1. 9. Organizing Your Speech
AL AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES
9. Organizing Your Speech
Lecture by Dr. Mohammed Ibahrine
based on
Clella Jaffe’s Public Speaking

2. Structure of the Lecture
1. Organizing Your Main Points
1.1. Limit the Number of Points
1.2. Support Each Point with Evidence
1.3. Order Your Points Effectively
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3. Structure of the Lecture
2. Traditional Patterns
2.1. Chronological Organization
2.2. Spatial Organization
2.3. Causal Organization
2.4. Problem-Solution Organization
2.5. Pro-Con Organization
2.6. Topical Organization
2.7. Choosing the Best Traditional Pattern
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4. Structure of the Lecture
3. Alternative Patterns
3.1. The Wave Pattern
3.2. The Spiral Pattern
3.3. The Star Pattern
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5. Associative Statement
Organized thought is the basis of organized action
Alfred North Whitehead
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6. Thesis of today’s lecture:
Organization is about shaping things into patterns that make easy to understand and to remember
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7. Limit the Number of Points
We learn better when we portion blocks of information into three to seven major units
By limiting the number of points, your audience will remember your speech better
This explains why your telephone number is divided into three and four digit segments
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8. Support each point with evidence
To support the major ideas of a speech, use
Facts
Examples
Quotations
Numerical information
Analogies
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9. Order your Points Effectively
You must choose among a wide variety of organizational patterns that help organize your speech:
Move from
The general to the specific
The least expensive to the most costly
The nearest to the most distant options
This organisation depends also on the audiences
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10. Traditional Patterns
Traditional patterns can help you to organize a wide variety of topics:
Chronological
Spatial
Causal
Problem-solution
Pro-con
Topical
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11. Traditional pattern Chronological pattern:
is a pattern that presents points in time or sequential order
In a chronological pattern, the sequencing - what comes first and what follows – must occur in a given order
This pattern develops an idea as it transpires over a period of time
Biographical speeches
Historical Speeches (Forward progression or Backward progression)
Process
Stages
Cycles
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12. Traditional pattern Spatial Organization:
You can organize the points of your speech spatially by place or by location
It is less common, but it is good for speeches about places or about objects that are made up of several parts
You can use spatial organization when describing objects from top to bottom or side to side
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13. Traditional pattern Causal Organization:
People in the US culture tend to look for causes that underlie events
Choose a cause-effect pattern to discuss problems by examining the reasons underlying the problem (the causes)
And the implications they have for individuals or for society at large
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14. Traditional pattern Problem-Solution Organization:
In line with their core beliefs that life presents a series of problems to be solved
People in the US often approach PROBLEMS as challenges to understand and solve through knowledge and effort
Problem-solution pattern is common
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15. Traditional pattern Problem-Solution Organization:
In informative speeches, introduce your listeners to a variety of solutions
In persuasive speeches, it is most effective to propose several solutions
then focus on the one solution you believe should be implemented
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16. Traditional pattern Pro-Con Organization:
In the U S, speakers and audiences explore arguments both for and against controversial issues
Classify all the arguments in favor of the issue under the pro label, then list the arguments against it under the con label
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17. Traditional pattern Pro-Con Organization:
This organizational pattern works best in informative speeches
By presenting both sides, your listeners can weigh the evidence and evaluate the arguments for themselves
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18. Traditional pattern Topical organization:
If your material does not fit into any of these organizational patterns, arrange your points topically
A topical arrangement classifies the major points into topic or subdivision, each of which is part of the whole
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19. Alternative patterns
The traditional patterns are taught in public speaking classes
Alternative patterns provide a clear speech structure in a less linear form
Alternative patterns are commonly used by women and ethnic speakers
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20. Alternative patterns 3.1. The Wave Pattern
This pattern is repetitive and is characterized by variations of themes and ideas
Major points come at the crest
Follow each crest with a variety of examples, leading up to another crest, then repeat the theme or another major point
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21. The Wave Pattern
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22. Alternative patterns 3.2. The Spiral Pattern
The spiral pattern is often useful for speeches on controversial various topics that build in dramatic intensity
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23. The Spiral Pattern
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24. Alternative patterns The Star Pattern:
Each point in a star pattern is more or less equally weighted within a theme that ties the whole together
You have the flexibility of choosing where to start and what to emphasize, depending on what ‘s relevant for a specific audience
This pattern has the advantage of allowing you to make audiences adaptations
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25. Alternative patterns 3.3. The Star Pattern:
For hostile audiences, begin with your most conciliatory point
For inattentive audiences begin with your most dramatic point
The star pattern is common during election years
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26. The Star Pattern:
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