speech writing informal

Formal Vs Informal Speeches: An A-Z Guide

Hrideep barot.

Public Speaking , Speech Writing , Workplace Communication

A speech is either formal or informal. Meaning, it can either be a formal address delivered to an audience or the daily use of grammar and words to communicate. The only purpose of either of those speeches is to put across a message well enough to invoke the desired response from your audience. Throughout history, humans all across the world cleverly inspired world-wide revolutions solely through the power of speech. Since then, a lot of tools and techniques of speeches have developed to ensure we use this power to its maximum capacity.

The two broad classifications of events we use speeches are called formal events and informal events. Therefore, depending on the kind of audience, the situation, the message, the tone and the environment, the orator must decide whether they should address a formal speech or an informal speech. Working out where you use what kind of speech is the most important aspect of being a good communicator.

Man delivering a formal speech to a crowd

Formal Speeches

What are formal speeches.

Formal Speeches are made when you’re speaking to a sizable audience you don’t personally know. These are professional events where you’re expected to make a good impression on the audience. The nature of these events is often serious and decorous. These events therefore demand a similar respectable tone of language and speech.

For example, while at a job interview, speaking to an individual of authority, delivering a lecture, making a presentation, giving a pitch, motivating the audience, hosting a business event etc., you must ensure you speak formally.

What makes a speech formal?

Formal speeches are also called orations. They are used in situations that are more ‘serious.’ They project a specific tone and specific characteristics. A few basic tools and attributes of formal speeches are:

The tone of a formal speech is always polite and respectful. Since formal speeches are mainly used to communicate with people in authority or strangers, it is important to structure your sentences suitably. The use of civilised words, appropriate grammar, complete sentences and enhanced vocabulary maintains the decorum of a formal speech.

Objectiveness

A formal communication style usually takes no stances. The sentence is spoken in a passive voice with a minimum use of personal pronouns. When we avoid using personal pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘We’ and ‘You’, the essence of the point changes from being an opinion to a fact. Therefore, the content of your speech sounds more objective than subjective.

Effectiveness

A formal speech is more effective than an informal speech because it comprises longer sentences and clear, non-colloquial phrases. It is well-spoken and the pronunciations are fathomable and precise. Its adherence to the Standard English language makes it comprehensible for the entire audience, even the non-native English speakers. It therefore proves to be extremely effective, suitable for a workplace or a business environment.

Standard English Language

A formal speech naturally follows the standards and rules formally set by the language. Languages tend to have regional differences and additional local slang to them. Even within England, British English and Scottish English tend to have different dialects and colloquial. For example, maybe phrases like “sure-fire” or “works like a charm” are deemed normal at your workplace but you cannot expect a non-English speaking trader to know them. When we adhere to the Standard English prescribed by Oxford, everybody who has academically learnt the English language is able to understand what one is trying to say.

The generous use of long sentences, no contractions, minimum abbreviations, proper grammar, complex sentence structure, clear pronunciation and overall objectiveness of the information brings a lot of clarity to one’s speech. There is seldom any room for doubts or misunderstandings. The extensive use of impersonal and formal language brings out professionalism and makes your information more credible.

What should you NOT include in a Formal Speech

The obvious ways of distinguishing between a formal speech and an informal speech are determined through the process of elimination. The following are a few things that you shouldn’t include in a formal speech:

Casual Greeting

There are a number of ways you can greet a person. Each kind of greeting has formal and informal versions that you can use based on how well you know the person and what degree of professionalism you are required to maintain with that person. For example,

Formal: Hello, how do you do?
Informal: Hey, how are ya?
Formal: Nice to meet you/ Pleased to meet you.
Informal: Good to see you.
Formal: How have you been?
Informal: Long time no see!

Slangs and Colloquialism

Slangs include a language that’s peculiar to a particular group, a regional reference, or even curse words. It’s extremely important to keep slang words at bay when you’re delivering a formal speech. A formal tone prescribes standard, professional English language. For example,

Informal: Stats say, stress is the reason why this workplace is always screwing up.
Formal: According to statistics, stress is one of the most frequent factors that disrupts efficiency and encourages problems in the workplace.
Informal: Know yourself honestly and well enough to find what stresses you out.
Formal: Being candid with ourselves is the most effective way to establish the triggers of stress we experience.

Contractions

Contracting words and sentences assert an informal and casual tone. If you are aiming to sound professional and polished, avoiding contractions is recommended. For example,

Informal: I’ve had enough, I don’t think I’m gonna let this slide the next time.
Formal: Your limit has been surpassed, I do not think this mistake will go unpunished the next time.

Personal Pronouns

The main characteristics of a formal speech are its impersonal nature and the precise, passive and objective delivery of information. While writing a formal speech, avoid using pronouns altogether. However, if required, try using neutral pronouns such as ‘one.’ For example,

Informal: I was alarmed when I found out the effects of stress.
Formal: The effects of stress were found to be quite alarming.
Informal: You shouldn’t stress out about the things you can’t control.
Formal: One shouldn’t take stress about the things beyond one’s control.

Poor Vocabulary

Gather your thesaurus before you write your formal speech because the better your vocabulary, more formal the content of your speech sounds. While both your sentences would mean the same thing, the tone in which they are delivered would classify them as informal speeches or formal speeches. For example,

Informal: He took the item back to the shop.
Formal: He returned the item to the shop.
Informal: The CEO of this company gave up his position because his mental health was being affected.
Formal: The CEO of this company relinquished his position due to his mental health being compromised.

How should you structure a Formal Speech?

The basic structure of a formal speech is no different than the structure of an essay. Organising your speech not only improves the clarity of thought but also amplifies the effectiveness of your content. A formal speech includes an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

The Introduction

A formal introduction establishes a respectful contact between the speaker and the listener. The introduction should last for one minute at the most. It should sound deferential and strictly adhere to formal English. How should you begin a formal speech?

The Greeting

The introduction of a formal speech can typically begin with a greeting. After wishing ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ depending on the time of the day, you may introduce yourself humbly. You can thank the organisers of the event for inviting you to speak or compliment a senior member of the event to pay respect.

Acknowledging the Audience

It is polite to thank the audience for gathering to hear you out. Greet them with a genuine smile and express what an honour it is to be speaking before them today. After all, they have sacrificed their precious time to be here today.

Placing your Claim

The introduction is the most crucial segment of your speech. The curiosity you are able to pique in this part decides how much audience you will retain throughout your speech. It is extremely important you place your claim in the most catchy manner. Even in a formal speech, you can use quotes, rhetorical devices, imagery, startling elements, stories or even silence. As long as the language used is respectful, professional and follows the formal English, it can be a good opener for a formal speech.

In case you’re looking for a few creative ways you can open your speech, you can refer to our blogpost for help!

The body makes up everything you have to say about the claim you placed in the introduction. It can have additional facts, supporting arguments and other temporal modes of organising your information. The temporal modes of organising information can be:

Cause-effect relation in past, present or future tense
Effect-cause relation which is basically inverting it and highlighting the effects before you state how they are achieved.
Compare and contrast your entities.
Narrate your topics as a story by organising the flow of the speech by finding relation and joint-relevance between two topics.
Subdividing a large chunk of information into headings and subheadings is also a good topical way to organise your information formally.

The Conclusion

How do you end a formal speech? The conclusion follows the transition that was laid down by the body. The two main aims of a conclusion are to summarise the ideas of the speech and provide a closure. The conclusion of any formal speech can include:

A summary of the speech.
A ‘Now-What?’ statement elucidating the takeaway of the speech for the audience.
A reference back to the introduction of the speech.
An open-ended question to ponder upon.

If the last line of your speech is as important as the introduction segment where you make the claim. The weight and impact of the last sentence decides how memorable your speech would be. If you don’t feel like dropping the mic after the last sentence of your speech, maybe it’s not as mind-blowing and impactful as it ideally should be.

If you are looking to seek more advice on how you can structure your formal speeches more professionally , be sure to check out our guidelines.

Coworkers informally discussing a project

Informal Speeches

Informal speeches are casual and relaxed. They are made while talking to friends, colleagues or people you personally know. There are no hard and fast rules while making an informal speech other than somehow conveying the message you want to convey.

What makes a speech informal?

Informal speeches radiate a very comfortable and relaxed energy. They’re friendlier than formal speeches and they often carry the personality of the person addressing them. A few characteristics that can help you identify informal speeches are:

Since casual speeches don’t require a very strict preparation like formal speeches, they are often easygoing. Informal speeches are made sporadically and are mostly off the record. The level of ease informal speeches carry can differ from person to person given how extroverted they are, or how comfortable they are with the audience.

Informal speeches sound colourful. In the sense, the speaker is given the liberty to express themselves as they truly are. They don’t have a monotonous tone like formal speeches. The speaker can add their own slang, phrases they normally use, their personality, their dialects and in general make the speech as entertaining and fun as they please.

Informal speeches give you the artistic and comedic liberty to put forth your message. While formal speeches usually adhere to the strictness of sounding ‘serious’ and ‘professional’, informal speeches are like laid back and pleasurable conversations.

You do not normally talk in complex sentence structures or dramatically use vocabulary. Likewise, informal speeches are often simple and straightforward. They use short sentences and terms and references from day-to-day life. You may use words and phrases like ‘that’s dope’, ‘don’t be salty’, ‘bruh’, ‘I’m shook’, ‘No cap’ etc.

Informal speech is used in day-to-day life. Unlike other languages, most English speakers tend to speak informally with strangers on the street. While they’re friendly, they might not necessarily be polite if the listener cannot interpret the tone of your speech.

Since informal speeches are more often used in everyday life, they don’t really have a structure. They do not require an introduction, a body or a conclusion. Apart from the unspoken rules of exchanging pleasantries and courtesy, you do not need to ‘prepare’ anything formal, just have the idea of what you want to say in mind.

A few examples of informal speeches would be:

A Best Man’s Speech for his Brother’s Wedding: In this example, the occasion is properly informal. The speaker is amongst friends and family, speaking about his brother and his new wife. It is hilarious and also contains a poem to deliver the message!

A Valedictorian Speech for the Class of 2010: In this example, while the occasion is formal, the speaker has very cleverly added a subtle informal tone while still maintaining the collective polite structure. He framed all inside jokes in a way everybody could understand. It was overall confident, humorous, ingenious and a great valedictorian speech.

What are the Main Differences Between Formal and Informal Speeches?

The following table elucidates the main differences between formal and informal speeches, summarising all its characteristics.

Case Study: A Sales Pitch

Let’s study the an applied example of formal and informal speeches. The above video is a sales pitch for electric cars. There are two characters in this video, each used in informal speech and formal speech respectively. Let us analyse both their speeches to understand how you can implement the two styles in your communication.

Informal Speech

The first man uses an informal style of speech. He begins his speech by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, electric cars. They’re totally gay.” Naturally, in a work environment where formal tones are expected, the opening statement left all the members of the meeting stupefied. They found his speech disrespectful and all the faces around the room were either shocked, perplexed or disapproving. The casual tone could have easily been found offensive on the pretext of homophobia. He also says things like ‘rock-and-roll-ness’, ‘sexiness of the car’, ‘this model took more virginities than Francis Albert Sinatra’, which can come across as rather controversial in a formal business meeting. Gradually, the informal and blunt approach did work out for the salesperson. However, the chances of it being successful are bleak and you could just be overruled any time. Using a formal tone is therefore a safer option.

Formal Speech

The second man in the film, referred to as Nicholas, takes over and summarises the pitch using formal speech. He uses statements like, ‘We believe we can produce the technology to incorporate an electric motor in your current model.’ He said the exact same thing the first man was trying to communicate but in a far more classy manner. Instead of calling it ‘sexy’ or ‘rock-and-roll’, he refers to its features as ‘exhilarating’ and ‘aggressive’, making the experience ‘visceral’ and retaining a manly retro element of the car than making it look ‘gay’.

This example distinguishing formal speech with informal speech hopefully gives you a thorough idea of what they are. However, when should you use formal speech? And when should you give an informal speech?

Should you use Formal Speech or Informal Speech?

Knowing what speech is best suited for the given situation always depends on the context. You should be intelligent enough to be able to recognize situations that demand a formal tone and situations that can be handled casually.

Generally, informal speeches are made at weddings while giving a toast or at birthdays to express love etc. Formal speeches are made in professional settings, work places, educational institutes, talking to authorities, job interviews, business meetings, negotiations, elders or people you don’t know.

However, sometimes in job interviews, the interviewer can be looking for what your personality is like. In situations like this, you need to tone down how formally you talk. Some corporate cultures embrace a casual and informal tone in their business affairs while some companies prefer individuals who can maintain a strong formal and professional persona.

When you are doubtful about what speech to use, always stick to formal speech. While informal speech is friendly, formal speech is polite. It establishes goodwill and credibility. Although it’s not good to be overly formal either. Saying “Greetings, let me guide you through the floorplans of this building so you can navigate the office easily.” is frankly absurd and foolish. Being too formal can also come across as cold, distant and ironically even impolite. You do not want to be a robot. Sometimes saying, “Good morning, allow me to give you an office tour.” does just the right thing.

To Conclude,

A good communicator can not only convey any kind of message to their audience but also convey their message to any kind of audience. And in order to achieve this, a good communicator is the master of the art of speech as well as the master of knowing the audience and what tone they would appreciate.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

509 Informative Speech Ideas and Topics

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

How to Choose the Right Informative Topic

Half the battle of presenting a speech or writing an essay is choosing the right topic. Choosing a good informative speech topic or informative essay topic can keep your audience entertained, your reader interested, and your own work process more enjoyable. Here are a few tips to help you choose a topic:

Know your audience or reader: Your informative presentation – whether through speech or essay – should cover a subject not already well known to your audience, but still relevant to them. If you do choose a topic they’re familiar with, then present new and exciting information. Consider the age, knowledge level, and interests of your audience when preparing your informational speech or essay.

Consider your own interests: Think of your own passions and areas of expertise that you think people could benefit from learning more about. Choosing a topic you care about will help your speech or essay be better received. Your passion will keep them engaged and curious to learn more.

Consider length requirements : How much time are you allotted for your informative speech? What is the page requirement for your informative essay? You should be able to thoroughly cover the topic in the amount of time you are given. If you don’t think you have enough knowledge or personal interest to talk about illegal drug use among teens, saving money as a college student, or another informative topic for 20 minutes, you may need to consider a different subject.

The good news is that there are countless options available. Below are lists of informative topics for speeches and essays. Remember that, in order to choose the best informative topic for you, you need to consider your audience, your interests, and your time and length requirements. Then, customize the central idea to suit your situation.

Best 10 Informative Speech Topics

Don’t have time to read our full list of 500+ topic ideas? Here is our list of 10 best informative speech topics.

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How to adopt a dog
The history of motorcycles
The best sales tactics
The differences between male and female communication
America’s fastest growing cities
The importance of education for the economy
Different stages of poverty
How to cook vegetarian
How to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free
The different types of poetry

List of Informative Speech Topics

Communication
Current Events
Environment
Food and Drink
International Relations
National Security

Relationships

Supernatural
Demonstration
Easy / Simple
Interesting
Legislation
Pop Culture

10 Animal Informative Speech Topics

The role of cats throughout history.
Caring for hermit crabs.
What are the best pets?
The lives of ants.
The different types of tropical fish.
The different exotic breeds of cats.
How to raise rabbits.
The beauty of wolves.
How to adopt a dog.
Raising pet snakes.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics About Animals .

10 Automotive Informative Speech Topics

Is it better to buy or lease a car?
How to choose the right tires for your car.
How to make your car run better.
What to look for in a new car.
How to change your car’s oil.
Dirt bike riding safety tips.
How to drive a stick shift.
The history of motorcycles.
How to change a flat tire.
The best muscle cars.

14 Business Informative Speech Topics

Taking your brand to the next level with three easy steps: promoting, advertising and marketing.
How business owners’ personal characteristics impact their business.
What is the impact of training and development on employee job performance?
Leadership styles and their effects on employee productivity.
Engaged employees result in high retention.
Developing personal power in an organization.
Impacts of incentives on employee performance.
Psychological tactics in marketing.
How to create a successful brand.
The importance of accounting research.
The benefits of enterprise resource planning.
The benefits of multilevel marketing.
The best sales tactics.
How to nail the negotiation in your first meeting.

See this page for a full list of Informative Speech Topics for Business .

8 Communication Informative Speech Topics

How deaf people talk with emotion.
The differences between male and female communication.
How to be a persuasive speaker.
How to improve your conversation skills.
Some simple conversation tips.
What is neural linguistic programming (NLP)?
Why smiles are contagious.
How to manage communicative disorders.

4 Current Events Informative Speech Topics

America’s fastest growing cities.
The Occupy Wall Street movement.
Poverty in New York City.
What is the national happiness rate?

6 Economy Informative Speech Topics

The history of taxes on carbon dioxide emissions.
What would be the impact on economic growth if everyone produced their own food?
The impact of progressive taxation on the provision of social services.
Economic growth of the People’s Republic of China.
The effects of price and demand of agricultural products.
The importance of education for the economy.

10 Education Informative Speech Topics

How EFL teachers can use the internet as a classroom aid.
Should teachers and students be friends on social networks?
Why is our education system only based on theory and not practical knowledge?
Should students be permitted to eat during classes?
The importance of formal education for building a successful career.
The pros and cons of teaching students three languages in school.
What materials work best in a sandbag for blocking floodwaters?
Hypnosis: its misconceptions and common uses.
Learning disabilities and their effects on learning in college.
Are test scores a good indication of a school’s competency?

See this page for a full list of Informative Persuasive Speech Topics .

10 Environment Informative Speech Topics

Should politicians bring more pollution to our country?
What would happen if finite resources were not used wisely?
Four main reasons for generating genetically modified crops.
The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on maize.
Are we going to lose the rainforest?
The best ways to protect the environment.
Commercial crops and their effect on the water table.
The environmental impact of a meat based diet.
Recycling helps mitigate the greenhouse effect.
Why we should stop global warming.

See this page for a full list of Environmental Informative Speech Topics .

3 Ethics Informative Speech Topics

Is it sometimes better to tell a lie than to tell the truth?
Is tolerance the same as love?
Is hunting morally acceptable?

10 Family Informative Speech Topics

Adopted children should always have the option to see their biological parents.
The impact of single parenting and its effects on children.
The appropriate penalties for parental negligence.
What it is like being the youngest of a family of 19 kids.
The importance of the parent-child relationship.
My father is my hero.
How to pick a name for your children.
Cases of domestic violence against men.
The importance of family.
The history of foster care.

See this page for a full list of Family Informative Speech Topics . We also have a page with Speech Topics for Kids .

18 Financial Informative Speech Topics

How banks are getting paid twice for your mortgage.
How to save money in college.
How to build credit.
How to save money on your income taxes.
How to apply for a credit card.
The basics of financial aid.
The importance of saving money.
How to recognize stock market trends.
The process of buying a house.
The basics of internet banking safety.
The best investment strategies.
How to live on $5 a day/ Eating well on $5 a day.
Tips on how do deal with money problems.
The history of our currency.
How the US Dollar affects the Euro.
Debt relief programs.
Does China have a serious stock market?

9 Food and Drink Informative Speech Topics

The difference between Gatorade and Powerade.
How to cook a delicious dinner.
How to grow your own food.
The different types of coffee.
How to cook vegetarian.
How to make a cocktail.
The best types of cheese.
The best exotic fruits.
How to make Chinese food.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topic Ideas On Food, Drink, and Cooking .

11 Fun Informative Speech Topics

The history of Valentine’s Day, the celebrations in different cultures.
Some laugh, but there are many courageous people who overcome stuttering.
Funny Saint Patricks Day parades, pub decorating, Irish fun runs.
Differences between apes and monkeys, monkeys in space programs, how they live in groups in the zoo.
Your hand: what your signature, handwriting and your hand palm lines say about your character.
Amphibian vehicles – search for information about those rare car-boat vehicles, and you have lots of fun informative speech topics to talk about!
Cartoons in relation to our Freedom of Speech and Expression principles.
Show the listeners to your public speaking speech some flags of unknown countries, ask them what nation you mean and explain colors and symbols.
The extraterrestrial life stories and future theories from French author Jules Verne.
Etiquette and manners, how to cope with special situations, how to behave at official ceremonies you see enough public speaking speeches spicing humor.
Fashion styles and dress codes at parties and ceremonies.

See this page for a full list of Fun Informative Speech Topics .

5 Geography Informative Speech Topics

The antipodes – Places on Earth which are diametrically opposite to each other.
Cartography – How terrestrial globe spheres are crafted.
Climatology – Patterns in climate change, like rising temperatures and flooding.
Coasts – Types of coasts, deltas, sea cliffs and beaches.
What does the continental drift theory mean in vulcanology?

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics On Geography .

9 Government Informative Speech Topics

The role of accounting in the control of public expenditures in Nigeria.
What factors affect community participation in public meetings?
How difficult is it to run a country of 1.2 billion people?
Speeding cameras are meant to provide government money.
Should the President be paid while being in office?
The Federal government’s separation of powers.
Journalism is our weapon against corruption.
How a bill passes in state government.
The best city planning practices.

10 Health Informative Speech Topics

Steroids, antibiotics, sprays: are these things hurting us?
The effects of dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder.
Bigger isn’t always better: the effect fast food has on America.
The importance of proper stretching before a workout.
How to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free.
The different types of insomnia.
The causes and effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
The psychosocial aspects of organ transplantation.
Controversial ideas about whooping cough vaccines.
The reasons why stress and depression should be taken seriously.

See this page for a full list of Informative Speech Topics on Health and Fitness . We also have a page with Medical Topics and Psychology topics.

10 History Informative Speech Topics

past, present, future, time concept on blackboard

The beauty of ancient Egyptian art.
The most beautiful paintings in history.
The history of fashion.
The history of high heels.
The history of cosmetic makeup.
The history of Tibetan burial practices.
What Olympic events did ancient Greece have?
The history of swear words and their impact on society.
Words and their meanings that have changed with time.
Why dragons perform in Chinese New Year celebrations.

See this page for a full list of History Speech Topics .

16 International Relations Informative Speech Topics

Economic development and the role of the private sector in reducing poverty in Lesotho.
Tourism and remittances are the solutions for Tonga’s economic growth.
The military of the Philippines.
Is South Africa ready for a female president?
Can democracy bring stability to Pakistan?
South Africa is an amazing country.
The impact of U.S drone strikes.
The discovery of oil in Equatorial Guinea.
How to help refugees.
Why everyone should live in China.
The status of trade relations in East Africa.
The effects of the Dowry system in India.
Sri Lanka after thirty years of war.
Why Africa is underdeveloped.
The political system of India.
The purpose of the United Nations.

2 Language Informative Speech Topics

English is a link language for many parts of the world.
The origins of cliches.

6 Literature Informative Speech Topics

Inside the mind of Edgar Allen Poe.
How to write a book.
The three trials of Oscar Wilde.
The meaning of The House on Mango Street.
The history of vampires in literature.
The different types of poetry.

21 Media Informative Speech Topics

What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
How Spotify hurts new artists.
The benefits of watching less TV.
How the media has hurt our body image.
Books that were turned into terrible movies.
The benefits of reading a newspaper.
The basics of photography.
The history of the Titanic movie.
Some famous advertising campaigns.
The effects of misleading advertisements.
Some important women in the media.
The best foreign TV shows.
The benefits of satellite radio.
The best TV sitcoms.
Al Jazeera, the largest Arabic news channel is the Middle East.
How Disney produces and distributes short animated films.
The amazing stage performance of Christina Aguilera.
The love life of Jennifer Aniston,
The story of CNN International reporter, Christiane Amanpour.
The ten actors who played James Bond.
Top three worst Woody Allen movies.

9 Music Informative Speech Topics

The different types of marching bands.
The history of french horns.
The history of house music.
The evolution of rock and roll.
The beauty of reggae music.
Music as a “lifestyle”.
The best electronic dance music.
How to play the kazoo.
The beauty of Haitian music.

4 National Security Informative Speech Topics

How illegal things are smuggled into the country.
The United States military branches.
The importance of the Air Force.
The branches of the military.

10 Politics Informative Speech Topics

Should the U.S. restrict immigration?
The benefits of communism.
The most important women in politics.
Define the term foreign policy and offer current examples.
The delicate position of women and children in war torn societies and countries on the globe.
How issues on oil in Nigeria lift the oil prices worldwide.
How a free trade agreement works.
The major environmental problems in Australia.
National gun control statistics compared to the statistics of other countries.
The function of the Federal Reserve Board in maintaining a stable financial system.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics about Politics .

10 Psychology Informative Speech Topics

The benefits of greeting people.
Positive thinking is the key to peaceful living.
The meaning of dreams.
How to explain child geniuses.
Difference between empathy and sympathy.
How to be more sensitive for an emotionally insensitive person.
How to know a person’s true personality when we are so good at disguise nowadays.
Secrets about quiet people.
How to respond or take a compliment.
Why do people lie and how to deal with that.

See this page for a full list of Psychology Speech Topics .

12 Relationships Informative Speech Topics

How marriages today differ from marriages from the 60’s.
The secrets of happy and successful relationships.
How to choose the right relationship.
How to get along with your roommate.
The guidelines for military marriages.
How to make long distance relationships work.
The average age to get married.
How to talk to people when you have nothing to say.
How to recognize toxic friends.
Your Brain Falls in Love Not Only Your Heart.
Who Was and Is Cupid and Co.
All You Wanted to Know About Engagement.

10 Religion Informative Speech Topics

A comparison of Genesis and Revelation in the Bible.
Modern values are violating religious values.
How Christ is present in our world.
What percentage of the world’s population are Christians?
Why worshipping Satan isn’t a bad thing.
Why the bunny symbolizes Easter.
God helps those who help themselves.
A comparison of different religions.
The history of the Christian church.
The main principles of Christianity.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics on Religion and Spirituality .

10 Science Informative Speech Topics

The difference between an alligator and a crocodile.
Why whales should not be hunted for food.
Transhumanism and the evolution of the human race.
How we can create geniuses.
Falabella horses are the smallest in the world.
Why is the colonization of Mars important?
Albert Einstein’s contributions to science.
The isolation of nicotinic acid from tobacco.
The journey to becoming a nuclear physicist.
Some interesting facts about the human brain.

See this page for a full list of Informative Science Speech Topics .

31 Self-Help Informative Speech Topics

The difference between boundaries and limits.
The benefits of affirmation.
Three goals to strive for in life.
How to present yourself with confidence.
Why it’s important to be yourself.
How to manage your anger.
How to make a good first impression.
How to prepare for a job interview.
Your actions determine your future.
How to set goals and achieve them.
How to enhance your public speaking skills.
How to increase your motivation.
What makes life meaningful?
How to take your next big step in life.
How to construct an argument.
How to boost your self-esteem.
How to be happy being single.
How to avoid procrastination.
How to improve your manners.
How to be a good leader.
The importance of a good attitude.
How to be more romantic.
How to break bad habits.
How to overcome conflict.
Happiness: The thing we all look for but never really understand.
What it’s like to be falling in love.
What is love and what’s not.
The secret to resolving conflicts.
Dancing is your secret weapon for happiness and health.
Things to remember if you don’t want to die with any regrets.

10 School Informative Speech Topics

Schools should not make money by selling unhealthy candy and soft drinks to students.
Music with foul language in it should not be allowed at school dances.
Students should be able to listen to their MP3 players during class.
Students who commit cyberbullying should be suspended or expelled from school.
Boys and girls should be taught in separate classrooms.
Homeschooling produces better results than public schools.
High School will be the best time of your life.
Boys are lazier than girls.
All students should wear school uniform.
It is possible to Ace your way through High School.

See this page for a full list of School Speech Topics for All Grades .

10 Society Informative Speech Topics

Why it is bad to judge people by their appearance.
The lives of isolated indigenous people.
How to tell someone they are annoying you without being rude.
How human behavior affects society.
Left handed people: the underrepresented minority group.
Is the military a fulfilling career choice for women?
The effects of discrimination.
The importance of newspapers in our daily life.
Do actors and athletes make too much money?
Why I’m optimistic about our nation’s future.

See this page for a full list of Informative Society Speech Topics .

10 Sport Informative Speech Topics

Should female students be allowed to play on male sports teams?
How to do a walking handstand or a cartwheel into the splits.
Is netball or hockey more dangerous?
The benefits of sports for all ages.
Why the spelling bee shouldn’t be on ESPN.
The worst professional sports teams.
The importance of sports and games.
What you should have in your golf bag.
The history of professional fighting.
The worst trades in sports history.

See this page for a full list of Informative Sports Speech Topics .

3 Supernatural Informative Speech Topics

The mystery of the Bermuda triangle.
The evidence that bigfoot exists.
The existence of telepathy.

41 Technology Informative Speech Topics

How roads are built.
Is wind energy cheap, effective, and practical?
Why college students should be careful about what they put on social media.
The uses for artificial intelligence computer networks.
The danger of putting too much personal information on social networks.
Modes of communication are constantly changing.
How has social media impacted our daily lives?
The line between the human brain and a computer.
Why technology is a bad thing for growing minds.
How technology has destroyed human interaction.
How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
The advantages and disadvantages of social media.
The effects of violent video games on children.
The decline of interpersonal communication due to technology.
The difference between hardware and software.
Antivirus software: beware of malware functions.
The history of programming languages.
How voice over IP works.
What would we do without electricity?
The benefits of 3D printing.
The major technological changes since 1990.
The negative effects of cellphones.
How to avoid computer viruses.
The evolution of the internet.
Computers through the decades.
How airport biometrics systems work.
Robots now and in the future.
How satellites help communication.
How a water plant operates.
How watches work.
The evolution of video games.
How cellular phones work.
The evolution of the iPhone.
How to build a computer.
How nuclear power works.
How search engines work.
How air pressure works.
The best new technologies.
The future of electric cars.
How to practice cyber safety.
A guide to different social media sites.

15 Travel Informative Speech Topics

How students can find great vacation bargains.
The best cruise vacations.
Famous parliament buildings
How to test the quality of water when traveling.
Interesting underground railroad systems in capital cities.
Investigation shipwrecks at the bottom of the sea.
The benefits of wind tunnels on transport.
The discovery of the famous temples in the Maya culture.
The influence of global warming on Alpine skiing.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Wright Brother’s first flight.
Totem poles and obelisks are symbols of unity, tradition, and pride.
What you need to know about the Principality of Andorra.
Why is there a Titanic replica?
Why the unsinkable and invincible Titanic sank.

9 Workplace Informative Speech Topics

I Love to Work Pin Button Enjoy Job Career

The benefits of break time for nursing mothers in the workplace.
The prevalence of dangerous chemicals in the workplace.
How to survive working in a restaurant.
Why underwater welding is dangerous.
How it is to work in the fast food industry.
How to get a great internship.
How to become a comedian.
The most dangerous jobs.
What are the fastest growing careers?

List of Informative Essay Topics

14 college informative essay topics.

young student girl with books in library

Benefits of a college degree
Crimes on college campuses
Healthiest foods in the campus cafeteria
How students can stay safe on a college campus
How students can use eLibrary Curriculum Edition for research
How to beat senioritis
How to find cheap textbooks
How to pick a major
How to study for and pass a test
Saving money as a college student
The story of how your school was founded
Ways of preventing college dropout
Whether binge drinking is a problem on your college campus
Your favorite club or organization on campus

5 Demonstration Informative Essay Topics

How to bake a cake
How to knit a scarf
How to organize a closet
How to swing a golf club
How to train your dog

7 Easy / Simple Informative Essay Topics

A genre of music
America’s fastest growing cities
Breeds of dogs
How a computer works
Interesting cultures
Lesser known presidents
Natural disasters

9 Education Informative Essay Topics

How to choose a persuasive speech topic
How to deliver a funny informative speech
How to deliver a persuasive speech
How to maintain audience attention during a speech
How to win your audience with descriptive speech
How to write a persuasive essay
How to write an argumentative essay
How to write an expository essay
The difference between a thesis statement and a topic sentence

10 Fun Informative Essay Topics

An impressive world record
Fun games to play at the beach.
The history of ice cream
The revolution of the selfie
Ways different cultures celebrate Valentine’s Day
What do people do when they win the lottery?
What people don’t know about Disneyland
What you can learn from grade K students
What your horoscope means
Why people get tattoos

6 Funny Informative Essay Topics

funny kitten portrait with smile on card

Everything you need to know about skinny jeans
Funny St. Patrick’s Day parades
How to be nice to people you don’t like
How to cheat in poker
How to look attentive when you’re actually not
Things you can learn from your pet

See this page for a full list of Funny Informative Speech Topics .

10 Health Informative Essay Topics

All about gluten
Cause-and-effect relationship of air pollution
Causes of cancer
How caffeine works
How stress affects your body
How to make exercise a habit
How to quit smoking
Symptoms of Alzheimer Disease
Symptoms of depression
How to get rid of bad habits

6 Hobbies Informative Essay Topics

Hand made scrapbooking post card and tools lying on a table

Best places for scuba diving
Choosing your next book to read
Peace lily care tips
Professional baseball stadiums
The history of your favorite sport
Types of tropical fish

9 Interesting Informative Essay Topics

Effects of global warming
Exotic pets
How to perform an attention-getting first dance at your wedding
Near-death experiences
Places to see in northern Nevada
The biography of Clyde Tombaugh
The history of a cliche marriage ritual
What is your dog actually thinking?
What your handwriting says about you

See this page for a full list of Informative Interesting Speech Topics .

7 Life Informative Essay Topics

How to drive a stick-shift
How to pay off your student loans in under 10 years
How to succeed in multi-level marketing
The process of buying a car
Tips for being an effective networker
Traveling the world for cheap
Why people lie

7 Legislation Informative Essay Topics

Fees and taxes for an electric car
Minimum wage laws
The history of drinking age rules
What dogs are affected by breed specific legislation?
Anti-trust crimes.
Benefits of pleading guilty.
Felony penalties for aggravated stalking.

See this page for a full list of Legal Speech Topics .

10 Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics

A biography of your favorite celebrity
All about your favorite author
All about your favorite television show
Former childhood stars
History of your favorite product brand
Instances where the movie is better than the book
The Miss America pageant
The pop art movement during the 20th century and the changes it brought about
What makes a pop sensation
Your favorite form of public broadcasting

7 Relationships Informative Essay Topics

How to be a good friend

How to choose your friends
How to get along with your in-laws
How to make a marriage work
How to survive a blind date gone wrong
The different types of friendships
The history of online dating

Picking Your Topic

At first glance, an informative speech may seem like the simplest type of presentation . The basis of an informative speech is to introduce a topic to the audience and then describe or explain it . It sounds fairly straightforward, but special care must be given to selecting a topic or the entire speech may not be well received.

Informative speeches can easily become boring for an audience for several reasons. First, the speaker should be sure not to present a topic which is already well known, or the audience will quickly lose interest. The topic should be something the audience has never encountered, or at least include new and exciting information on a familiar topic. Speakers should remember, when preparing the speech, that their own level of interest will become apparent during delivery of the presentation. In other words, if the speaker is bored by the topic, the audience will feel bored as well.

Knowing the audience is a primary factor in choosing an informative speech topic. The speaker should consider the age, knowledge level, subculture, and other demographics of his listeners when preparing the speech. It is important to present information which is neither too elementary nor too difficult for the audience to comprehend. The chosen topic should reflect the interests of the audience, and should be intriguing to them without rehashing information they already know. For example, college students may be interested in a topic on alcohol use, but they are already very familiar with a topic like the dangers of drinking and driving. In this case the speaker might concentrate his topic on the health benefits of red wine. This way, he has chosen a topic which interests the audience, but is likely to present new information which will not bore his listeners.

Finally, speakers should consider time limits when choosing an informative speech topic. A topic should be covered thoroughly enough that the audience feels as if most of their questions on the topic have been answered. On the other hand, a tight time restriction may prevent the speaker from adequately covering a very intricate topic. When time is limited, a subject which requires lengthy explanation should be avoided. The audience should leave an informative speech feeling as if they’ve gained new insight on a topic. It is good if they are interested in doing their own research to learn more about the subject, but they should never leave the presentation feeling confused or unclear about what they have just heard.

Informative Speech Idea In 5 Steps

1. step one – make a list.

Make a short list of your personal interests and informative speech topic ideas. To help you determine your interests on an informative speech topic, think about your favorite objects, products, people, animals, events, places, processes, procedures, concepts, policies, theories, and so on. Answer these important questions:

Is there something you love to talk about, always have wanted to research?
What interests you very much, or do you like or love at first glance?
Do you have developed special skills in personal or professional life?
What interesting informative topics do you know a lot of or want to know more about?
What are some personal or professional experiences and skills in certain situations related to your favorite subjects?
Can you reveal hidden secrets, new perspectives or insights on some topics?

2. Step Two – Analyze Your Audience

Determine the interests and needs of your audience. What do they want to learn? Can you teach them on a subject you like?

3. Step Three – Check Your Interests

Review the short list of your interests and make a decision. Choose the informative speech topic that is also interesting to your audience. Take care of their interests, questions and needs.

4. Step Four – Research and Write

Research just one new single aspect of that informative speech idea. Look for valuable or amazing information that surprises your listeners. Fresh data, facts, intelligence, and advice will catch their attention immediately! To help you researching: look for new facts, figures, stories, statistics, surveys, personal experiences, professional experiences, quotations, comparisons and contrasts.

5. Step Five – Add Help Props

Demonstrate steps, stages, pros and cons, and remarkable effects by the use of public speaking software or other visual aids , that display the material you want them to be understood or remembered.

Informative Speeches FAQ

1. Speeches About Objects 2. Speeches About Processes 3. Speeches About Events 4. Speeches About Concepts

An informative speech is one that provides information and educates the audience on a specific topic. An informative speech should help your audience learn, understand, and remember information you are presenting.

1. Know your audience or reader 2. Consider your interests 3. Consider length requirements

You can see this page with speech examples .

Vote of Thanks Examples

613 Original Argumentative Speech Topics Ideas

15 thoughts on “509 Informative Speech Ideas and Topics”

Demonic Possession

Creativity is the Mother of Invention.

1-How to be a good friend: you have to do everything to make them happy, don’t snatch on them

2-How to choose your friends: Choose friends with similar values Choose friends with common goals

3-How to get along with your in-laws:1-Get to know them. … 2-Know your limits. … 3-Keep things cordial. … 4-Put your relationship first

4-How to make a marriage work

5-How to survive a blind date gone wrong 1-Ask open-ended questions. … 2-Tell a funny anecdote. … 3-Let your date talk. … 4-Answer questions fully. … 5-Listen to them carefully.

6-The different types of friendships

7-The history of online dating

the evolution of humans

school doesn’t need to exist

Nice compilations this is helpful

Hamburgers vs hotdogs

Chocolate Caffeine Grass is Greener on the other side April Fools Why teens should have a part time job or not

History of Tobacco

Effects of anxiety on teenage students.

how depression affects people and others around them

peer pressure and its effects on students

Different ways kids handle peer pressure.