How to Write Expository Speeches

Last Updated: July 23, 2024

How to Write Expository Speeches

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If you are an avid watcher of educational and informative videos on YouTube, then you might have come across viewing content from TED Talks at some point. For those of you who are not familiar of what TED is, it started as a nonprofit organization committed to sharing ideas in the form of short speeches (or talks) for around 18 minutes or less.

Standing for Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED), this began as a conference in 1984 where these topics converged for the first time. At present, TED Talks start to cover almost all available topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than a hundred languages. With their mission to spread ideas, TED serves as a global community that welcomes people from all walks of life who want to seek a deeper understanding of the world and society at present. You may also see student council speech.

At TED, they firmly believe in the power of ideas to not only change attitudes, but also lives and, ultimately, the world as well. Independently-run talks being conducted in the local communities are called TEDx events that help share ideas in communities around the world. These kind of talks that are being delivered by the TED speakers are called expository speeches. Expository refers to explaining or describing something. What expository speeches try to explain or describe are often ideas, experiences, or processes. Sometimes, they are given as an assignment by a teacher. You may also see persuasive speech outline.

How are Expository Speeches Different?

If you are wondering how expository speeches are different, here are a few interesting facts about them:
1. The objective of expository speeches are to inform rather than to change minds. Try to pick something interesting that you may think people know about, but do not. You may also see farewell speech.
2. When selecting a topic, make sure that it is timely, but it is also unique.
3. Be interesting and use jokes.
4. Visual aids are always such a big help when adding color and spice to your presentation.

Writing Your Speech

No matter what kind of speech you will be asked to write, it is just another speech at the end of the day. And like every good speech, you need not only to select your topic, but you must also have a solid foundation of what you are going to be talking about by doing some research beforehand. You may also see salutatory speech.

Research

If you get to choose your topic for your speech, that is good since you more or less have an idea on what it is about and will just have to do a bit more of research in order to fully support your speech. Being able to choose your topic means that you are able to deliver the speech with comfort and ease without worrying too much. It also grants you the opportunity to be impromptu in the middle of your speech, in case you have not planned all the details out. However, there are cases that you really have to stick with the topic the teacher has given to you. With a topic that you do not fully understand, it is really critical then to conduct research and not just rely on your stock knowledge to as the sole basis of your speech. You may also see commemorative speech

Brainstorming

As you start to write your speech for the first draft, try including the 5Ws: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. and answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper. Brainstorming is the most common method when working on a descriptive paper. For example, your speech would be writing about your first trip to Beijing, China. Your brainstorming might look something like this:

Who: 9th grade class and administrators

What: The Great Wall of China, Birds Nest Stadium, The Forbidden City.

When: December 12-18, 2017

Where: Beijing, China

Why: To go back to the family roots

Now, depending upon the type of expository speech you’re writing, the brainstorming that you have come up with may look different. Try to list some important sub-key points that might serve as a connector to the main points identified in your paper. You may also see business speech.

Format of the Expository Speech

1. Introduction

Every written thing starts off with an introduction- whether it is a book or a speech or a movie. Aside from the body of the speech, your introduction serves as your first impression to the audience on how you are going to deliver the rest of your speech. Attention-grabbers would often make use of a few quotes, a story, or an explosive opening statement. You may also see bridesmaid speech.

2. Background.

This is where the data that you have been researching for your speech comes in handy. A strong foundation is the basis of every construction of a building. Without it, the building will crumble and collapse into nothing. You may also see speech outlines.

3. Applications

This is the part where you explain the practical applications of the topic in your speech. If your speech talks about a particular object, then this is where you explain how it is being used and what its purpose is.You may also see groom speech.

4. Impacts

The heart and soul of the very expository speech. For instance, if your topic is about global warming growing at an increasing rate, tell it in such a way that the audience will be persuaded to do something about this ongoing tragedy. If your topic is for a worthy cause (e.g. standing up to oppressive owners who maltreat their domestic house helpers), make sure you lay down the positive way and negative way of formulating your solution to this problem. You may also see school speeches.

5. Conclusion

Start strong and end strong. Summarize your points once more and make a brief thesis statement on what was the whole point of your whole speech about in the first place. You may also see elevator speech

Three Main Categories of an Expository Speech

How to

This explains the key factor of a phenomenon and this also enumerates the process of how it is being done.

Example: How money is being made

What Happened?

This kind of expository speech explains what an event is about and when and how it transpired. E.g.: World War 1

What is it?

This kind of speech elaborates on what that certain object is and how it works. They say it is important to show and not just simply tell. If the instruction given to you allows a sort of Powerpoint presentation, it is best to make use of that as slides are a way that allow the audience not to become too bored of your presentation. Props are a plus in your speech. However, if the instruction does not really allow Powerpoint presentations, make use of your writing ability to best describe what you have seen, felt, and experienced on this journey in the Land of the Prosperous. You may also see launch speech.

Example: St. Bernards

Three main outlines:

1. Space and time chronological order- Going to the World War 1 example, it is important to explain how it started, what other wars and conflicts were going on in this period of time and when did the war come to a close and how. You may also see award speech.

2. Three main points— Choose significant points about the topic and briefly describe them.

3. Then and now– Present the situation of the said object phenomenon before and how it is at its current situation.

Three main questions to consider when selecting a topic:

Try asking these first when picking a subject to talk about:

1. What do you know a lot about in relation to your school, community, job or hobby?

2. Are you an expert in a certain field?

3. Do you know present issues from past or present, local or international that you would like to discuss with the people?

4. What kind of people are going to be affected by my topic (e.g. working professionals, unemployed sector)? And how will they be affected?

5. How many people will be attending the said talk that will be delivered?

6. What knowledge, stories, experiences can I share to my audience that they have not heard or known before?

7. Which of my experiences would they want to know more and why?

Refine your short list of expository speech topics. Ask yourself:

  • What does the audience need or want to know?
  • Is it going to be timely to the listeners of my speech?
  • If I put myself in the audience’s shoes, what topic would I think interest me the most and why?
  • What does the target audience already know?
  • Will the audience even show concern about the topic?

As you finally decide on what topic you will be talking about, ask yourself on why would you want to make that your topic in the first place? Is it for my own self-interest? Or is this topic relevant for the others?

Investigate Your Expository Speech Topics

Once you have chosen your topic, do not forget to research about it. There may be some parts of your topic that you are already familiar of, but what are the things that you are not familiar of? It is possible to include what you do not know in your speech as new knowledge not only to you, but also to your audience. Research is

  • What new things can I include in my topic?
  • Are there any new trends that I can include?

We hope you found our article on how to write expository sentences to be informative. This will guide you in composing your own expository sentences, either for your next literary work, project, or simply in your daily conversations.

Expository Speeche Generator

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