Module |
Types of Speeches according to Purpose |
At the end of this module, I can:
Any worthwhile endeavor, such as a speech, has a purpose. You speak to inform, to argue, to persuade, to entertain, and to express emotions, among others. Identifying your purpose and being conscious of it allows you to better choose your words, your supporting material, the organization of your message, and your delivery.
A weather man, for instance, gives us updates on the weather condition, and therefore, his purpose is to inform. How about a teacher when she gives a lecture? She explains the lesson and shares her knowledge with the student; therefore, she also speaks to inform. How about an artist presenting her work, hoping her art carries her message to the audience? She speaks to persuade. How about a lawmaker who argues for or against a bill in front of Congress? He aims to persuade his fellow lawmakers to vote for or against the bill in review. These are but a few of the many purposes of speech communication.
Different speech purposes call for different types of speeches. You deliver an acceptance speech upon receiving a prestigious award, a farewell address to a dear friend who is migrating, or a eulogy for a deceased relative.
Consider the following situations. Each one requires a specific kind of speech.
Be a responsible speaker. Provide your audience with factual and right pieces of information or arguments.
Various references provide different types of speeches according to purpose. This module will focus on three types of speeches: informative speech, persuasive speech, and speech for special occasions.
Have you ever spoken in front of a crowd? What tips can you give to someone who feels nervous in speaking in front of many people?
Some speeches are meant to provide interesting and useful information to the audience. An informative speech mainly serves this function. The goal of informative speech is to impart knowledge to the audience based on the expertise of the speaker. Thus, it would be difficult for you to be an informative speaker if you are not familiar with a given topic. You either have to be an expert on the topic or you should have done thorough research so that you will be able to say something substantial to your audience.
Teachers are speakers who engage in informative speech. Their goal is to share with their students the information on various subjects in school in such a way that they would understand these subjects as clearly as possible. What techniques do your teachers use during your lectures in class?
A demonstrative speech can fall under informative speech given that its main purpose is still to inform. However, what makes demonstrative speech unique is that the step-by-step process of doing or producing something is shown and explained to the audience. Examples of demonstrative speeches are the how-to videos that you watch online. For example, using visual aids and actual objects, the speaker demonstrates how to cook dinuguan or the different ways of creatively tying your shoelaces to the viewers.
It is easier to share information about the things that you are familiar with. Play to your strengths.
There are speeches that are meant to affect the beliefs of the audience. A persuasive speech is delivered for the speaker to reinforce beliefs, change the audience’s beliefs, or move them into taking an action.
Persuasive speakers use facts to inform the audience about what is good and what is bad. They also use logic and reasoning to persuade. For some persuasive speakers, charisma and reputation can help in changing the beliefs, attitude, and behavior of the audience into something that favors the speaker.
From TV commercials selling products to speeches that politicians deliver during the election season, persuasive speeches are commonly delivered in an attempt to convince the audience. As speakers, you should craft your messages properly and creatively in order to achieve your communication goal. As a member of the audience, you should be critical in listening to persuasive speeches.
Have you ever watched a celebrity endorsing a product on TV? Did the celebrity convince you to use the product? Why or why not?
Persuasive speeches require not only sensible arguments but also a balanced presentation of both sides of an issue. What are the pros and cons of the following issues? Write your answers on the tables provided.
Issue: Death Penalty
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Issue: Filipino as medium of instruction in schools
| Pros | Cons |
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Issue: Curfew in cities
| Pros | Cons |
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According to O’Hair et al. (2007), speeches for special occasions are prepared for a specific purpose dictated by a given occasion. The speech can be informative, persuasive, or both, depending on the kind of occasion where it is delivered. Joyous occasions require speeches to be entertaining, so that the audience will listen and pay attention.
Special occasion speeches are delivered to welcome the audience to an event, to introduce a speaker, to give tribute through roast or toast speeches (or a combination of both), and to commemorate special events or people. The important consideration in speeches for special occasions is that you should be familiar with the occasion being celebrated or the person being honored. Again, research is essential so that you can say the right things to the right people at the right occasion.
A speaker’s language and tone must be modified according to the occasion and the audience. Choose the language that can reach the audience most effectively.
What was the last event that you attended where someone delivered a speech? Share the speaker’s message and his or her manner of delivery with the class.
Watch an example of a toast speech during a wedding at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bJu1ffjIkGY. Then, answer the following questions.
Classify the following speeches by writing IS for informative, PS for persuasive, or SOS for special occasion speeches.
Track: Academic
You are a political analyst who regularly appears on a morning news show of a TV network in the Philippines. You are their go-to person when it comes to analyzing speeches delivered by key officials in the country. For today’s episode, you are to share your comments on the president’s speech by watching one of the videos of his speeches from the given websites. During the discussion portion of the show, you will identify the type of speech delivered according to its purpose and the highlights of the speech.
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DneicMP3toA
There are memorable speeches and equally memorable speakers. Watch them deliver their speeches by visiting 25 Speeches that Changed the World at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=presEWvAa-U. Choose your favorite speaker and look for videos of his or her other speeches.
As a human being, you are blessed to have been endowed with the abilities of speech and language. Whatever your purpose is for using them, make sure that it is not only for your own benefit but also for the benefits of others. Remember also that it is good to use speeches to inform others of things that concern them, provided that your information is accurate and truthful. It is also a noble aim to use your talent for words to persuade others toward a belief or an action, provided that you have good intentions.