Select a topic for your 5-6-minute informative speech. I encourage you to use the same topic for your informative speech as you do for your persuasive speech. When it’s time for the persuasive speech you will put a persuasive spin on the informative speech topic (e.g., informative topic: vegan diet; persuasive topic: adopt a vegan diet). This approach will allow you to immerse yourself in research on a single topic rather than researching two separate topics.

The speech is only 5-6-minutes in length. This requires a very specific and narrow topic. If you keep the same topic for both your informative speech as well as persuasive speech, you can inform your audience on the topic with this speech and then delve deeper in your persuasive (which is also a 5-6-minute speech).

Review

I always find it helpful to see multiple examples of how to format something or to get ideas. Take a look at these examples from past students. 

• Student Examples ~ Topics & Specific Purpose Statements 

Post Formatting & Requirements

You will post your topic, general purpose, and specific purpose statement following the format below to this forum. You do not need to upload a document. It should just be a discussion post with text only. Your topic should be informative and not persuasive.

Your specific purpose should start with the words “I want my audience to understand”. Do not change the wording of the first four words.

The General Purpose is always two words, “to inform” for the informative speech. Do not reword.  

Your informative speech topic post should include the following elements:

1.    Topic:

2.    General Purpose:

3.    Specific Purpose:

Here is an example of what your initial discussion post should look like:

Topic: Distracted Driving

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: I want my audience to understand there has been an increase in distracted driving-related incidents in the state of Florida over the past five years.