Lesson 1: Types of Speech According to Purpose

An informative speech provides the audience with a clear understanding of a concept or idea. The
lectures of your teachers are the best examples of this type.

Generally, there are four types of informative speeches which vary depending on the topic. These are
speech about objects or people, speech about processes, speech about events, and speech about
concepts.

1. Speech About Objects or People

2. Speech About Processes

3. Speech About Events

4. Speech About Concepts

Some strategies for selecting a topic for an informative speech include the following.

1. Thinking of past lessons and subjects which interest you.

2. Talking to other people and brainstorming.
3. Browsing different types of literature and media.
4. Listing down all your interests.
5. Using graphic organizers to generate ideas.

An informative speech can follow different patterns of organization to arrange and frame the details
effectively.

1. Chronological Pattern. This can be used if you want to present the history, evolution, or development
of your topic in a sequential order, from past to present or beginning to end.

2. Spatial / Topical / Categorical Pattern. This can be used if you want to inform your audience about
the main features, descriptions, or categories of your topic.

3. Cause-Effect Pattern. This can be used if you want to show the causal relationship of events or
phenomena.

4. Comparison-Contrast Pattern. This can be used if you want to compare objects, events or concepts
underscoring their similarities and differences.

An entertainment speech aims to share goodwill, joy, and pleasure to the audience. The purpose of an
entertainment speech is not to educate, inform, or inspire because the primary goal is to make the
audience relax, enjoy, and even laugh. This means that you, the speaker, are expected to be friendly and
relaxed, but still courteous, during the speech delivery. Moreover, you should know your audience well
in order to entertain them effectively.

To make your speech entertaining, you may do the following.

 6. Tell jokes.
7. Share funny stories.
8. Dramatize experiences.
9. Recall a scary story.

Step 1. Choose a light topic. Remember, you are there to give the audience a good time.

Step 2. If you exude confidence and you obviously enjoy the moment, the audience will enjoy your
presence, too.

Step 3. Simplify the flow of your speech. Your audience does not need a mentally exhausting message.

Step 4. Your words should be highly descriptive. Use vivid words and keep them flowing to make your
audience feel as if they were in your story.

Step 5. Astonish your audience with unexpected twists in your presentation. The more you surprise
them, the more entertaining your speech will become.

Additional guidelines in preparing an entertaining speech are listed below.

10. Know the audience before writing the speech so you can suit it to their context.
11. Use safe humor. Do not use profane language or vulgar words just to make a joke.
12. Quality is better than quantity. Few but solid entertaining anecdotes will work better as
compared to many weak stories.

Persuasive speaking is the form of communication that people of diverse backgrounds mostly engage in.
This kind of speech can center on any arguably interesting topic under the sun. When you deliver your
persuasive speech, your primary goal is to influence the thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors or
attitudes of your listeners (Gamble & Gamble, 2012). Likewise, you also aim to change their perception
and convince them that your argument is more important, practical, attainable, or feasible. In essence,
you—as a persuasive speaker—advocate for whatever your message is.

1. Speech that Questions Fact. This type questions the existence of a particular event or happening. In
this case, the persuasive speaker poses questions of fact, derives conclusions from different sources of
information and attempts to convince the audience to believe in his or her ideas.
2. Speech that Questions Value. This type focuses on questions of value regarding topics on the self,
family, friendship, religion, government, freedom, love, and money, among others. In this case, the
persuasive speaker (1) makes a statement or claim, (2) attempts to convince his or her audience why
something or someone is worthy of emulation, and (3) justifies it based on standards.

3. Speech that Questions Policy. This type questions the current state of things which can impact the
future. In this case, the persuasive speaker asks relevant questions that can help in making a decision on
whether or not something should be implemented, observed, or done.

4. Speech that Refutes. This type either responds to or disproves the claims of others while defending
and promoting own claims. A good example of this type of persuasive speech is the debate. In this case,
the persuasive speaker has to carefully plan his or her arguments to have logical and convincing
responses. This is achieved by gathering credits and accurate pieces of evidence through extensive
research.

The following are some of the suggested patterns that you can use when you organize your persuasive
speech.

1. A. F.O.R.E.S.T.

Below are the rules in applying this pattern.

• Anecdotes. Begin your speech with a s personal story, observation, or

experience.
• Facts and Figures. Provide striking statistics that can support your ideas.
• Opinion. Add in your opinion. You can begin your statement with, "I believe that
..."
• Rhetorical Questions. Think of and add engaging rhetorical questions (i.e.,
questions which do not intend to elicit answers, but to make a point).
• Emotive Language. Appeal to your audience's emotion.
• Superlatives. Use superlatives to exaggerate an idea.
• Tripling. The rule of three in the English writing principle simply entails using
three words together to reinforce your point. This may add to the effectiveness
of your persuasion. A classic example is Julius Caesar's statement: "Veni, vidi,
vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered).

2. Problem-Solution

Here's how.

13. Identify the problem.

14. Provide a solution which will show the practicality of your proposal.

3. Problem-Cause-Solution
Below are the rules in applying this pattern.

15. Identify the problem.

16. Analyze the causes of the problem.
17. Provide a solution to the problem.

4. Comparative Advantages

Below are the rules in applying this pattern.

18. Identify the problem.

19. Present at least two solutions to the problem.
20. Compare the two in terms of practicality and feasibility.

5. Monroe's Motivated Sequence

Alan Monroe, a professor from Purdue University, created an outline for making speeches based on the
psychology of persuasion (Ehninger, Monroe, & Granbeck, 1978). This outline is known as "Monroe's
Motivated Sequence".

Here's how to apply this technique.

21. Grab the attention of the audience by identifying the challenge you plan to confront, or the
problem you plan to address.
22. Establish the need or urgency to address the identified challenge or problem.
23. Present possible solutions to your audience to satisfy the need.
24. Help your audience visualize. Use vivid words to convince your audience about the benefits they
can gain from the solutions you presented.
25. Engage the audience to participate in promoting change through a call for action.

Consider what Lucas (2011) writes about how the audience can be persuaded by a speaker. The
audience can be persuaded by the following reasons.

26. They perceive that the speakers has credibility.

27. They are convinced by the evidence presented by the speaker.
28. They are convinced by the speaker's reasoning.
29. Their emotions are touched by the speaker's ideas or use of language.

The above ideas highlight some of the methods you can use in your persuasive speech. These methods
are commonly used and proven to be effective by any prominent and excellent speaker across the
globe. The following are some tips on how to enhance your credibility, how to use evidence, how to use
reasoning, and how to observe ethics and emotional appeal in a persuasive speech.

A. How to enhance your credibility

 30. Explain how you become an expert on the topic. You can do this by sharing how well you read,
investigated, or researched the topic.
31. Connect your experiences, beliefs, values, or attitudes with your audience's. You can do this by
telling your audience that you have the same experiences, beliefs, values, or attitudes.
32. Practice more often so you can deliver your speech with conviction. You can do this by exposing
yourself more often to speaking situations such as reciting and reading announcements in class,
introducing people in a program, hosting events, participating in debates, or acting as a
spokesperson of a group of a group. Also, simply practicing more often before your actual
speech performance will increase your confidence and help you deliver your speech with
conviction.

B. How to use evidence

33. Specify evidence. You can do this by telling your audience a specific number, example or
document.
34. Avoid outdated evidence. You can do this by reading and digging new evidence to keep yourself
updated on the significant facts and figures.
35. Choose reputable or credible sources for your evidence. You can do this by identifying and
evaluating your sources.

C. How to use reasoning

Avoid logical fallacies or errors in reasoning. You can do this by studying the types of logical fallacies. The
following are some of the most common errors in reasoning.

36. Ad Hominem. This happens when you attack the character of a person instead of his argument.
To avoid this, focus on the arguments of the person, not on his or her character or values.
37. Circular Argument. This happens when the idea of a stated argument is repeated. To avoid this,
do not repeat the argument; instead, prove it.
38. False Analogy. This happens when two things, which might be alike in some aspects, are
compared and assumed to be similar in other ways. To avoid this, look at the characteristics,
features, or components of two people or objects closely to see whether they can really be
compared or not.
39. False Authority. This happens when a statement of someone who is not an expert in the field in
question is being used as an argument. To avoid, check properly the qualifications of the person
being cited.
40. False Cause and Effect. This happens when the connection between two consecutive events are
not clear. To avoid this, clarify the connections between the events by explaining both
backgrounds clearly.
41. Hasty Generalizations. This happens when a conclusion is drawn from insufficient evidence. To
avoid this, provide enough pieces of evidence before making any conclusions.
42. Red Herring. This happens when the answer does not address the question. To avoid this, do not
avoid opposing arguments; instead, address them properly.

D. How to use emotional appeal

 43. Internalize what you are saying. The audience will be more convinced of your message if you
also show conviction in what you are saying.
44. Use emotion appropriately. Although a well-executed emotional appeal can be used as a strong
weapon in persuasive speech, take note to use it only when appropriate to the message. Use it
as an accessory only; make sure not to replace evidence and reasoning with pure emotion.

Lesson 2: Types of Speech According to Delivery

An extemporaneous speech is a planned and prepared speech. Unlike memorized or manuscript

speeches which are delivered word-for-word, an extemporaneous speech is delivered with the help of
short notes and a clear outline.

Most people who speak in public often prefer the extemporaneous method of delivery. Although it
might look more challenging than the manuscript or memorized speeches, it is more spontaneous and
personal.

1. Identify the type of extemporaneous question that you have to answer.

A. Is it a question of fact?

This type of question is typically answerable by "yes" or "no". It revolves around whether something is
true or not, existent or not.

Example: Is Syria's crisis a problem of the whole world?

B. Is it a question of value?

It is centered on whether a topic is good or bad, moral or immoral, just or unjust.

Example: Is it better for the European nations to step in and aid Syria or ignore the country's civil crisis?

C. Is it a question of policy?

It is focused on what policy or rule should be followed.

Example: Should European countries enforce laws to accommodate Syrian refugees?

2. Determine if your topic is informative or persuasive.

3. Stick to your topic and look at all of the sides and angles of the problem.
Step 1. You may explore other main points, but always refer back to your thesis. This will greatly help
your audience remember your message.

Step 2. State the central idea of your extemporaneous speech in one declarative sentence. Keep your
sentence specific. Ask yourself what you exactly want your audience to know.

Step 3. Now that you have a clear central idea, you are ready to map out the supporting points in an
outline.

Step 4. In the introduction, make sure you grab the attention of the audience with a striking one liner;
give a short background by explaining why they have to listen; and state your thesis.

Step 5. Develop at least three main points and check each of them with these questions;

45. Does each point have one single idea?

46. Does each point reiterate the thesis statement?
47. Does each point prepare the discussion of the next main point?

Step 6. Make sure that each main point has enough examples, testimonies, statistics, or cases. In doing
this, you give the audience new information or views to learn from.

Step 7. Reinforce your introduction by coming up with a closing attention-getter that is related to your
opening. Connect the needs and interest of your audience with the theme of your speech. Restate your
thesis or review your main points.

Impromptu speeches are delivered with little or no time for preparation. In most instances, you are
called to speak at the spur of the moment because you are expected to be knowledgeable about the
subject. For example, your teacher assigned you to read an article before the class starts. Then, during
the class you were asked to deliver an impromptu speech about what you have learned from the article.
Another instance to illustrate an impromptu situation is when you are asked by a friend or a relative
about your current or planned vacation trips; or when you are campaigning for a position in school and
you are asked by your fellow students to respond to their questions.

Below are some of the strategies that you can follow when you organize and deliver an impromptu
speech.

1. Past, Present, Future

Example: In the past, I was not comfortable in making impromptu speeches because I could not think
right away of what to say; maybe it was because of nervousness and lack of time to prepare. At present,
however, I am enjoying it because I constantly practice and keep on exposing myself to any speaking
situation. In the future, I look forward to teaching others how to survive impromptu speech situations.

2. Point - Reason - Example / Explanation - Point

3. Opening, Rule of Three, Clincher

In some cases, you may find yourself unaware of or uninterested in the topic. This usually happens and it
is inevitable. Distinguished Toastmaster Craig Harrison (2010) shares the following strategies the can
help you address the problem.

1. Bridging. This entails building a connection between what you do know and what you do not know.

2. Reframing. This means rephrasing or redefining the topic into something that you want to talk about.
This usually occurs if you think the topic is inappropriate or it is not meant for you. If you are given a
topic that you do not like or is not right for you, don't despair. Simply reframe it as a topic you'd like it to
be. Keep the structure but alter the subject. Rephrase the question or even challenge it; you can even
argue why the question given is not the right question at all.

3. Playing Devil's Advocate. This refers to you standing on the opposite side.

Before the Speech

48. Smile.
 49. Relax by thinking about positive things. Keep telling yourself, "I am a brilliant speaker. I will nail
this presentation."
50. Identify your purpose. Is it to inform, to entertain, to welcome, to congratulate, to apologize, or
to give birthday greetings?
51. Think of one big word that can serve as your main point. If you think you have enough, think of
the rule of three.
52. Start outlining in your head. Focus on what to say first. Be reminded that your first few words
are crucial, so make them strong, powerful, and catchy.

During the Speech

53. When you are called, keep composed. Walk slowly to the lectern or the center stage.
54. Shake hands with the one who introduced you, if necessary.
55. as you stand to deliver, establish eye contact and begin right away with your opening
statements. Part of your opening is greeting your audience.
56. From your initial ideas to the next, use appropriate transitional devices.
57. Observe appropriate and effective nonverbal cues.
58. Observe time limit. Remember, you barely have five minutes to say something.

After the Speech

59. Say thank you.

60. Return to your place comfortably.

When speaking from a manuscript, you write and deliver a speech word for word. The question is, for
whom is the manuscript method most advantageous?

Public Figures. Since public figures are always constrained by a hectic schedule, they need ghost writers.
Consequently, they would have to read the text of the speech as it is. The President's State of the Nation
Address (SONA) is a concrete example of this situation.

Media Personalities. Speakers on radio and television always battle with time limit. For example, a
televised panel discussion about a social issue may require radio and TV anchors to critically choose and
refine the words of their speech in advance.

Spokespersons for Government and Private Organizations. This public speaking role requires a great
deal of contemplation and preparation. For example, we have speeches of different country's
spokespersons in an international seminar on climate change.
1. Since this type of speech follows a word-for-word method, you might be tempted to skip practicing
the speech.

2. In relation to the previous point, if you fail to practice your speech and decide to read it during the
time of delivery itself, you might be glued to the speech all throughout. You may overlook making eye
contact with your audience. Note that glancing at the audience only at the end of a sentence is not
sufficient to establish and maintain rapport during the speech.

3. Lastly, because everything is planned based on the time allotted, you will surely want to cover
everything in your speech before you run out of time. This might affect your connection with the
audience, as there is a tendency to ignore the audience and neglect responding to their feedback when
busy with the speech. Pay attention and make sure to check and adjust if the audience displays anxiety,
impatience, or boredom.

1. Practice delivering the speech several times. Mark the text. Even if it's a manuscript, know the speech
by heart. Only if you do these can you keep frequent eye contact with the audience.

2. Even if you have a manuscript, feel free to modify the text when the situation demands it. If you
observe that your audience is bored, you may use shorter yet more vigorous words. If your audience is
impatient, add words of strong motivational power. If your audience is anxious, share personal
anecdotes to lighten the mood.

1. Keep your text easy to use by neatly composing it in triple space.

2. Own your manuscript by highlighting key words and phrases. This way you will be guided during the
speech delivery.

3. You can make a lot of notes on the draft of your manuscript during the first few rehearsals, but make
sure to reprint your script, especially if you make too many changes.

4. Read the text over and over orally. This will help you avoid mispronounced words, faulty starts, and
wrong pauses. As you practice, vary the volume, rate, and pitch of your voice during appropriate points
in the speech.

5. Concentrate om keeping eye contact, but do not stare at only one section of the audience. It is best if
you familiarize yourself with the most important parts of your speech. If you do this, you will be more
confident in looking at your audience during the key points of the speech.

6. Use a lectern or a podium when practicing the speech. If you can find one before the actual speech
delivery, practice using it so that you will be used to laying your notes flat on the podium and looking at
them once in a while.
A memorized speech requires you to commit the speech to memory so that you do not bring your notes
when delivering it. As with the manuscript speech, you also run the risk of sounding mechanical during a
memorized delivery. For this reason, keep your memorized speech short and work harder on your facial
expression and the tone of your voice.

Although keeping a speech in memory is needed only on a very rare occasions, memorizing a speech can
help you achieve a smooth and effortless delivery. You do not need to focus on notes or a manuscript.
You can concentrate on maintaining eye contact with your audience, establishing rapport, and
interacting with your audience.

Since memorizing can be very tough and mechanical, it is best that you memorize short speeches for
special occasions. A memorized speech works best for the introduction of a guest, acceptance of award
or recognition, toast, eulogy, tribute, and the like.

1. You cannot memorize a speech in one sitting. If your speech has four paragraphs, you should focus on
one paragraph at a time. Once you have memorized the first paragraph, focus on the next one.

2. After memorizing the speech in snippets, you need to put them together. Recite the first paragraph
and move on to the second. After this, recite the first and second paragraphs and move on to the third.
The next thing you know, you have completed your speech.
3. Do not memorize the speech silently. When you recite your speech over and over while memorizing
it, your brain multitasks and aids your memory retention.

4. Identify a key point in every paragraph. Even if you miss out some of the words in the actual speech
delivery, you can easily expound on the key points.

5. After memorizing some parts of your speech, take a break for some hours or for a day. After this,
recite the speech again. This will test how well you can recall what you think you have memorized.

6. Record yourself delivering the speech and listen to it over and over again. Like a song, the speech will
get stuck in your head.

7. Write one key point on one note card. Bring these note cards wherever you go and take them out
whenever you have extra time to memorize, especially during idle times of the day.

Lesson 3: Delivery for Different Situations

Bear in mind that not all speaking situations happen in the classroom. Some may happen in unfamiliar
environments. To illustrate, you may run or be nominated for a school or local government office, so a
room-to-room and public campaign speech is required; or you may be invited to welcome a visitor in
your school or community, so an opening or welcoming remark is necessary; or you may be asked to
represent your school or community in a literary contest. These are a few situations where your delivery
skill will be simultaneously challenged and honed.

As a public speaker, you need to be ready to deal with the most common challenges in different
speaking environments. Below are some of them.

1. Speaking to a Specific Audience Size

2. Speaking in an Open-Air Venue or Outside a Building

3. Speaking in Different Venues

4. Speaking with a Microphone

5. Speaking with a Podium or Lectern

Whatever speaking situation you are in, the most important thing is you master your speech. You can
only do this by constantly carrying out the right practices.

Lesson 4: Tools and Tips for Effective Speech Delivery

To be effective in your delivery, it is recommended that you watch and emulate people who speak in
public excellently. While observing, take note of the following.

• How they approach their audience (formal, informal, personal, conversational, intimate among
others)
• How they connect with their audience (using eye contact, body movements, and facial
expressions)
• How they present themselves (stage presence: how they look, stand, walk, use nonverbal cues,
act on and off the stage)
• How they use their voice in terms of volume (loudness or softness), pitch (highness or lowness),
rate or speed, pauses to show emphasis and strengthen the clarity of the message, vocal variety
(effective changes in volume, pitch, rate, and pauses) and pronunciation.

The items enumerated are the tools that can help you develop your speech. Practice in front of a mirror
and observe your own delivery with these tools in minds. Alternatively, you can practice in front of your
family, friends, classmates, or those who have already done public speaking. You can ask for feedback or
seek advice from them. Explore which tools work best for you and develop a habit of effective delivery
to enhance your public speaking skill. Keep practicing and engaging yourself in speaking situations.
Remember, you already have the public speaking skill, but you will only improve if you speak in public
constantly.
The following are more techniques and tips to help you deliver your speech well.

1. Use a conversational style more often. This is the more natural style; it is the style that you always use
when you express yourself with your family and friends. Audience members do not like the speaker to
sound unnatural or exaggerated.

2. Look for audience members in the eye so they will feel that they are part of your speech. Eye contact
should be maintained to keep the attention of your audience and enhance your delivery.

3. Remember to adjust your volume to the size of the audience and venue. When addressing a large
audience, modulate your voice in such a way that you speak loudly without sounding shouting or yelling.

4. Vary your rate of speed to keep your audience interested and to avoid a monotone pattern. The
audience might get bored if you speak very slowly and they might get confused if you speak very fast.
Hence, your rate should be at an appropriate speed.

5. Master your voice and find your pitch level. If you have a high pitch level, modulate or slightly move it
down. If you have a low pitch level, modulate or slightly move it up. Your performance will definitely be
affected if you do not modulate.

6. Use pauses when you emphasize the most important words, phrases, or sentences. Your pauses
should not last for three seconds. Otherwise, it will result in dead air or a moment of awkward silence.

7. Pronounce and enunciate words correctly. You will confuse the audience if you mispronounce and it
could distract them and affect your credibility.

8. Avoid fillers or expressions that substitute actual words in your speech because these words are
distracting. Examples of fillers are "like", "um", "ah", "uh", and "er". To reduce the use of these fillers,
detect the instances when you use them: Do you generally use fillers after each sentence, between
different ideas, or whenever you make transitions? Then, instead of using them the next time you
deliver a speech, simply stop and pause.

9. Start your speech by standing straight and balancing your weight. This will give a positive first
impression.

10. Use precise movements. Avoid distracting mannerisms like swaying back and forth, leaning on the
podium, licking or biting your lips, playing with your wristwatch or jewelry, scratching parts of your
body, frowning, and others. Observe your mannerisms and learn how to avoid them when speaking in
public.

11. Avoid having a poker face or a highly animated face. These facial expressions appear distracting and
may even be annoying. Instead, follow the most highly suggested tip: smile. However, make sure that
the meaning of your speech reflects in your facial expressions; do not smile if you are talking about
something sad.
12. Dress properly and appropriately. Wearing the proper attire will make you look more confident and
professional. Make sure not to overdress as this may distract your audience.

13. Observe ethics by coming prepared, being honest with your words, being polite, avoiding offensive
words, and back-biting or talking negative things about other people, or copying someone's work
without proper documentation.

14. Breathe in and out to relax before your speech. Most importantly, have fun.