checklist for informative speech (P03), (E08), (A03)

Check List for Informative Speeches

Topic Choice

ð Have you chosen a topic that's appropriate for THIS audience? (not too technical, not to specialized for a general audience? Not too trivial for a college-level audience?)

ð What is your real intention? In an informative speech you must take a neutral position.. You must educate and enlighten us, not try to persuade us to agree with your opinion about a controversial topic. Nor must you try to get us to DO something as a result of your speech. (Note: merely using the phrase, "to inform," doesn't make it an informative speech if what you're really after is persuading your audience to agree with your point of view.)

ð Have you chosen a topic that is narrow enough to allow you to cover it in depth in a 4-to-6 minute speech?

ð Have you chosen a topic that will present us with new information (Tell us something we don't already know)?

ð Have you chosen a good, snappy title for your speech?

Audience Analysis

ð Have you checked to see what your audience knows and/or believes about your topic?

ð Have you checked to see how important the topic is to your audience?

ð Have you checked to see if your audience really understands any technical or complicated words or terms that you might use?

Specific Purpose Statement

ð Have you written it according to our new in-class instructions ("By the end of my speech, my audience will be able to _______")?

ð Does you Specific Purpose Statement contain no more than one idea (no use of “and”)

Organization

ð Have you organized the BODY of the speech effectively, according to one of the organization patterns discussed (Chronological, Spatial, Causal, Topical)?

ð Have you chosen the best organizational pattern for your topic and audience?

ð Will your organization pattern help your audience to follow the logical flow of your presentation?

Research

ð If this is a research speech, have you made sure to include the required minimum number of VERBAL references to research in the BODY of your speech?

ð Remember, you must cite those research sources (mention them aloud), otherwise it's the same as if you haven't done any research.

Presentation Aids

ð If this speech requires presentation aids, have you made sure to include the required minimum number of presentation aids in the BODY of your speech?

ð Do your presentation aids meet the criteria discussed in class?

Introduction
DO NOT BEGIN YOUR SPEECH BY ANNOUNCING YOUR TOPIC OR YOUR PURPOSE!

ð Do you have a powerful opening sentence that will “grab” the audience?

ð Have you included statements in your introduction that will

o establish your credibility or authority to speak about your topic

o indicate the importance of your topic to this audience

ð Have you included your central idea at the end of your introduction so that your audience will know exactly what it can expect to hear? Remember, the audience must hear this central idea.

ð Does your central idea flow naturally from your specific purpose statement?

ð Does your central idea match and preview the main points in the body of your speech?

Conclusion
DO NOT CONCLUDE YOUR SPEECH BY SAYING “THAT’S ALL” OR ANY WORDS LIKE THAT.

ð Does your conclusion meet the criteria discussed in class?

ð Have you chosen at least one of the suggested devices for effectively concluding your speech?

Transitions

ð Have you included simple clear transitions going into the 1^st Main Point of the Body and between each of the Main Points?

Planning Outline

ð Have you formatted your preparation outline properly?

o Anything that you divide must be divided into a minimum of two parts.

o Each subdivision must be indented properly.

ð Have you a minimum of 3 typewritten (double-spaced) pages?

o Page 1 All introductory material as per the "Oatmeal Outline"

o Page 2, 3, etc. The Body (may take more than one page)

o Last page All conclusion material including bibliography (if required)

ð Have you stapled your outline in the upper left-hand corner?

Rehearsal and Speaking Outline

ð Have you prepared effective speaking notes -- the speaking outline? (Refer to the text)

ð Have you practiced a minimum of 1 hour for every minute of speech length?

ð Have you recorded your rehearsal and played the tape back for logical flow of ideas, timing, etc?

Notepad

No	FINAL CHECKLIST
1	Have I rehearsed my speech/ presentation at least 3 times?
2	Does my speech have all the major components? Intro? Body? Conclusion?
3	Is it within the allocated time?
4	Does my speech have an attention getter and impactful ending?
5	Have I customized it to my audience?
6	Have I rehearsed at the actual location?
7	Do I know where all the switches are?
8	Are they in good functioning order? For my laptop? LCD? Etc.
9	Is the microphone working?
10	Are all my things (e.g. visual aids) where I want them to be?
11	Do I know how to use the projector?
12	Do I have batteries for my laptop, just in case?
13	Do my marker pens have ink?
14	Have I turned my mobile phone off? Or at least put it on ‘silent’?
15	If I can’t use Plan A, do I have a Plan B? Plan C?