Boone County High School Forensics

 

Informative Speaking

 

In info, you will create and perform a speech that explains, defines, describes, or illustrates a certain topic. The main purpose of info is to inform not to persuade. All speeches must be your original writing, and while you should use sources to back up your information, you must cite all information within your speech, and direct quotations should be fewer than 150 words.

 

In info, you are allowed to use audio or visual aids, but the type of aids used is limited. Unacceptable aids include:

  • Electronics

  • Live animals or people

  • Clothing items that are put on/removed during the speech

 

You must write and memorize your speech beforehand. The maximum time is ten minutes.

 

Tips and tricks:

  • While using an audio or visual aid is not required, using one is an opportunity to boost your content. Additionally, if everyone in a round uses an aid except for you, the judge will notice that—even if your speech is amazing.

 

  • Be purposeful in how you use audio and visual aids. Think of watching PowerPoint presentations in school. When a PowerPoint has slides or visual information that repeats what the speaker/teacher is saying, you probably get bored. The same will happen if your audio/visual aid is redundant or unoriginal. Images, charts, etc. are a good start for aids.

 

  • Just because the speaker’s goal is to inform doesn’t mean you can’t be creative with your topic or presentation. No topic is off the table as long as it is informative in nature. Want to talk for ten minutes about sarcasm? Go for it! A speech about social strategy in Survivor? Also okay! If you genuinely have fun writing and performing your topic, the audience will be more likely to enjoy watching it.

 

  • Your goal should always be to inform your audience, not to persuade them (there is a separate event for that). That doesn’t mean you can’t give a speech on a topic that has persuasive implications, but you the speaker should not be telling the audience to do something. For example, your info can be about the history of book censorship in school. As a result of the informative content in your speech, your audience may think “we should do something about book censorship,” but you yourself should not be trying to persuade them of this.

 

For more detailed practicing tips, check out the KHSSL handbook (Info starts on page 42).