CHAPTER 9: ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH

Arranging Main Points

Organizing Supporting Materials

Using Effective Connectives

STRATEGIC ORGANIZATION

Thoughtful arrangement of a speech to “achieve a particular result with a particular audience” (p. 166)

Its role in perceived speaker competence and trustworthiness

Evidence of critical thinking (Ch. 1)

Understanding the role of the intro, body & conclusion

MAIN POINTS

The central points developed in a speech

Typically 2 -5 points per speech

Choosing the main points May emerge from the specific purpose May be aligned with the type of speech

Condensing main points Consider the time limit Work toward clarity and precision

STRATEGIC ORDER OF MAIN POINTS

3 Factors Topic Purpose Audience

5 Organization Patterns – how main points are arranged Chronological Spatial Causal Problem-Solution Topical

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Main points follow a time pattern Historical How-to speeches

TRY THIS Civil Rights Movement Gun Control Going Solar

SPATIAL ORDER

Main points indicate direction Describe an object Discuss geography

TRY THIS Memphis Neighborhoods The Staffordshire Hoard ...

CAUSAL ORDER

Show a cause-effect relationship MP #1 = cause MP #2 = effect You choose the order to discuss them

TRY THIS The Greenhouse Effect Effects of Tobacco

PROBLEM-SOLUTION ORDER

MP #1 = Problem MP#2 = Solution Appropriate for Persuasive Speeches

TRY THIS Capital Punishment The Welfare System

TOPICAL ORDER

Divide Main Points into logical and consistent subtopics Most common pattern used to organize main

points Typology of a phenomenon Organizing a complex topic into thematic

categories

TRY THIS Social Networking Access Picasso’s Period Art

PREPARING YOUR MAIN POINTS

Keep Main Points Separate Balanced proportions for points (speech too) Back up each main point with supporting

material Use connectives to transition between points

Connectives – indicates relationship between main points

Transitions – word or phrase signaling movement from one thought to the next

TYPES OF TRANSITIONS

Internal Preview Signals what will be said

Internal Summary Signals what was said

Signpost Signals what is being said