Organizing Your SpeechLecture #8

Why Organize?O Listeners can better comprehend

messageO Shows relationship between ideasO Audience knows what to listen forO Demonstrates preparation and

commitmentO Enhances your credibility

Three parts to every speech…

O IntroductionO BodyO Conclusion

BodyO Main Points

O Those few ideas that are most important for your audience to remember

O Supporting MaterialsO Sub-points designed to prove,

substantiate, or clarify your main points

How to select main points…

O Consider your purposeO Take your audience into accountO Select an appropriate number

Consider the following two sets of main points for a speech arguing that the government

should not censor radio programs that contain indecent language,

such as the Howard Stern show…

Version A Version B

1. The history of broadcast regulation

2. Background on the Howard Stern show

3. In a free society, people should be allowed to listen to the programs of their choice

1. In a free society, people should be allowed to listen to the programs of their choice

2. Listeners who find Stern offensive can change the station

3. Government censorship efforts can be abused

PURPOSEVersion B is the better set

of main points. Main points should always focus on the

purpose. In this case all three help support the

thesis that is being argued (unlike Version A).

Consider the following two sets of main points for a speech about backpacking tips…

Version A Version B

1. Choosing the right backpack

2. Remembering the essential equipment

3. Packing your backpack strategically

1. Coping with extreme elevation changes

2. Selecting light, nutritious food for week-long trips

3. Choosing optimal equipment for sub-zero temperatures

AUDIENCEBoth versions contain main

points that fit the topic. The question of which is better depends on the

audience (novice for A and experienced for B).

How many Main Points?

Purpose1

23

4

5

Make it manageable…O Check to see if you can combine

related or redundant MPsO Review your audience analysis and

decide if any MPs can be thrown out as ineffective

O Determine which MPs are most essential as audience take-aways and exclude others

O If you only have one, consider making it your thesis and use supporting points as main.

Supporting MaterialsO Use subordination

O Def: a hierarchy of points and their supporting materials (main, sub, sub-sub, etc.)

O Most easily implemented in an outlineO Types

O ExamplesO DefinitionsO TestimonyO StatisticsO NarrativeO Analogies

Arranging your main points…

O The structure in which you present your main points is crucial

O 8 basic types of organization

#1: Spatial PatternO Main points are adjacent to one

another in location or geographyO Effective with speech topics that can

be broken down into specific parts that are spatially related

O Ex: Anatomy lecture on human skeleton

#2: Temporal PatternO Information is presented in

chronological sequenceO Each main point covers a particular

point in a period of timeO Can help audience keep trackO Ex: Informative speech on WWII

#3: Causal PatternO Cause and effect relationshipO Helps audience understand the link

between particular events and their outcomes

O Can be multiple causes for one effect or a chain of cause and effect phenomena

O Ex: Persuasive speech on why healthcare in America has failed

#4: Comparison Pattern

O Organized around major similarities and differences between two events, objects, or situations

O Can help an audience learn about unfamiliar topics through common ones

O Ex: Comparison of newly discovered planets with those in our solar system

#5: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

O Best if you want your audience to take a certain action or support a policy

O MP1 discusses problems, MP2 shows their causes, and MP3 advocates for the proposed solution

O Ex: Persuasive speech on the importance of solar energy

#6: Criteria-Application Pattern

O Proposes standards for making a judgment about a topic

O Then applies those standards to the topic

O Ex: Best man toast (criteria for true love, application to newlyweds)

#7: Narrative PatternO StoryO Uses characters and plot lineO Still can have a thesis or purpose;

the story helps illustrate your pointO Ex: Smoking is bad for your health

#8: Categorical PatternO Each MP emphasizes one of the most

important aspects of your topicO GenericO Should be logicalO Ex: Interview speech on why you are

best for the job

Organizing your body…O Transitions

O A sentence that indicates you are moving from one part of your speech to the next (major and minor)

O SignpostsO Words or phrases that helps your audience

understand your speech’s structureO Internal Previews and Summaries

O Tell them what you are going to tell themO Tell themO Tell them what you told them

IntroductionO Gains audience attention (hook)O Signals the topic and purpose of

speechO Conveys the importance of the topicO Establishes your credibilityO Internal preview of main points

Without a good hook

you will lose the

fish!

ConclusionO Clear transition to conclusionO Internal summary of main pointsO Strong clincher

Finish with a bang!