Chapter 3.12: Organizing the Speech

Organizing the Speech Organizing the speech (arrangement) is the strategic process of deciding how to order speech points into a coherent and convincing pattern for your topic and audience. Speech is composed of three general parts Introduction- establishes the purpose of the speech and shows relevance to the audience Body- presents main points that are intended to fulfill the speech purpose Conclusion- ties the purpose and the main points together.

Main Points Main points the key ideas and major themes of the speech; use the specific purpose and thesis statements as guides to help generate main points Restrict number of main points (2 to 5) Limit and narrow main points Restrict to a single idea Main points should be stated in parallel form (similar grammatical form and style) whenever possible (pg. 193) Main points should reflect back to the purpose statement to keep the audience on track

Supporting Points: Substantiating the Claim Supporting points represent the supporting material you have gathered to fill out or justify the main points and lead the audience to accept the purpose of the speech. Supporting points appear in subordinate position to main points indicated by indentation on outline. The roman numeral outline is the most common format

Principles of Organizing main and supporting points A well-organized speech is characterized by unity, coherence, and balance. A speech exhibits unity when it contains only those points that are implied by the purpose and thesis statement. Coherence refers to clarity and logical consistency. Coherence can be ensured by adhering to the principle of coordination and subordination- the logical placement of ideas relative to their importance to one another. The principle of balance suggests that appropriate emphasis or weight be given to each part of the speech relative to the other parts and to the theme.

Transitions Transitions are words, phrases, or sentences that tie the speech ideas together and enable the speaker to move smoothly from one point to the next. Full-sentence transitions are effective when moving from one main point to another (pg. 98) Conjunctions or phrases (signposts) can be effective (pg. 99) Restate-forecast form- the transition restates the point just covered and previews the point to be covered next (pg. 99) Transitions can also be stated as rhetorical questions-do not invite actual responses (pg. 102) Previews are transitions that tell the audience what to expect next. The preview statement describes what will be covered in the body of the speech In the body, internal previews can be used to alert audience members to ensuring main points. The internal summary draws together ideas before proceeding to another speech point.

Chapter 3.13: Selecting an Organizational Arrangement

Types of Organizational Arrangements Arranging speech points topically- the topical pattern of arrangement (categorical pattern) is used when each of the main points is a subtopic or category of the speech topic Arranging speech points chronologically- the chronological pattern of arrangement (temporal pattern) follows the natural sequential order of the main points Arranging speech points using a spatial pattern- the spatial pattern of arrangement suggests that main points be arranged in order of their physical proximity or direction relative to each other Arranging speech points using a causal (cause-effect) pattern- the speaker relates something known to be a “cause” to its “effects:” known as a causal (cause-effect) pattern of arrangement Arranging speech points using a problem-solution pattern- the problem-solution pattern of arrangement organizes main points both to demonstrate the nature and significance of a problem and to provide justification for a proposed solution

Types of Organizational Arrangements Arranging speech points using a narrative pattern- the narrative pattern of arrangement consists of a story or a series of short stories, replete with characters, settings, plot, and vivid imagery. Arranging the speech points using a circular pattern- circular pattern of arrangement, the speaker develops one idea, which leads to another, which leads to a third, and so on, until he/she arrives back at the speech thesis.

Chapter 3.14: Outlining the Speech Plan on creating two outlines A working outline (preparation outline) helps you refine and finalize the specific purpose and thesis statements, firm up and organize main points, and develop supporting materials to substantiate them. A speaking outline (delivery outline) is used when practicing and presenting the speech. Ideas in condensed form

Types of Outline Formats The sentence outline format- each main point and supporting point is stated in sentence form as a declarative sentence The phrase outline format- uses partial construction of the sentence form of each point, instead of using complete sentences that present precise wording for each point. The key-word outline format uses the smallest possible units of understanding associated with a specific point to outline the main and supporting points.

Create a working outline first Separate the introduction and conclusion from the body Prepare the body first List your sources Create a title

Prepare the speaking outline Condense full sentences into key words Clearly indicate delivery cues Delivery cues are brief reminder notes Practice the speech See page 121 for detailed steps