In a reporting speech, you report on the
outcome of some project or research. You may give an
oral report on a book, on a particular problem or need,
on some historical or biographical research, or on a
current event. In this type of speech, the information
must be accurate, and all the facts must be correct.
Credibility is a must. You cannot assume the audience
won’t know information about your topic. You must assume
they know something, and you are adding to the
information that they already know. For example, someone
has probably read the book you are talking about.
Someone may have a friend or family member who is
homeless. Someone may have a hobby of visiting old
historic homes. And finally, people do read the
newspaper and listen to the news in some form.
The following passages are
examples from a news report given by Erin
Pugmire, a broadcast communications
student:
Interior
Secretary, Bruce Babbitt,
will fly over flooded areas
of Western Washington today.
Unseasonably warm downpours
are causing heavy snow melts
in the mountains, and every
major river in the area is
over flood stage. High waters
have forced hundreds of
people to evacuate their
homes. Some areas are getting
hit with up to five inches of
rain. The governor has
declared a state of emergency
in fourteen counties.
Communities along the Cowlitz
river are experiencing their
worst flooding in more than
one hundred years. Landslides
and high water have resulted
in road closures and traffic
restrictions on at least
seventeen highways. Relief
from flood waters isn’t
expected in the region until
Saturday.
The world pauses
today to remember those who
live with AIDS and those
who’ve died from it. The
Eighth Annual World AIDS Day
is being observed by nearly
seven thousand organizations
in 190 countries around the
globe. They’re hoping to
increase public awareness of
the disease and its toll and
mobilize efforts to combat
its spread. International
events include a
demonstration by AIDS
activists in Paris. And the
government of Hong Kong is
hosting exhibitions and
seminars. Observances around
the U. S. include a vigil in
Washington by the National
Association of People with
AIDS. And in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, the Names Project,
Memorial Quilt will be on
display. It’s an
international memorial to
those who’ve died from AIDS.
Selecting the Topic for Your Informational
Speech
In selecting your topic, you need to stay
focused. The following exercises demonstrate the
difference between a vague topic and a focused topic.
A. I am a student, and I
want to major in the college of Fine Arts and
Communications.
OR
B. I am an incoming
freshman, and I want to major in painting.
A. Golfing is a physically
challenging game.
OR
B. Learning how to tee off
from the first hole takes practice.
A.You should save money for
your retirement.
OR
B. Saving ten percent of
your income will insure an adequate retirement fund.
A. Eating and exercising
properly will maintain good health.
OR
B.
Eating three healthy meals a
day and exercising twenty
minutes a day will guarantee
a healthy body.
Can you see the difference?
It is very important that you select a
focused topic and stay on track. If you
seem disoriented and confused, your
audience will immediately become
disoriented and confused.