Arrange Speech Points in a Pattern

Informative speeches can be organized using any of the patterns described in Chapters 12 and 26, including the topical, chronological, spatial, cause-effect, comparative advantage, 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.)

TABLE 23.3 Communicating Information to Different Types of Learners

Type Advice for Communicating Information
Visual Will most easily grasp ideas communicated through pictures, diagrams, charts, graphs, flowcharts, or maps.
Aural Will most easily grasp ideas communicated through the spoken word, whether in live lectures, tapes, group discussions, or podcasts.
Read/Write Will most easily grasp ideas communicated through text-based delivery, handouts, or PowerPoint with text-based slides.
Kinesthetic Will most easily grasp ideas communicated through real-life demonstrations, simulations, movies, and hands-on applications.

There are any number of ways to organize the various types of informative 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 (subpoints, as discussed in Chapter 12, can assume a different pattern than that of main points). It could be organized causally (cause-effect), by demonstrating that it 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, and notable contemporary artists who painted in the style.

Following are some possible pairings of speech types and organizational patterns:

Objects—spatial, topical

People—topical, narrative, chronological

Events—topical, chronological, causal, narrative

Processes—chronological, spatial, causal

Concepts—topical, causal

Issues—topical, chronological, causal

In a speech describing how to buy a guitar, Richard Garza organizes his main points chronologically:

THESIS STATEMENT: Buying and caring for a guitar involves knowing what to look for when purchasing it and understanding how to maintain it once you own it.
MAIN POINTS:
  1. Decide what kind of guitar you need.
  2. Inspect the guitar for potential flaws.
  3. Maintain the guitar.

In a student speech on using radiofrequency waves to cure cancer, David Kruckenberg organizes his main points topically, dividing his points by categories:

THESIS STATEMENT: An engineer outside of the medical establishment discovers how to refine a medical procedure called radiofrequency ablation, potentially making it a critical tool in the fight against certain kinds of cancer.
MAIN POINTS:
  1. Radiofrequency ablation, as currently practiced to treat cancer, poses risks to patients.
  2. Kanzius’s invention uses nanoparticles to improve upon ablation.
  3. Kanzius’s discovery is currently being tested in several large medical research centers.

GUIDELINES FOR CLEARLY COMMUNICATING YOUR INFORMATIVE MESSAGE

In your introduction, tell audience members what you hope they will learn by listening to you.

  • imageStress the topic’s relevance to your listeners.
  • imageUse definition, description, explanation, and demonstration to convey your ideas.
  • imageUse analogies to make your examples familiar to the audience.
  • imageChoose an organizational pattern based on your communication goals, the nature of your topic, and the needs of your audience.
  • imageUse presentation aids to reinforce your points.