Chapter 15: Informative Speaking

Choose a Clear Organization and Structure

When people are presented with new information, they need to organize it in their minds in a way that makes sense to them. You can help them in this endeavor by organizing your speech around a clear and logical structure (McCroskey & Mehrley, 1969). Recall from Chapter 13 that there are a number of arrangements for presentations, including chronological, topical, and spatial organizations; problem–solution, cause–effect, and narrative patterns; and arrangements based on motivated sequences. Your choice of organizational pattern will depend on your topic, and every speech will have several organizational options.

IF YOUR SPEECH is on punk rock, you might organize it chronologically, moving from the Ramones to Green Day. (left) Sire Records/Getty Images; (right) Kevin Winter/Getty Images

For example, if you’re planning to deliver a speech on the history of punk rock, you might choose a chronological organization, beginning with mid-1960s’ garage bands and following through the 1970s’ peak with bands like the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, through the postpunk era, and ending with more modern punk-influenced bands like Green Day and the Libertines. But you also might find it interesting to approach the topic spatially, noting differences between American and British punk, or even causally, demonstrating how the form arose as a reaction to the popular music that preceded it as well as to the economic and political climate of the times. Table 15.2 offers some ideas for using organizational approaches to different informative topics, in addition to considering the approaches we discussed earlier (definition, description, demonstration, and explanation).

Table :

TABLE 15.2 TYPES OF INFORMATIVE SPEECHES, SAMPLE TOPICS, INFORMATIONAL STRATEGIES, AND ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS

Source: O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein (2012), p. 334. Adapted with permission.

Subject Matter	Sample Topics	Informational Strategy (definition, description, etc.)	Suggested Organizational Patterns
Speeches about objects or phenomena	Egyptian pyramids Pre-Columbian artifacts Mona Lisa El Niño wind patterns	Define and describe the object or phenomenon in question. Depending on your specific speech purpose, either conclude at that point or continue with an in-depth explanation or a demonstration of the object or phenomenon.	You might use a topical pattern if you are explaining the categories for Pre-Columbian artifacts. Conversely, you might use a chronological pattern if your speech focuses on a historical timeline of the artifacts.
Speeches about people	Celebrities Inventors Athletes Politicians British royalty	Paint a vivid picture of your subject using a description. Use explanation to address the person’s or group’s significance.	Narrative patterns could be useful for speeches about people since stories can include rich details about a person’s life. The chronological pattern can also be useful to describe someone’s life events or achievements.
Speeches about events	The terrorist attacks on September 11 The 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings	Use description to paint a vivid picture. Use explanation to analyze the meaning of the event.	You might use a chronological pattern for a topic focusing on events if time or sequence is relevant to your purpose.
Speeches about processes	How a hybrid car works How lightning forms How to sew or knit How to sync your data on your mobile devices	If physically showing a process, rely on demonstration. If explaining a process, vary strategies as needed.	Cause–effect patterns of speech organization are helpful in explaining processes of various kinds. Additional patterns of organization could include spatial or chronological.
Speeches about issues	Racial profiling Post-traumatic stress disorder Unemployment Police brutality	Focus on description and explanation.	Topical and spatial patterns can be particularly useful for speeches about issues (which can easily become persuasive).
Speeches about concepts	Art Patriotism Artificial intelligence Ethnocentrism Time travel	Focus on clear definitions and explanations; the more difficult a concept is, the more ways you will want to define and explain it. Vivid description can also be useful.	Consider topical organizational patterns for speeches about concepts, as well as the narrative pattern. The spatial pattern may also work well for your purposes.