Organizing the Speech

1. Organizing the Speech

2. Choosing the Main Points • Can be self-evident based on topic • Why audience should become blood, organ, or marrow donors • Can be contextual • To inform the audience of the dangers of transporting animals via air • Point 1: Why animals are not always successfully transported • Point 2: Lack of laws governing the safe transportation of animals • Point 3: What can be done to change the law • Audience attention span: 4-5 points • Class: 3 points due to time constraints

3. Strategies for Organizing Body • Spatial/functional • Chronological • Causal • Problem-solution • Topical

4. Spatial/Functional Arrangement • Group points according to a proximity • Stages of construction • Foundation and Framing • Wiring, Plumbing, Ductwork • Finishing • Parts of a cathedral and their functions • Narthex • Nave • Transcept • Apse

5. Chronological Arrangement • All points follow a specific order that cannot be changed • Historical or time sequence • Anyone can air layer a plant by following four easy steps. • Step 1: Select a plant and branch • Step 2: Prepare air layer material and tie • Step 3: Water and wait • Step 4: Transplant newly developed plant

6. Causal Arrangement • States cause and resulting effect • Must be absolute • Medicare fraud affects everyone through • higher taxes and • higher medical costs. • Overwatering a lawn can be just as detrimental as under watering one. • Effects of under watering • Effects of overwatering • How to determine amount of water needed

7. Problem-Solution Arrangement • Present problem and describe solution • Background of how problem came to exist • Statement of problem and whom it affects • Exacerbating issues/sub-problems • Potential solutions • Best solution(s)

8. Topical Arrangement • Place items into logical groupings (can be ordered in any sequence) • Successful, healthy weight loss includes regular exercise. • aerobic • non-aerobic • Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina for vacation. • Beach vacations • Historic destination vacations • Hiking/camping vacations

9. Tips • No overlaps in points • Clearly distinguish among all points • Use consistent word patterning • Entire speech should incorporate same style • Equal time = equal importance • Balance time on each point

10. Transitions Connecting thoughts and introducing new ideas

11. Signpost • Alerts the audience to what comes next or tracks where you are: • “Here are three things you should do the next time you catch a cold.” • “First, you should…” • “Second, you should…” • “And finally,…” • Provides a sense of symmetry

12. Spotlight Focuses attention on what’s important: • “We have come to the most important thing I have to tell you.” • “If you take with you only one idea from this speech…” • “What I’m going to explain now will help you understand the rest of the speech.”

13. Bridge Connects two main points: • I. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsession with thinness and an extreme loss of appetite. • II. Bulimia nervosa involves recurring episodes of binge eating followed by extreme efforts to disgorge food. • “We have seen that anorexia nervosa is a very dangerous illness that can lead to death, but what about its close cousin, bulimia nervosa—is it also dangerous?”

14. Internal Summary • Reminds audience what you just discussed: • “By now I hope I’ve convinced you that all animal bites should be reported to a doctor or health official immediately because of the possibility of rabies. [Bridge] And while you’re waiting for an ambulance or an examination by a doctor, you should do one other important thing.”