Analyzing Informative Speech: A Case Study of Gettysburg Address

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, examining its use of informative speaking techniques, specifically speech of description and speech of definition. The analysis explores how Lincoln effectively described the context of the Civil War and defined the meaning of democracy. The essay highlights the appealing aspects of descriptive speaking, such as the ability to enable the audience to visualize the speech and connect with the speaker's message. It also addresses potential drawbacks, such as the risk of personal feelings influencing the description. Ultimately, the essay concludes that while the Gettysburg Address is a concise and impactful speech, simplifying the language could broaden its reach. The essay references scholarly works to support its analysis.

ANALYSIS OF SPEECH
The speech which is analysed here is the “Gettysburg Address” by the former
President of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln.
What was the form of informative speaking used in the speech you selected?
The selected speech falls under the categories “Speech of Description”, and “Speech
of Definition”, as the speaker attempts to both describe the context of the (civil) war, and
define the meaning of Democracy as he felt it.
How would you describe the form of informative speaking used in your own words?
In this speech, the speaker began with a brief into the historical aspects of why the
war was fought, and what is the outcome of it. He describes what the task is ahead for the
people. He also defines the concept of democracy, the way it is famously known today
(Schank & Carbonell, 1979). Thus the speech is mostly descriptive, and partly definitional.
What was the most appealing part of this form of informative speaking?
In descriptive speaking, the speaker has the opportunity to enable the audience
visualize the speech. In this speech, the President’s description of the soldiers’ sacrifice could
be visualized even by a person sitting far across the globe, in a different timeline. The
connect to the audience is the most appealing part of this form (Learning, 2019).
What was the least appealing aspect of this form of informative speaking?
While describing a concept, one tends to get carried away, and describe what one
feels, which might be at times different from what others tend to feel. Although in the
Gettysburg Address there was no such thing, this factor is a common drawback in descriptive
speeches.
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What would you have done differently as the speaker?
President Lincoln has given a very concise description of the outcome of the Civil
War in the Gettysburg Address. I do not think I can add anything to modify the speech.
However, I would simplify the language of the speech, in order to bring about a better reach.
REFERENCES
Learning, L. (2019). Types of Informative Speeches. CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking .
Schank, R., & Carbonell, J. (1979). Re: the Gettysburg address: representing social and
political acts. Associative networks , 327-362.
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