Strategic Organization

Putting a speech together in a

particular way to achieve a
particular result with a particular
audience.
 Organizing your speech
1. The importance to organize speeches clearly and
coherently.
 
2. Five major patterns of organizing main points in a
speech.
 
3. Guidelines for organizing main points.
 
4. Speech connectives and their roles in a speech.
Clear organization is essential to effective
public speaking
► 1. Research shows that well-organized speeches
are easier for listeners to comprehend.

► 2. Research shows that listeners find speakers

who give well-organized speeches more competent
and trustworthy.
 Clear organization is also connected to
critical thinking
► 1. Organizing speeches helps students
understand the relationships between ideas.

► 2. The skills of critical thinking used in

organizing speeches will benefit students in
many aspects of their lives.
 The main points
► 1. Speeches should have a limited number of
main points.
► 2. Most speeches contain from two to five main
points.
► 3. If a speaker discovers that she or he has too
many main points, the points should be
condensed into a few broad categories.
 Main points arrangement
► 1. Chronological: main points follow a time sequence
(historical events, a process, etc.)
► 2. Spatial: main points follow a directional pattern
(right to left, east to west)
► 3. Causal: main points show a cause-and-effect
relationship.
► 4. Topical order break the speech topic into its
constituent parts.
► 5. Problem-solution (for persuasive speech).
 Chronological Order
A method of speech organization in
which the main points follow a time
pattern.
 Chronological Order
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience when the
Great Wall of China was built.

Main Points: I. Building of the Great Wall began

during the Qin dynasty of 221-206
B.C.
II. New sections of the Great Wall
were added during the Han
dynasty of 206 B.C.-220 A.D.
III. The Great Wall was completed
during the Ming Dynasty of
1368-1644.
 Spatial Order
A method of speech organization in
which the main points follow a
directional pattern.
 Spatial Order

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about

the
design of the Eiffel Tower.

Main Points: I. The lowest section of the tower

contains the entrance, a gift
shop, and a restaurant.
II. The middle section of the tower
consists of stairs and elevators
that lead to the top.
III. The top section of the tower has
an observation deck with a
spectacular view of Paris.
 Topical Order
A method of speech organization in
which the main points divide the topic
into logical and consistent subtopics.
 Topical Order
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the
artistic versatility of Pablo
Picasso.

Main Points: I. As a painter, Picasso tested the

limits of abstraction.
II. As a sculptor, Picasso often
incorporated “found” objects.
III. As a printmaker, Picasso gave
vent to his whimsy and
eroticism.
 Problem-Solution Order
A method of speech organization in
which the first main point deals with
the existence and seriousness of a
problem and the second main point
presents a solution to the problem.
 Problem-Solution Order
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that
legislation is needed to control the
abuses of fraudulent fund-raisers.

Main Points: I. Fraudulent charity fund-raising

has become a widespread national
problem.
II. The problem can be solved by a
combination of government
initiative and individual
awareness.
 Causal Order
A method of speech organization in
which the main points show a cause-
effect relationship.
 Causal Order
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about
the
possible causes for the collapse
of Mayan civilization.

Main Points: I. Mayan civilization flourished for

over a thousand years until 900
A.D., when it mysteriously began
to disintegrate. (EFFECT)
II. Scholars have advanced three
major explanations for the causes
of this disintegration. (CAUSE)
 Tips for preparing main points
► 1. Keep your main points separate and distinct:
each point should focus on a single idea.

► 2. Try to use parallel wording in your main

points. It makes main points easier to understand and
to stand out from the details of the speech.

► 3. Balance the amount of time devoted to each

main point.
 Four types of connectives
► 1. Transitions indicate when a speaker has
completed one thought and is moving on to another.
► 2. Internal previews let the audience know what
the speaker will take up next.
► 3. Internal summaries remind listeners of what
they have just heard.
► 4. Signposts are brief statements that indicate
exactly where a speaker is in the speech or that focus
attention on key ideas.
 Identify the organizational method
► I. Cesar Chavez is best known for his efforts
to protect the rights of Hispanic farm workers in
California.

► II. Cesar Chavez was also a tireless advocate

for Hispanic racial and cultural pride in general.
 Identify the organizational method
► I. Rodeos began in the Old West as contests of
skill among cowboys during cattle roundups.

► II. By 1920 rodeos had become a popular

spectator sport for the general public.

► III. Today rodeos combine traditional western

events with a circus-like atmosphere and the
marketing techniques of big business.
 Identify the organizational method
► I. The outermost section of the ancient Egyptian
burial tomb was the entrance passage.

► II. The next section of the Egyptian burial tomb was

the antechamber.

► III. The third section of the Egyptian burial tomb was

the treasury.
 Introductions and conclusions
► Objectives of a speech introduction
► A. To gain the attention and interest of the
audience.
► B. To reveal the topic of the speech.
► C. To establish the credibility and good will
of the speaker.
► D. To preview the body of the speech.
 Methods of gaining attention
► 1. Relate the topic to the audience
► 2. State the importance of the topic.
► 3. Startle the audience.
► 4. Arouse the curiosity of the audience.
► 5. Question the audience.
► 6. Begin with a quotation.
► 7. Tell a story, an anecdote, a joke.
► 8. Refer to the occasion or to a previous speaker.
 Preparing an effective introduction
► A. Make the introduction brief and to the point.
► B. Keep an eye out for potential introductory
material as you research the speech.
► C. Be creative when devising their introductions.
► D. Don’t be concerned with the exact wording of the
introduction until the body of the speech is finished.
► E. Prepare it in detail so it can be delivered
effectively.
 A speech conclusion has two
primary functions
► A. The first function is to signal the end of the
speech.

► B. The second function of a conclusion is to

reinforce the audience’s understanding of or
commitment to the central idea of the speech.
 Methods of ending the speech
► a. Summarize the main points of the speech.
► b. Conclude with a quotation.
► c. End with a dramatic statement.
► d. Refer back to the introduction of the speech.

► These methods can be used separately or in

combination to create an effective conclusion.
► 
 Preparing an effective conclusion
► A. Keep an eye out for potential concluding
materials as you research the speech.
► B. Conclude with a bang instead of a
whimper.
► C. Be brief.
► D. Prepare the content and delivery of your
conclusions with special care.