2. Chapter 7 Organizing the Speech Body
Presentation Package Prepared By:
Erin E. Baird
University of Oklahoma
This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

3. Overview WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES CAN YOU USE IN YOUR SPEECH?
HOW DO YOU MAKE A SPEECH OUT OF A STRATEGY?

4. What Organizational Strategies Can You Use in Your Speech?
In any speech, the strategy you use to order your main points can make or break your argument.
The strategy you use can assist or hinder your audience's learning about or appreciating a person, animal, place, event, object, concept, issue, or process.
When you select a strategy, you will consider which one works best with your general purpose, the topic, and the audience.
Photo Credit: © Corbis Super RF/Alamy
7-4
DK Guide to Public Speaking, Second Edition
Lisa A. Ford-Brown
Copyright © 2014, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

5. Chronological PROCESS SPEECH: TIMELINE SPEECH:
Walks listener through each step of topic
TIMELINE SPEECH:
Each point proceeds from oldest to most recent, or most recent to oldest
Chronological—when you need to move through steps in a process or develop a timeline.
Discussion Question: Can you think of an example of a speech that would use a chronological strategy?

6. Process Example Specific Purpose:
To inform audience about how to "upcycle" a piece of furniture
Step 1: Prepare the piece for refinishing by cleaning and sanding the existing finish.
Step 2: Apply a primer coat of paint and let dry for 24 hours.
Step 3: Apply a coat of paint and let dry.
Step 4: Sand the finish again, before applying the second coat of paint to ensure a smooth finish.
<<CLICK>> Steps in a process might work like this

7. Timeline Example Specific Purpose: To inform audience
1970s: Foundation Years
1980s: First shuttle missions
1990s: True power of shuttle, but also disaster
: Retiring shuttle fleet
Specific Purpose: To inform audience
about the Space Shuttle program
<<CLICK>> Creating a timeline might work like this

8. Topical Use when there is a strong division of sub-topics
Each main point addresses a different sub-topic
All sub-topics logically connect to main topic
Topical — when there is a strong inherent or traditional division of subtopics within the main topic.
Main points can go in any order and this organizational style allows for the most freedom.
Discussion Question: Can you think of an example of a speech that would use a topical strategy?

9. Topical Example Specific Purpose:
To inform audience on the Global Seed Vault
Mission
Location
Seed Types
Topical might work like this.
<<CLICK>> for organizational pattern example

10. Spatial Used to discuss topics in relationship to Physical setting
Natural environment
Proximity
Spatial—recognizes space as a way to arrange the speech.
Often used for descriptions of a place or directions on how to get somewhere.
7-10
DK Guide to Public Speaking, Second Edition
Lisa A. Ford-Brown
Copyright © 2014, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

11. Spatial Example Specific Purpose:
To inform audience about "must-sees" at the Louvre
Ground floor: Aphrodite, known as "Venus de Milo"
1st Floor: Mona Lisa
2nd Floor: Portrait of the Marquise de Pompadour
Spatial might work like this
<<CLICK>> for organizational pattern example

12. Causal Helps audience understand cause and effect
Traces the path that leads to a result
Or backtracks from effect to cause
Causal—when you want your audience to understand the cause and effect or consequence of something
Typically used in persuasive speeches
7-12
DK Guide to Public Speaking, Second Edition
Lisa A. Ford-Brown
Copyright © 2014, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

13. Causal Example Physical inactivity Poor eating habits
Parental influences
Advertising
Specific Purpose:
To inform audience about the causes of the childhood obesity epidemic
A causal organization might work like this
<<CLICK>> sample

14. Comparative Comparative
Compare and contrast
With informative speaking, compare your topic to something the audience knows
With persuasive speaking, use comparative advantage
<<CLICK>> Comparative— compare and contrast
<<CLICK>> With informative speaking, compare your topic to something the audience already understands.
<<CLICK>> With persuasive speaking, show how one thing is better than another

15. Comparative Example 1. Positive qualities over automatic brewers
Specific Purpose:
Convince audience to
drink to French press coffee
1. Positive qualities over automatic brewers
2. Taste is better
3. More health benefits
Comparative organization might work like this
<>CLICK>> sample
7-15
DK Guide to Public Speaking, Second Edition
Lisa A. Ford-Brown
Copyright © 2014, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

16. Problem-Solution Problem-Solution
Shows audience how to solve a problem
Used in persuasive speeches
May need more than two main points
<<CLICK>> Since problem-solution shows your audience how to solve a problem,
<<CLICK>> this arrangement is suited for persuasive speaking.
<<CLICK>> Some problem-solution speeches may need more than two main points.
Discussion Question: Can you think of an example of a speech that would use a problem-solution strategy?

17. Problem-Solution Example
(problem) "Mom and Pop" shops are closing.
Specific Purpose:
Convince audience to shop at small businesses
(solution) Do most of your shopping at independently owned retailers.
<<CLICK>> Problem-solution organization might work like this

18. Monroe's Motivated Sequence
Monroe's Motivated Sequence is really a more detailed problem-solution strategy based on what motivates the audience to act and is often used in advertising.
There are five steps to Monroe's Motivated Sequence:
Attention—grab your audience's attention
Need—establish a need they have or a problem they need to solve
Satisfaction—you propose the solution and support it as the best option
Visualization—illustrate how your solution would satisfy their need
Action—call them to action or tell them what they must do to achieve the solution you suggested
Discussion Question: Can you think of an example of a speech that would use a Monroe's Motivated Sequence strategy?
(Most commercials and infomercials can be dissected with Monroe's Motivated Sequence.)

19. How Do You Make a Speech Out of a Strategy?
Photo Credit: © Jeff Greenberg

20. Select a Strategy Will the strategy work with your general purpose?
Does your topic suggest a strategy?
What are your goals for your audience?
What organizational strategies can you use in your speech?
When you select a strategy, you will consider which one works best with your general purpose, the topic, and the audience. There are often different strategies that will work for the same topic.
Questions to ask:
<<CLICK>> Will the strategy work with your general purpose? (to inform vs. to persuade)
<<CLICK>> Does your topic suggest a strategy?
<<CLICK>> What are your goals for your audience? (Do they need to understand an element before moving to the next?)

21. Discover Your Main Points
Make a list of points you want to convey in your speech
Remember the specific purpose of your speech
Group these notes under common themes
Study themes and choose 2-5
Sometimes you are not ready to choose a strategy until you discover your main points.
<<CLICK>> Make a list of what you want to express in your speech.
<<CLICK>> Return to your specific purpose to make sure you are staying true to your goal.
<<CLICK>> Group these notes under common themes.
<<CLICK>> Select 2-5 important themes as your main points.

22. Create Your Main Points
Use complete sentences
Include one idea in each point
Use declarative sentences
Adhere to coordination
Observe parallelism
<<CLICK>> Complete sentences helps you think in complete thoughts when you give the speech
<<CLICK>> Use only one idea in each main point. Avoid words such as and, or, or but.
<<CLICK>> Simply state a fact or argument, and do not ask your audience to take action.
<<CLICK>> Coordination: they should relate to the specific speech purpose and be balanced and equal to other main points.
<<CLICK>> Parallelism: arrange your words, phrases, or sentences in a similar pattern which can help your main points stand out

23. Expand with Subpoints Subpoints elaborate on each of the main points
Their job is to clarify, emphasize, or provide detail for the main point they support

24. Common Organizational Problems
The strategy does not fit topic or audience
The speaker abandons his/her strategy mid- speech
There are too many main points
There isn't enough time for the body of the speech
Not enough time is spent on each main point
Common organizational patterns include:
<<CLICK>> The strategy does not fit the topic or audience.
<<CLICK>> The speaker abandons his/her strategy mid-speech.
<<CLICK>> There are too many main points.
<<CLICK>> There's not enough time for the body of the speech.
<<CLICK>> The speaker is spending too much time on one or two main points and cannot cover the rest efficiently.
To prevent or solve this, consider what your audience needs and what is dictated by the general purpose, specific purpose and central idea and choose again

25. Speech Video: Ariel Thorne, Banned Books
Have students outline this speech as they watch. Have students focus on the type of organizational pattern she uses, as well as her subpoints.
Click on the screenshot to view a video of a speech on banned books.

26. Topical Spatial Refutation Order of intensity
When helping someone find a street address, which organizational strategy should you use?
What Do You Think?
Topical
Spatial
Refutation
Order of intensity
<<CLICK>> for answer: B. Spatial

27. Your general purpose Your topic Your audience All of the above
What should you have in mind as you select the best strategy for your speech?
What Do You Think?
Your general purpose
Your topic
Your audience
All of the above
<<CLICK>> for answer: D. All of the above

28. What organizational strategies can you use in your speech?
Review Question
Chronological
Topical
Spatial
Causal
Comparative
Problem-Solution
Monroe's Motivated Sequence
<<CLICK>> for answer
See pp

29. How do you make a speech out of a strategy?
Review Question
Work with your general purpose, topic, and audience needs
Find 3−5 main points that fit
Create your main points
Expand on your main points with subpoints
<<CLICK>> for answer.
See pp