Speaking Truth Through Informative Speaking
Have you ever learned something so cool, strange, or surprising that you couldn’t wait to share it? That’s what Informative Speaking is all about.
In this event, your job isn’t to argue — it’s to educate. You get 10 minutes to dive into a topic of your choice, break it down for your audience, and make them walk away thinking, “Wow… I didn’t know that!”
But here’s the twist: you’re not a teacher giving a lecture. You’re a storyteller, a guide, and a communicator who makes facts feel fascinating. Whether you’re explaining a futuristic invention, a bizarre cultural trend, or an unsung moment in history, your voice turns information into insight.
This page will help you find the right topic, structure your speech, use visual aids effectively, and become the kind of speaker people can’t stop listening to.
“Knowledge is Power.”
— Sir Francis Bacon—
Getting Started with Inform
What makes a good topic?
A great informative speech does three things:
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Educates – It teaches the audience something new or takes a familiar concept and shows a fresh perspective.
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Engages – It’s organized, relatable, and sometimes funny or surprising— no lectures allowed!
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Empowers – It shows your voice as a speaker who can inform and connect.
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Started with a close personal examination of self is THE BEST PLACE TO START. If you need inspiration, below are great places to visit.
Various Categories:
Hidden Histories
The Great Emu War of Australia · Secret wartime libraries · The Black Panther's free clinics
Pop Culture & Trends
The rise of cottagecore · How social media alters memory · Gamification in everyday life
Legal & Ethical Issues
The ethics of deepfake technology · Legal personhood for rivers · AI in the courtroom
Science & Technology
CRISPR and gene editing · Nanobots in medicine · The physics of invisibility cloaks
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Social Innovation
Vertical farming in urban areas · AI-powered accessibility · Edible packaging innovations
Unseen Systems
How your phone tracks you · The shipping container economy · The infrastructure of silence
Psychology & Behavior
The Spotlight Effect · Why we procrastinate · The power of emotional suppression​
Curious Questions
Why do we cry? · What causes déjà vu? · Can humans hibernate?
Cultural Curiosities
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index · Tattoo taboos across time · Japan’s Rent-a-Family
How to Build Your Three Main Points:
Once you’ve chosen a topic, you’ll need to break it down into three clear, distinct points that organize your speech. The best structures guide your audience logically — and emotionally — through the topic.
Here are four popular frameworks with explanations and example outlines:
History → Evolution → Implications
01
Great for explaining how something started, how it changed, and why it matters now.
Topic: Plastic Roads
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Point 1 – History: The rise of asphalt and the environmental impact of traditional roads
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Point 2 – Evolution: How plastic waste is now being transformed into road materials
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Point 3 – Implications: Potential for sustainability, challenges with durability, and global rollout
History → Applications → Implications
02
Great for explaining how something came to be, how it's used today, and why it matters.
Example Topic: The Lie Detector (Polygraph)
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Point 1: History – Origins of the polygraph in early criminal investigations
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Point 2: Applications – Use in modern law enforcement, hiring, and entertainment
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Point 3: Implications – Ethical concerns, accuracy debates, and legal consequences
What It Is → Where It Appears → Implications
03
Ideal for abstract or behavioral topics where your audience first needs to understand the concept.
Example Topic: Dream Incubation
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Point 1: What it is – The science of influencing dreams during sleep
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Point 2: Where it appears – Research labs, therapy rooms, and creative industries
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Point 3: Implications – Potential for emotional healing, memory training, and artistic enhancement
History → Implications → Innovations
04
Best when you want to show how something came to be, why it matters now, and how it’s evolving.
Example Topic: Facial Recognition Technology
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Point 1: History – From early image tracking to biometric breakthroughs
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Point 2: Implications – Privacy issues, surveillance ethics, and racial bias
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Point 3: Innovations – Real-time crime prevention, border control, and AI regulation efforts
Problem → Cause → Innovations/Solution
05
Excellent for topics where something needs to be fixed or reimagined.
Example Topic: Edible Packaging
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Point 1: Problem – Plastic pollution and single-use waste
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Point 2: Cause – Our overdependence on convenience and lack of alternatives
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Point 3: Innovations/Solution – Packaging made from seaweed, starch, and other edible materials
Implication → Implication → Implication
06
Useful when your topic creates ripple effects across different areas of society.
Example Topic: The Rise of Deepfake Technology
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Point 1: Implication – Threats to political campaigns and misinformation
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Point 2: Implication – Legal and ethical confusion in media authentication
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Point 3: Implication – Cultural paranoia and loss of trust in visual evidence
Write the Speech...
When you are writing each of your main points, it is important to include a variety of things. Each point should include a balance of the following:
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Definition/Clarity: A brief explanation in simple terms to anchor the audience in a concept
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Background: Where this came from or why it's important historical or socially
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Examples: Real-world illustrations or case studies (news, science, history, trends)
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Data/Stats: Relevant numbers that support the credibility of the point
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Expert Insight: A brief paraphrased or cited voice of authority (researcher, scientist, historian)
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Connection: A clear link back to the central thesis: why does this point matter to the audience?
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PRO TIP: Avoid letting one point get overloaded with data while others are light on content. Balance matters. Constantly connect to your audience, explain difficult ideas, and illustrate with visuals when things get heavy with facts and info.
Plan and Practice Visual Aids
Visuals are optional — but when used well, they boost clarity.
Visuals should:
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Be easy to read from a distance
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Reinforce your point, not distract from it
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Be visible without blocking your face
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Transition smoothly between sections
Common visuals: Posters, infographics, labeled diagrams, charts, props