How to Outline an Informative Speech [Free Templates]

An informative speech aims to educate an audience on a given topic. There are various kinds of informative speeches, such as speeches that explain a subject’s conditions and speeches that inform the audience about how to undertake an action. An informative speech’s primary aim is to enlighten the audience on a particular subject they are unfamiliar with. The subjects discussed in an informative speech help the listeners better understand a subject and remember what they learned later.

Information can be communicated in a speech in several ways. Consider what you want the audience to know about your subject when deciding what kind of informative speech to write and deliver.

Below are the different types of informative speech:

Definitional speech

A definition speech describes the meaning, theory, or ideology of a particular subject that the audience is likely to be unfamiliar with. The topics may be broad, such as sports, or specifically targeted, such as a particular individual. This speech’s primary aim is to educate the audience so that they understand the key points about this subject.

Descriptive speech

A descriptive speech paints a clear picture in the mind of the listener of an object, human, animal, or place. A descriptive speech could be used by an archaeologist who has discovered a new temple in Southeast Asia or a paleontologist who claims they have discovered a new dinosaur to tell an interested audience about their latest findings.

Explanatory speech

An explanatory speech describes a given topic’s state. Consider the types of speeches given at industry conferences as an example. The aim of these speeches is for the speaker to educate the audience on a specific aspect of an industry. This will frequently include visualizations to provide the audience with a visual display of the relevant data or statistics contained in the speech.  This is one method of condensing complex knowledge into manageable information for the audience.

Demonstration speech

A demonstration speech demonstrates how to perform a task. Like most enlightening speeches, a how-to speech would most likely use visual illustrations to show the audience how to progress from level to level in a specific task. Visualizations assist the audience in remembering what each move looks like, increasing the likeliness that they can remember the overall content of the speech.

An Informative Speech Outline helps in the planning and organization of a speech. An informative speech outline organizes it so that a speaker can see that his ideas have been noted and formed correctly and that the key ideas or main points fit with the topic and the sub-topics in their respective areas.

After identifying which key topics and sub-topics you will include, you can begin writing the speech. However, before you do so, think about how you will organize your thoughts. There are four ways in which you can outline your speech:

Topical informative speech outline

A topical outline organizes your thoughts sequentially, showing what the key points are and which are the sub-points and shows what you will discuss. As the name suggests, it describes all of the minor subtopics that will form your paper and demonstrates how they are connected. It also shows what you intend to say about each mini-topic. The topical informative speech outline is used when the informative speech is on concepts. Concepts can include ideas, thoughts, or beliefs.

Chronological informative speech outline

When discussing events that are connected by time, it is advisable to use the chronological organization style. The key points in a chronological speech are delivered in the order they occurred and can be traced on a calendar or clock. The chronological informative speech outline is used when your informative speech is on events. Events are things that happened, are happening, or are about to happen.

Spatial informative speech outline

The spatial speech pattern arranges information based on how objects fit together in physical space. This pattern works best when your key points are connected to various locations that can coexist. The primary reason for using this format is to illustrate that the key points have distinct locations. The spatial informative speech outline is used when your informative speech is on objects like people and places.

Casual informative speech outline

A causally ordered speech has key points that are focused on cause and effect. For example, the key points of a farming aid speech may be arranged as follows: the first main point talks about farm issues and the need for financial aid; the second main point addresses the farming aid program’s development and implementation. In this structure, you address key points to alert the audience to a situation or circumstance before telling the audience what action was taken as a result of the original situation. The casual informative speech outline is used when your informative speech is on processes, i.e., patterns of action, including both demonstrative speeches and more general processes.

Speech organization serves two essential purposes. First, it assists in the systematic development of thinking. Second, speech organization increases the likelihood of the speech being effective.

Speeches are divided into three parts:

Introduction

The introduction of a speech provides the first and most critical point of communication between the speaker and the audience. The introduction serves the following purposes:

• Grabbing the audience’s attention– The main argument or concept should be outlined clearly in the introduction to give the audience an idea of the speech’s objective. You must guide the audience and make connections between what they already know or are interested in and the subject of the speech. You can begin your introduction with a joke to keep the audience interested.

• Establishing your credibility– The audience should perceive you as someone who they can pay close attention to. Character is formed by the delivery style as well as the content of the speech. Maintaining eye contact with your audience and displaying confidence in both voice and body language are two essential ways to build credibility. 

• Preview of the content– Mentioning the key topics to be discussed prepares the audience for your speech.  Speeches need a lot of repetition. The preview should conclude with a transition, a short sentence, or a pause to indicate to the audience that the speech is moving from the introduction to the body.

• Give your thesis statement– A thesis statement summarizes the key points of a speech in one or two sentences, and it is intended to provide your audience with a preview of what the whole speech will be about.

• Transition to the body– Good transitions demonstrate the relationship between parts of a speech. They demonstrate the speech’s purpose. An example of a transition phrase is “furthermore.”

Body

The body is the main part of your speech. The body is what your audience pays more attention to.

Below are some of the functions of the body of a speech:

• The body highlights your main points and subpoints– The fewer the key points in the body, the better. Speeches under ten minutes can include no more than three key points. More than five key points in a longer speech means that the listener will have difficulty understanding and following the speech.

• Shows transitions between main points– Transitions, as well as pauses before an important idea, are often used to indicate new points. Furthermore, speakers may number main points—first, second, third. Always make it simple for your audience to identify and follow key points.

Conclusion

The conclusion comes after a transition from the body of the speech. The conclusion should be slightly shorter than the introduction and serve two purposes: it should summarize main points and give a sense of closure and resolution to the speech. A good conclusion can refer back to the introduction, include an example or metaphor that captures the main concept, or leave the audience with a question or challenge of some kind. Short quotes may also serve as useful conclusions.

An excellent speech has good organization. Our website has informative speech templates that are downloadable and neatly organized. Our informative speech outline templates will make your work easy when writing your speeches as they will guide you through. Please look at our various speech templates when you visit our website and try your hand in speech writing. Thank you.

In this section, we have given you tips that will help you come up with an excellent speech that will capture the interest and attention of audiences:

• Avoid filler texts- These are random texts that do not make sense to an audience. Avoid including unnecessary text or facts. An informative speech is written with the aim of making every minute of the audience’s time worthwhile.

• Give real-world examples– You should also provide examples of real-world instances so that the audience can relate to the information on a practical level. 

• Maintain eye contact– A good speech is followed by excellent presentation skills and is helped by good eye contact. Research has also shown that successful communication is based on trust.

• Be sincere and credible– You should be entirely genuine and credible in your speech. It is good to provide reliable information.

• Ask questions– Remember to ask questions at the end of your speech. Alternatively, remind the audience that you will ask them questions when you finish giving your speech so that they prepare.

• Body language– Hand and body movements are also very important. Gestures are extremely important because they help in language comprehension. Ensure that you use hand and body movements throughout your speech, but only at the appropriate times. We recommend that you practice speaking in front of a mirror using your hands to illustrate the words you would use in front of the audience.

An informative speech educates the audience on a given subject. There are different types of informative speeches, such as speeches that explain a subject’s circumstances and speeches that advise the audience about how to undertake an action.

An informative speech relies on visual aids to provide the audience with a visual representation of important information contained in the speech. Providing information in various ways during the speech increases the possibility that the audience will remember the information.

It is important to stick to the fundamental facts of the topic to distinguish an informative speech from other speeches. When stating the main points of the topic, no personal prejudices, baseless facts, or popular opinion should be included. When preparing an informative speech, carefully examine the topic and remove any possible comments that can influence or persuade people.