Arrange Points in a Pattern

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Our understanding of a speech is directly linked to how well it is organized.13 Informative speeches can be organized using any of the patterns described in Chapter 13, including the topical, chronological, spatial, cause-effect, and narrative patterns. (Note that although the problem-solution pattern may be used in informative speeches, it often is a more logical candidate for persuasive speeches.) A speech about the Impressionist movement in painting, for example, could be organized chronologically, in which main points are arranged in sequence from the movement’s early period to its later falling out of favor. It could be organized causally (cause-effect), by demonstrating that Impressionism came about as a reaction to the art movement that preceded it. It could also be organized topically (by categories), by focusing on the major figures associated with the movement, famous paintings linked to it, or notable contemporary artists who paint in the style.

In a student speech on “How to Buy a Guitar,” Richard Garza organizes his main points chronologically:

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Buying and caring for a guitar involve knowing what to look for when purchasing it and understanding how to maintain it once you own it.

MAIN POINTS:
  • Decide what kind of guitar you need.
  • Inspect the guitar for potential flaws.
  • Maintain the guitar.
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    In a speech on the nonmonetary uses of gold, Krista Kim organizes her main points topically, dividing her points by category:

    THESIS STATEMENT:

    Although its nonmonetary value is generally unknown to the population at large, gold has many applications in medicine and science.

    MAIN POINTS:
    1. Gold has many unique and useful qualities.
    2. Gold has many applications in medicine.
    3. Gold has several applications in the NASA space program.

    Checklist: Possible Matches of Organizational Patterns with Speech Types

    Checklist: Possible Matches of Organizational Patterns with Speech Types

    Check the boxes as you finish each task, then use the link below the box to print the checklist.

    • Objects-spatial, topical
    • People-chronological, cause-effect, narrative
    • Events-chronological, cause-effect, narrative
    • Processes-chronological, narrative
    • Concepts-topical, circle, cause-effect
    • Issues-chronological, cause-effect, topical, circle
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