The three main types of speeches are the informative, the persuasive, and the special occasion. Before deciding which best suits their purposes, however, speakers should first establish their objective in delivering the speech.
For example, if a speaker hopes to convince the audience at a political-party banquet to support a new campaign strategy, the objective is to persuade the audience to act in support of the strategy. If a speaker, however, intends to instruct a group of senior citizens at a community center on how to select a healthcare supplement to Medicare, the objective is to inform the attendees of insurance options. Yet, if the speaker’s objective is to commemorate the signing of the Civil Rights Act at a meeting of the NAACP, the objective is to express shared feelings of pride and accomplishment.
Once speakers have the objective clearly established, they are then equipped to make the most suitable choice regarding what type of speech to deliver; however, before making this decision, they must have a clear understanding of the three main types of speeches.
The Informative Speech Defined
As the word “informative” implies, this speech “informs” those in attendance by providing them with information. Therefore, the speaker is a teacher, and his or her purpose is to educate the audience regarding a topic; and that topic may be an object, an event, a concept, or a process.
Speeches About Objects
Objects are things that are tangible and, thus, recognized through sight, hearing, taste, or touch; so speeches about objects include those about people, places, animals, structures, etc; for example:
- What to look for when purchasing a new computer system
- Why President John F. Kennedy was the Prince of Camelot
- Is Ethanol a Viable Alternative to Fossil Fuel?
Speeches About Events
Events are happenings or occurrences, both past and present, so possible speech topics include the following:
- The origins of the holiday known as Halloween
- What led to the Salem Witch Trials
- The Primary Causes of World War II
Speeches About Concepts
Concepts are ideas, philosophies, hypotheses, and arguments, etc, so informative speeches might address topics such as these:
- The Big Bang Theory
- Karl Marx’s concept of socialism
- The principles of Feng Shui, the Ancient Chinese Art of Placement
Speeches About Processes
A process is how something is made, how something is done, or how something works; therefore, possible topics include these:
- How pearls develop in oysters
- How to administer the Heimlich maneuver
- How to organize a plot for a novel
Note: Given their visual nature, most information speeches lend themselves to such aids as PowerPoint presentations, flip charts, graphs, models, etc.
The Persuasive Speech Defined
A persuasive speech usually challenges an audience’s beliefs and/or tries to move those in attendance to change existing viewpoints or at least recognize the validity of opposing viewpoints. For this reason persuasive speeches are the most difficult to deliver, at least successfully, since they usually deal with controversial topics about which people in the audience already hold strong, deeply engrained opinions.
Types of Persuasive Speeches
There are three main types of persuasive speeches: those that deal with questions of fact, those that deal with questions of value, and those that deal with questions of policy.
Examples of Questions of Fact
- Will the stock market rally in 2010?
- Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy?
Examples of Questions of Policy
- Should pro-athletes have mandatory tests for performance-enhancing drugs?
- Are smokers being unfairly singled out for higher taxation?
Examples of Questions of Value
- Do people have the right to choose to die with dignity?
- Should dogfights be legalized?
Note: When preparing a persuasive speech, speakers must accept that at least some listeners are going to disagree, perhaps adamantly so, with their viewpoint, which is why speakers should attempt to anticipate objections and counterarguments and address them during the course of the speech.
Speeches for Special Occasions
There are myriad special occasions in life, for example, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, bar mitzvahs, christenings, award presentations, retirement dinners, and funerals. In fact, there are so many special occasions that it’s impossible to list them. However, whatever the occasions, chances are that someone will be asked to deliver a speech, which could be anything from a toast to a couple who have been married for 50 years to the eulogy for a departed loved one.
Regardless of the occasion, however, there are several important points to keep in mind:
- The speech must fit the occasion. If the occasion is formal, for example, the speech should be as well; but if the occasion is casual, the speech should reflect a similar mood.
- The speech must meet the allotted time. Speakers should be neither too brief nor too longwinded.
- Intended remarks must be accurate. For example, if someone is presenting an award and intends to begin with interesting facts about the recipient, these facts must be correct.
At some point in life most people will be called upon to deliver a speech, some formally, others quite informally; yet, as long as they possess an understanding of the different types of speeches and have their objective clearly in mind, those called upon will be capable of delivering a speech that the audience will remember for a long time to come.
Lucas, S. The Art of Public Speaking: Sixth Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 1998.
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