There are many types of speeches depending upon the speaker's intention, and a clear purpose statement will lead to a clear thesis statement.  Reports are often given for the purpose of providing bases for action.  Fact-finding boards, investigating committees, and boards of inquiry all serve as means of obtaining information to be transmitted to an action agency.  This article offers guidelines and related links concerning the purpose of your public speech. 

• Use the SPAM Model

    

  • Situation: consider the time and place of where you are giving the speech.

     

  • Purpose: this refers to the goal the speaker hopes to achieve with his or her speech.

     

  • Audience: consider the people to whom the speech is directed.

     

  • Method: which methods will best accomplish the purpose.

     

• Three Types of Speeches

    

  • Informative: In an informative speech, the audience learns about a new subject or learns new information about a familiar subject.  An informative purpose statement will generally be worded to stress audience knowledge or ability.  There are three ways to categorize informative speeches; by format, by content, and by purpose. 

    Informative speeches can be divided into two formats; briefings, and reports.  Informative speeches can also be categorized according to their content.  There are speeches about objects, processes, events, and concepts.  One can also distinguish among types of informative speeches depending upon the speaker's intention, these include; descriptions, explanations, and instructions.  Whatever you present should be new to your audience. 

     

  • Persuasive: A persuasive speech is intended to change the audience's attitudes or behaviors. All persuasive topics fall into one of three categories, depending upon the type of proposition, or claim, that you are advancing.  The three categories are propositions of fact, propositions of value, and propositions of policy.  Propositions of facts are issues in which there are two or more sides with conflicting evidence, where listeners are required to choose the truth for themselves.

    Propositions of value go beyond issues of truth or falsity and explore the worth of some idea, person, or object.  Propositions of policy go one step beyond questions of fact or value; they recommend a specific course of action.  This type of speech is probably the most challenging kind of speech because it is often about controversial subjects that are important to both speaker and audience.

     

  • Entertaining: A speech that simply tries to gain and keep the audience's attention. The speaker wants the listeners to have a good time and to be amused or interested by the speech.

     

  ---

  
   

  From the Virtual Presentation Assistant Project