene Practices to Prevent Illness.
Informative Speech Preparation & Outline, with Examples
He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class. ... Example of an Informative Speech Outline. Topic: This will be the title of your speech. Purpose: To inform the audience about the topic.
Informative Speeches
The most common types of informative speeches are definition, explanation, description, and demonstration. A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about which the audience knows little. The purpose of the speech is to inform the audience so they understand the main aspects of the subject matter.
Types of Public Speaking: Informative Speaking
Key Takeaways. Informative speaking is a type of public speaking that aims to educate and inform the audience about a specific topic using factual information. There are four different types of informative speeches including demonstrative, explanatory, descriptive, and comparative speeches that cater to different topics and purposes.
13.1 What is an Informative Speech?
An informative speech can first be defined as a speech based entirely and exclusively on facts. Basically, an informative speech conveys knowledge, a task that every person engages in every day in some form or another. Whether giving someone who is lost driving directions, explaining the specials of the day as a server, or describing the plot ...
60 Interesting Public Speaking Topics to Engage Your Audience
Here are 10 fun topics for public speaking: The science of laughter and how it can improve mental and physical health. The history of popular board games and how they have evolved over time. The art of cake decorating and how to create beautiful and delicious desserts.
How to Write an Informative Speech in 12 Easy Steps
From novice to orator: 12 simple steps to write an effective informative speech. Choose an interesting topic. Your topic can break or make your speech. Take your time and choose a subject that interests you and your audience. This way, you'll get everyone involved from start to end.
Organizing the Informative Speech
An informative speech can be broken up into three sections: Section 1: Introduction. The first section of the speech contains an attention-getter to grab the interest of the audience and orient them to the topic of the speech, a clear thesis that states the purpose of the speech, and a preview of the main points of the speech. Section 2: Body.
Types of Informative Speeches
Type 1: History. A common approach to selecting an informative speech topic is to discuss the history or development of something. With so much of human knowledge available via the Internet, finding information about the origins and evolution of almost anything is much easier than it has ever been (with the disclaimer that there are quite a few ...
Types of Informative Speeches
O'Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein identified six general types of informative speech topics: objects, people, events, concepts, processes, and issues (O'Hair, et al., 2007). Objects: Your speech may include how objects are designed, how they function, and what they mean. For example, a student of one of our coauthors gave a speech on the ...