Chapter 12:Organizing Your Speech

COMM3Verderber, Sellnow, and Verderber

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning OutcomesLO12-1 Describe methods for developing the body of

your speech LO12-2 Explain how to create an introductionLO12-3 Explain how to prepare a conclusionLO12-4 Examine guidelines for listing sources LO12-5 Develop a method for reviewing the outline

© 2014 Cengage Learning

ACTION STEPS

Action Step 3Organize Ideas into a Well-structured Outline.

Organizing Your Speech

Organization• Although every speech should have an

introduction, a body, and a conclusion, not all speeches that have these components are well organized.

• Organizing, the process of structuring the material you will present in your speech, is guided by what you learned when you conducted your audience analysis.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Choose Main Points• The first step when organizing the body

of a speech is identifying the main ideas you want to share.

• Main points are complete sentences representing the two to four central ideas your audience needs to understand if you are to achieve your speech goal.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-1

Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a one- or two-sentence summary of your speech that incorporates your general and specific goals and previews the main points.

Learning Outcome 12-1

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Outline the Speech Body• Once you have chosen your main points

and written a thesis statement, you can begin to organize the information you want to present under each main point.

• Speech outlines are full-sentence written frameworks of the sequential and hierarchical relationships among the ideas presented in a speech.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-1

FIGURE 12.1Katie’s Speech Framework

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Outline Hierarchy• In most speeches, there are three levels of

hierarchy: • Main points• Subpoints• Sub-subpoints

• Writing your main points and subpoints in complete sentences will help you clarify the relationships between main points and subpoints.

Learning Outcome 12-1

© 2014 Cengage Learning

FIGURE 12.2General Form for a Speech Outline

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Organizational Patterns• An organizational pattern is a logical way to

structure information that makes it easy for an audience to follow what is being said.

• Four fundamental patterns are:– Time order– Narrative order– Topical order– Logical reasons order

Learning Outcome 12-1

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Subpoints

• Subpoints are statements that elaborate on a main point.

• A main point may have two, three, or even more subpoints depending on the complexity of it.

• Subpoints use supporting material—developmental material you gathered through secondary and primary research.

Learning Outcome 12-1

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Outlining Subpoints• Subpoints should be represented on your

outline in full sentences.• It helps to include internal references for

items of information you found in secondary sources.

• As with main points, subpoints should be revised until they are clearly stated.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-1

Transitions• Transitions are words, phrases, or sentences

that allow you to move smoothly from one point to another by showing the relationship between the two ideas.– Section transitions are complete sentences that

show the relationship between or bridge major parts of the speech.

– Signposts are words or phrases that connect pieces of supporting material to the main point or subpoint they address.

Learning Outcome 12-1

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Developing the Introduction

• Once you have developed the body of the speech, you can decide how to introduce it.

• An introduction is generally about 10 percent of the length of the entire speech.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-2

Developing the Conclusion

• Effective conclusions heighten the impact of a good speech by:– Summarizing the main ideas– Leaving the audience with a vivid impression

• Even though it is a relatively short part of the speech, your conclusion should be carefully planned.

Learning Outcome 12-3

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Summarizing Main Points

An effective speech conclusion includes an abbreviated restatement

of your thesis.

Learning Outcome 12-3

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Leaving a Vivid Impression

• A clincher is a short memorable statement that provides a sense of closure by driving home the importance of your speech goal in a memorable way.

• Two effective strategies for clinching are using vivid imagery and creating an appeal to action.

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-3

Compiling a Reference List• Regardless of the type or length of your speech,

you’ll want to prepare a list of the sources you used.• The two standard methods of organizing sources are:

– Alphabetically by author’s last name– By content category

• For speeches with a short list, the first method is most efficient.

• For long speeches with a lengthy source list, it is helpful to group sources by content categories.

Learning Outcome 12-4

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Reviewing the Outline

• After creating all of the parts of the outline, you must:• Put them together in complete outline

form • Edit them to make sure the outline is

well organized and well worded

© 2014 Cengage Learning

Learning Outcome 12-5