9. Organizing Your Speech

1. AL AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES 9. Organizing Your Speech Lecture by Dr. Mohammed Ibahrine based on Clella Jaffe’s Public Speaking

2. 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

3. 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

4. Structure of the Lecture • 3. Alternative Patterns • 3.1. The Wave Pattern • 3.2. The Spiral Pattern • 3.3. The Star Pattern

5. Associative Statement • Organized thought is the basis of organized action Alfred North Whitehead

6. Thesis of today’s lecture: • Thesis: • Organization is about shaping things into patterns that make easy to understand and to remember

7. 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

8. Support each point with evidence • To support the major ideas of a speech, use • Facts • Examples • Quotations • Numerical information • Analogies

9. 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

10. Traditional Patterns • Traditional patterns can help you to organize a wide variety of topics: • Chronological • Spatial • Causal • Problem-solution • Pro-con • Topical

11. Traditional 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

12. Traditional pattern • 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

13. Traditional pattern • 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

14. Traditional pattern • 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

15. Traditional pattern • 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

16. Traditional pattern • 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

17. Traditional pattern • 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

18. Traditional pattern • 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

19. 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

20. Alternative patterns • 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

21. The Wave Pattern

22. Alternative patterns • 3.2. The Spiral Pattern • The spiral pattern is often useful for speeches on controversial various topics that build in dramatic intensity

23. The Spiral Pattern

24. Alternative patterns • 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

25. Alternative patterns • 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

26. The Star Pattern: