Informative speech template

The cards

1. 1

   Plan

   • Topic: [___]
   • Purpose: "By the end, my audience will understand [___]."
   • Type: [explain a process / describe a place or object / tell the history of / explain a concept]

   Informative means teaching, not persuading. Keep your opinions light.

2. 2

   Opening hook

   Choose one:

   • A surprising fact you have checked: [___]
   • A question: "Have you ever wondered why [___]?"
   • A short scene: "Picture [___]."

   Then: "Today I'll explain [topic]."

3. 3

   Thesis and preview

   "[Topic] is [one-sentence summary]."

   "I'll cover three things: [point 1], [point 2] and [point 3]."

   Telling people the route makes a talk easier to follow.

4. 4

   Main point 1

   • Point: [___]
   • Explain: [two or three short sentences]
   • Example or image: [___]

   Transition: "Now that we know [point 1], let's look at [point 2]."

5. 5

   Main point 2

   • Point: [___]
   • Explain: [___]
   • Example or comparison: "It's a bit like [familiar thing]."

   Transition: "This leads to [point 3]."

6. 6

   Main point 3

   • Point: [___]
   • Explain: [___]
   • Example: [___]

   Save your most interesting or surprising point for here.

7. 7

   Choosing your three points

   Pick one pattern and stick to it:

   • Time order: past, present, future, or step 1, 2, 3
   • Parts: three parts of a system, place or object
   • Cause and effect: what causes it, what happens, what follows
   • Questions: what is it, why does it matter, what can we do

   A clear pattern helps the audience predict and remember.

8. 8

   Visual aids

   • One image or object per main point, at most
   • Show it when you talk about it, then put it away
   • Big, simple labels the back row can read
   • Have a plan if the screen fails: [describe it instead]
9. 9

   Define tricky terms

   • [Term]: [plain-language meaning]
   • [Term]: [___]

   Say each definition the first time you use the word. Your audience may hear it for the first time today.

10. 10

    Summary and close

    "So today we've looked at [point 1], [point 2] and [point 3]."

    One take-away: "If you remember one thing, remember that [___]."

    Link back to your hook, then "Thank you. Are there any questions?"

11. 11

    Questions to expect

    • Where did you find your information? [sources]
    • Can you explain [hardest part] again? [simpler version]
    • What surprised you most? [___]