Organizing Fact Claims

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If you’re planning to make a fact claim, you will be seeking to prove that something is true or false. In this type of persuasive speech, consider using a causal or categorical pattern, depending on the main points you’ll be presenting.

Causal Pattern. Many fact claims argue that one thing causes another. If this describes your fact claim, a causal pattern is ideal. To illustrate, here is how a presenter might organize a speech claiming that fast food causes health problems:

THESIS Fast-food restaurants are a significant cause of health problems in the United States.

MAIN POINTS

  1. Low prices encourage frequent fast-food consumption.

  2. Fast-food meals are high in fat and calories.

  3. High-fat, high-calorie foods cause obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

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Categorical Pattern. Sometimes each main point in your speech will reflect a different reason that you believe your fact claim to be true. In this case, you can use a categorical pattern to organize your presentation. Consider the following example from a speech intended to convince listeners that climate change is actually happening:

THESIS The earth is experiencing climate change.

MAIN POINTS

  1. Droughts are lasting longer, and their effects are more critical.

  2. Extreme weather is on the rise.

  3. Greenland’s ice sheet and glaciers are melting at an accelerating rate.

  4. Coral reefs are disintegrating.

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