9. Organizing Your SpeechLecture by Dr. Mohammed Ibahrine

based on Clella Jaffe’s Public Speaking

AL AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES

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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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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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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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Associative Statement

• Organized thought is the basis of organized actionOrganized thought is the basis of organized action

Alfred North WhiteheadAlfred North Whitehead

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Thesis of today’s lectureThesis of today’s lecture::

• Thesis:

• Organization is about shaping things into patterns that make easy to understand and to remember

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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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Support each point with evidence

• To support the major ideas of a speech, use

FactsExamplesQuotationsNumerical informationAnalogies

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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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Traditional Patterns

• Traditional patterns can help you to organize a wide variety of topics:

ChronologicalSpatialCausalProblem-solutionPro-conTopical

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Traditional pattern

• Chronological 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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Traditional pattern

• Spatial Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Causal Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Problem-Solution Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Problem-Solution Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Pro-Con Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Pro-Con Organization: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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Traditional pattern

• Topical organization: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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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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Alternative patterns

• 3.1. The Wave Pattern 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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The Wave Pattern

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Alternative patterns

• 3.2. The Spiral Pattern3.2. The Spiral Pattern

• The spiral pattern is often useful for speeches on controversial various topics that build in dramatic intensity

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The Spiral Pattern

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Alternative patterns

• The Star Pattern: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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Alternative patterns

• 3.3. The Star Pattern: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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The Star Pattern: