What is the primary characteristic of informative speeches?

The primary characteristic of informative speeches is to inform the audience about a specific topic. Their main purpose is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the audience regarding a particular subject matter. This can include a wide array of topics such as scientific concepts, historical events, or practical skills. The focus is on delivering factual information in a way that is clear and engaging, allowing the audience to gain new insights or learn something they did not previously know.

Other possibilities, like entertaining or persuading, serve different objectives. While there are certainly elements of storytelling and engagement in informative speeches that can capture an audience's attention, the primary goal remains education. Promotional messages, while they may inform, are inherently focused on encouraging the audience to take a specific action, which differentiates them from the academic or informative tone of an informative speech.