Informative vs Persuasive Speech: 8 Key Differences Explained

Whether you’re preparing a speech for a public speaking class or planning a presentation at work, understanding the main differences between informative and persuasive speeches is crucial for effective communication.

Both informative and persuasive speeches have a time and place in our day-to-day professional life.

However, the difficult part is knowing when exactly to choose informative vs persuasive speech styles.

Between presenting scientific data and delivering workshops, I’ve had to learn when to toggle between informative and persuasive speaking styles based on my message and audience.

And today, I’m sharing that with you.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly what scenarios work best for informative speeches vs persuasive speeches, and how each speech type impacts your audience. As always, I include real-world examples applicable to workplace settings.

What is an Informative Speech?

An informative speech imparts knowledge to the audience by providing useful information on a topic. Informative speeches are either instructional (for example, ‘how-to’ seminars and training sessions) or explanatory (for example, lectures or monthly reports).

The primary goal of an informative speech is to educate, explain, or clarify.

Informative speech examples:
– Lectures
– Training workshops
– Onboarding sessions
– Weekly updates or monthly reports

What is a Persuasive Speech?

A persuasive speech presents a specific point of view about a topic and encourages the audience to think or act differently as a result. Persuasive speeches typically contain supporting materials that further strengthen the presenter’s perspective. Examples of persuasive speeches include TED Talks, sales presentations, investor pitches, funding proposals, and so on.

The primary goal of a persuasive speech is to convince, influence, or prompt action.

As such, the speech ends with a clear ask — a call to action — to either approve, adopt, or act on something.

Persuasive speech examples:
– Project proposals
– Sales presentations
– Funding or budget proposals
– Investor pitches
– TED Talks

Informative vs Persuasive Speech: 8 Key Differences

The main difference between an informative speech and a persuasive speech is the purpose and intended outcome. While an informative speech mainly aims to help the audience understand a topic better, a persuasive speech aims to change their minds or prompt action.

Another prime distinguishing factor is the speech structure used. Informative speeches tend to organize facts chronologically (“step 1, step 2, step 3” or “before, during, and after”) or spatially (“regions of the world” or “parts of the human body,” and so on). Whereas, persuasive speeches typically use the problem-challenge-solution structure, i.e., start by outlining the problem, then examine the existing challenges in solving this problem, and finally, present a solution to the audience. 

Below, I’ve listed additional differences between informative and persuasive speeches upon taking several factors into account.

The 8 Key Differences Between Informative and Persuasive Speeches

How to Tell if a Speech is Informative or Persuasive? Tell-Tale Signs

Whether you’re listening to a speech or preparing for one, it helps to know the defining characteristics of informative or persuasive speeches.

Here are the tell-tale signs to quickly identify whether a speech is persuasive or informative.

(1) Tone: If the speaker uses an objective tone and presents facts, data, or stats, without needing to express personal opinions, the speech is likely informative. On the other hand, if the speaker openly takes a stance on a specific viewpoint, and then validates it with facts, data, or stats, you’re listening to a persuasive speech.

(2) Speech structure: If the speech starts by identifying a problem and then positions the speaker’s idea as the solution, you’re listening to a persuasive speech. Informative speeches simply organize facts in an easy-to-understand way, such as chronologically (step-by-step or timelines) or spatially (world map, “parts of the body”, and so on).

If an informative speech starts by presenting a problem, and then goes on to share a solution, this is done so in an objective, factual manner, with the primary goal of informing the audience of the solution.

(3) Call to action: Does the speaker include a ‘call to action’ in the speech? If so, it’s a persuasive speech. For example, he or she might say, “And this is what we need to do next…” This is a tell-tale sign that the speaker is persuading the audience to think or act differently. On the flip side, informative speeches end without asking the audience to do anything.

(4) Language used: Persuasive speeches tend to use phrases like “Consider the benefits of,” “Imagine if,” “I urge you to,” and “We must take action,” among others, compelling the audience to think or act differently. Meanwhile, informative speeches educate or explain ideas in a straightforward “did you know?” style.

(5) Reaction to speech: Upon listening to the speech, if you feel like “I need to do something,” it’s a persuasive speech. (You could also feel like you’re not yet ready to take any action, in which case, the persuasive speech didn’t quite persuade you.) Whereas, if you’re simply thinking, “Ah, now I understand better,” it’s an informative speech.

Can a Speech Be Both Informative and Persuasive?

Yes, a speech can combine both informative and persuasive elements. These types of speeches typically start by providing facts, data, or examples (informative), then shift towards encouraging the audience to act upon a ‘call to action’ or adopt a point of view (persuasive).

Common examples of mixed informative-persuasive speeches include: 

The State of the Union: Every year, the President of the United States delivers the State of the Union speech to Congress, providing updates about the country under the current administration. The speech contains informative elements such as statistics and data to highlight achievements in the past year. However, it also uses persuasive messaging to make citizens feel confident and hopeful about the future under the President’s leadership.

Annual company stakeholder meeting: The company leaders present an overview of the company’s yearly performance, covering key successes and challenges, along with market trends. This is the informative part. Subsequently, the leaders propose a new strategy or direction for the upcoming year and persuade the stakeholders to support the plan.

Industry-specific keynote presentations: The keynote speaker shares the latest research, useful case studies, and industry trends on the topic to educate the audience (informative), and then finishes off with a more persuasive style, asking the audience to adopt new technologies, engage in collaborations, or change their mindset about the topic.

Informative vs. Persuasive Speech: Which Style To Pick in Professional Settings?

You’ll likely encounter scenarios where you’ll use both informative and persuasive speaking styles, as well as a combination of each.

Typically, informative presentation styles are used for training sessions (for example, how to use a particular software), weekly updates, progress reports, or onboarding sessions. Remember, if all you’re looking to achieve is for your audience to learn something new, the informative speech style is your friend.

But more often than not, in workplace settings, you’ll notice that simply providing information isn’t always the primary goal. There’s always a “so what?” angle to consider.

Let’s say you’re training a team on how to use a new piece of software. It’s likely that you’re also required to encourage them to adopt this new system and discontinue any traditional manual practices. This now makes your speech persuasive.

Similarly, if you’re just providing weekly updates or a progress report, you’ll most likely need to include a “what next?” segment in your presentation. What steps are you proposing as a result of these updates? As you present this plan to your peers and superiors, you’re now in persuasive territory as you’ll likely need them to give you a thumbs-up and stay on board with your ideas.

The persuasive speech style applies to scenarios where you need to inspire action from your audience, such as project proposals, client presentations, sales presentations, budget approvals, and motivating team members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)