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Informational speech topics
- good informative speech topics by the 100s!
By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 08-05-2023
Informational speech topics ideas are literally everywhere. Anything, and everything, is potentially a good informative speech topic.
For example, look at the device you are reading this on. That smart phone, tablet, or lap top is a possible topic.
So is what you doing now - reading. How do people read?
Why do words, specifically ordered arrangements of letters, make sense?
See what I mean? As soon as you start to really think about it topic possibilities bounce out from everything!
So how do you choose a good one?
Choosing a good informative speech topic
The best way is to select a topic that genuinely interests you and you know will interest your audience.
You'll also want to make sure you can cover comfortably what you've chosen within the time limits you've been given.
Once you've got your topic, find an aspect of it, or an angle, that's appealing. Next add research, your personal experience, and use visual aids or props to illustrate it, where possible.
Good informative speech topics from Wikipedia
To get the 100s of informational speech topics below I began by visiting Wikipedia's main categories page.
From there I clicked around the thirteen principal headings opening links I found interesting, and then drilled down even further.
Using these informative speech ideas
I suggest you browse my suggestions and select a few possibilities for further investigation.
Please be aware that most are too broad to make a good topic for a speech. You'll want to narrow them down, to find a sub-topic, or even a sub-sub-topic, that's meaningful, and manageable within your speech time constraints.
How to narrow a broad topic down
For example here is the chain of steps leading me to the subject organic farming. (And that topic is too broad as well and will need further refining.)
The first step was opening Technology and applied sciences on main categories page. From there I opened Agriculture. Then Agriculture by type. And then Organic farming.
Sub-topics arising from Organic farming could easily spark an interesting speech, or they could be further refined even further, to a sub-sub-topic. Here are some sub-topic possibilities:
- crop rotation
- companion planting
- pest management
- weed control
- composting
- animal welfare
- organic certification
- health benefits of organic farming
- the spread of organic farming
- permaculture ...
And if we narrow down the sub-topic companion planting we get a collection of sub-sub-topics. For instance:
- pest control with companion planting
- history of companion planting
- commonly used companion plants
What makes an informative speech
The key to an informative or informational speech lies in its title.
The word 'informative' means to inform, instruct or enlighten. Inform in this sense does not include giving your opinion.
An informative speech is a balanced factual presentation of the topic uncolored by your personal emotional response or judgement.
For example, if the topic is 'Raising the Drinking Age', what I personally think about it, good, bad or indifferent, is completely irrelevant. The addition of personal bias to an informational speech topic changes it to a persuasive one.
For more see 4 types of informative speech: definition, description, demonstration and explanation. You'll find example outlines, suggestions for topics and the 7 key characteristics of these speeches. It's vital reading if you want to give an effective informative speech.
Informational speech topics: Agriculture
Organic farming, animal husbandry, bee keeping, dairy farming, cropping, agricultural chemicals, agricultural environmental issues, history of agriculture, urban agriculture, corporate farming, sustainable agriculture, factory farming, mono-cropping, astrological farming, farm machinery, life-style farming, ranching, hydroponics, orcharding, share-cropping ...
Good informative speech topics: Applied Sciences
Aeronautics: air traffic safety, history of aviation, gliders, ballooning, kites, rockets, aircraft design, weather and flight, military aircraft, famous aviators...
Archaeology: ancient Roman city planning, Egyptology, ancient civilizations (Etruscans, Babylonia, Mayan, Incan, Vedic), archaeology of death, treasure, treasure hunting, systems of preservation, famous finds...
Architecture: history of architecture, sustainable architecture, landscape architecture, environmental design, famous architects, building materials, building practice, religious architecture, corporate architecture, building restoration, housing styles...
Computer Science: artificial intelligence, computer graphics, computer security, software development, operating systems, history of computing...
Engineering: history of engineering, cloud engineering, industrial engineering, engineering psychology, famous engineers...
Ergonomics: development of user-friendly chairs, keyboards, desks...
Food Science: food engineering, food processing, food coloring, food allergy, baking, food labeling regulations, food fashion, fast food, history of fast food, cultural foods, celebratory foods, food preservation...
Forensics: history of forensic science, forensic science in popular culture (TV, film and literature)...
Health Sciences: altitude training, dentistry, audiology, global infectious diseases, genetic inheritances, nutrition, medicine, medical research, history of medicine, veterinary medicine...
Horology (the science of time keeping): history of time keeping, development of clocks, types of clocks, famous clocks...
Industrial design: design development, famous products (Apple), packaging, branding, emotional design, form v function, famous designers, computer-aided design...
Applied linguistics: dyslexia research,teaching reading, language acquisition, language and meaning, second languages...
Maintenance: automobile maintenance, bridge disasters, engineering failures, software maintenance, survival analysis...
Management: change management, emergency management, hospitality management, performance management, project management, risk management, time management, waste management...
Measurement: history of measurement, systems of measurement, instruments for measurement...
Military science: command and control, military intelligence, command hierarchy, military history, military education and training, military logistics, military strategy...
Pharmaceutical sciences: pharmacology, drug discovery, Food and Drug Administration, medicinal herbs and fungi, bio-pharmaceuticals...
Applied psychology: consumer behavior, behavioral economics, cognitive therapy, community psychology, counseling psychology, educational psychology, health psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, job performance, legal psychology...
Sports science: sports medicine, physical education, influence of sporting heroes...
Technology: technical communication, history of technology, technology evangelism, medical technology, mobile technology, technology in society, technology development...
Informational topics from the classification Arts
Arts: performing arts, acting, actors, buskers, circuses, comedians, dance, drama, performing arts education, magic (illusion), musical theater, opera, storytelling, tragedy...
Crafts: Arts and Crafts Movement, basket weaving, bead work, calligraphy, drawing, glass art, hat making, illustration, leather-working, metalworking, origami, paper-making, photography, pottery...
Literature: inspirational literature, literary hoaxes, history of literature, literature by women, oral literature, outsider literature, religious literature...
Arts occupations: animator, arts administration, comic book creator, computer games artist, creative director, fashion design, floral design, food stylist, set dresser, window dresser...
Visual Arts: art history, art genres, art conservation , art crime, art materials, art museums, artists, famous artists, famous art works, art hoax, high art, feminist art, art styles, art periods, art themes...
Topics from the classification Belief & more
Belief: philosophy, doctrine, spirituality, scientific fallacy, creeds, faith, cultural difference, history of philosophy, belief change...
Speech topics from the classification Business
Business: business belief, business administration, entrepreneurship, business ethics, business law, business failure, family businesses, small business, business models, business organizations, globalization, finance, promotion and marketing communications, business qualifications, mergers and acquisitions...
Topics from the classification Culture
Culture: anarchist culture, ethnic cultures, drinking culture, food culture, multiculturalism, cultural mythology, popular culture, religious culture, highbrow culture, subcultures, rites of passage, cultural trends...
Topics from the classification Education
Education: educational issues, philosophy of education, history of education, religion and education, gender and education, teaching...
Topics from the classification Environment
Environment: environmental issues, environmental terrorism, environmental restoration, environmental management...
Get a hand putting your speech together
Click the link for more about how to write a speech or to download a printable blank speech outline form. This template will help you organize your ideas efficiently and quickly.
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