PowerPoint Tips & Tutorials

Understand the types of speeches

Before you can write and deliver an effective speech, you need to know what type of speech you're giving. Then you can make sure that the content and organization meet the needs and goals of the speech.

There are 4 types of speeches:

• Persuasive: Tries to convince the audience to accept your view or take a recommended action. Sales presentations are a typical example, but there are many others
• Informative: Provides the audience with new information or insights on the topic. A lecture by a professor to a class is informative.
• Inspirational: tries to uplift the audience. May have a spiritual theme.
• Special occasion: Offers appropriate content for a toast, award presentation, acceptance, introduction, eulogy, etc.

Before starting to outline a speech, think which type you're writing. I'll continue in future tips to elaborate on this topic, including ways to organize various types of speeches, effective techniques, and more.

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