Examples of Informative Speeches in Literature or Popular Culture:

Excerpt from Marie Curie's speech on the discovery of radium:

I could tell you many things about radium and radioactivity and it would take a long time.
But as we can not do that, I shall only give you a short account of my early work about
radium. Radium is no more a baby, it is more than twenty years old, but the conditions
of the discovery were somewhat peculiar, and so it is always of interest to remember
them and to explain them.We must go back to the year 1897. Professor Curie and I
worked at that time in the laboratory of the school of Physics and Chemistry where
Professor Curie held his lectures. I was engaged in some work on uranium rays which
had been discovered two years before by Professor Becquerel.***I spent some time in
studying the way of making good measurements of the uranium rays, and then I wanted
to know if there were other elements, giving out rays of the same kind. So I took up a
work about all known elements, and their compounds and found that uranium
compounds are active and also all thorium compounds, but other elements were not
found active, nor were their compounds. As for the uranium and thorium compounds, I
found that they were active in proportion to their uranium or thorium content.

President George W. Bush's address to the nation as the US attacked Iraq begins as an
informative speech:
My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages of
military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave
danger.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military
importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening
stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.
More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use of naval and air bases,
to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in
this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common
defense.

Reference: http://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/informative_speech_examples/384/

Sample persuasive speech

So I am in public speaking at college and my first informative speech is tuesday. I've decided to talk
about depression. I know.. its depressing.. but I kinda want people to know the symptoms and so they
can get help or at least understand it better. Heres basically what i'll be saying:

I am here to tell you that you are worthless, hopeless, and helpless. You are nobody, and your existence
means nothing. I will suck the energy and motivation out of you, until you no longer want to get out of
bed in the morning. I will affect every single one of your lives, whether it is through a loved one, such as
your mom, your uncle, or your best friend. Or some of you will experience me first hand. I have killed
many people each year, and I don’t discriminate based on age, gender, race, skin color, gender, or
religion. Who am I? I am depression.

Depression isn’t something to take lightly. Three of my friends lost their battle with depression and paid
the ultimate price: their lives, through suicide. And although it may not always lead to suicide, I can tell
you from personal experience that depression is a debilitating illness that can negatively affect you
mentally and physically.

Depression negatively affects a person mentally. A sad feeling is the most common and most widely
known symptom of depression, but it’s not the only symptom. Another symptom is a feeling of
worthlessness, which cause thoughts that you have no purpose, and that your life is not valuable.
Hopelessness and helplessness can make you feel like the depression will never go away and that you
shouldn’t seek help because there is nothing that will help you. Depression also causes a loss of
motivation to do daily tasks and a loss of pleasure or enjoyment in hobbies and activities you used to
enjoy. It can also cause loss of concentration.

Depression negatively affects a person physically. Some people experience a decreased appetite, which
can result in weight loss. This can create problems such as anorexia and vitamin deficiencies. On the
other hand, other people will experience an increase in appetite, causing weight gain. The problem with
this is obesity, which can cause joint pain and stress on the heart. It can also lead to diabetes and
hypertension. Depression can also cause widespread pain throughout your body. And it can even
weaken the immune system, making you more prone to illness.

So as you can see, depression is not just sadness. It can negatively affect you mentally, through feelings
of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness, cause loss of motivation and poor concentration. It
can affect you physically through changes in weight, sleep patterns, and lower your immune system. But
even though depression can cause you to feel helpless and hopeless, there is always help, and there is
always hope.

Sample persuasive speech

Sample ritual (Eulogy speech)

"Sorrow comes in great waves...but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us.it passes
and we remain." - Henry James

My Grandpa was a humble man; he never liked to be the center of attention. In life and now in death,
he wouldn't want us to focus on him. He wouldn't want us to focus on the sadness of his death, but
instead focus on the happiness in our lives. He would want us to appreciate each other and our
future.

A man as humble and loving as Grandpa will always be remembered by those of us who knew him
and loved him. Although we will miss him, his smile, his pranks, his love, we take consolation in the
good feelings of our memories.

I remember when I was a little girl, visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa would help us make
forts and haunted houses in the basement. After it was built he pretend to go do something but he'd
sneak back and scare us, or play tricks on us. And we'd shriek with fright but then laugh until our
faces were sore because we knew it was Grandpa having fun with us. Then we'd go upstairs for a
huge, delicious meal that Grandma would have prepared for us.

Every Christmas, Grandpa used to dress up as Santa, and sometimes even the Easter Bunny. I was
so excited when I saw him with a bag full of goodies. I would sit on his lap and I'd open the bag. It
was so much fun.

Whenever we would visit, Grandpa always played with us. We played board games, we'd have races
and he would show me how his tools worked and we would build things together. One time we built
a shelf that I hung up in my room, it's still there now. He was so much fun to be around, he loved to
laugh and to have fun and I adored him.

Grandpa always said that his grandchildren kept him young at heart. That made us feel good inside.
I can see that my father got his fun loving spirit from grandpa. He was a great teacher to have, not
only for my dad and us, but also for everybody. He was selfless and kind. He loved being a parent
and grandparent. It was his calling in life.

Grandpa, I will always miss you. But I have so many wonderful memories to hang on to. You were a
role model, and a friend. Your guidance and love will carry me through to the end of my days. I love
you Grandpa, until we meet again.