Clarifying Options
An informative speech also can reveal and clarify options for action. Information expands our awareness, opens new horizons, and suggests fresh possibilities. Information can also help us discard unworkable options. The better we understand a subject, the more intelligent the choices we can make on issues that surround it. For example, what should we know about obesity? Infomative speeches may tell us about the consequences of doing something or nothing to correct this condition. They may teach us about the medical soundness of different diets. They may also inform us about the roles of exercise and counseling in weight control. Such information would expand our options for dealing with obesity.
Informative speakers carry a large ethical burden: They must communicate responsible knowledge of their topics. A responsible informative speech should cover all major positions on a topic and present all vital information. Although speakers may have strong feelings on a subject, it is unethical to deliberately omit or distort information that is necessary for audience understanding. Similarly, speakers who are unaware of options or information because they have not done the research that will make them aware also are irresponsible. As you conduct your research, seek out material from sources that present different perspectives. The two speeches on the teaching profession mentioned earlier demonstrate potential abuses of the option-clarifying function of informative speaking. If the speeches are presented as rep resentative of teaching as a career, then both speakers are guilty of overgeneralizing from limited personal experience.