Comparative Advantage Pattern

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Another way to organize speech points is to show that your viewpoint is superior to others on the topic. This arrangement, called the comparative advantage pattern, is most effective when your audience is already aware of the issue or problem and agrees that a solution is needed. Because listeners are aware of the issue, you can skip over establishing its existence and move directly to favorably comparing your position with the alternatives. With this strategy, you are assuming that your audience is open to various alternative solutions.

To maintain your credibility, it is important that you identify alternatives that your audience is familiar with as well as those that are supported by opposing interests. If you omit familiar alternatives, your listeners will wonder if you are fully informed on the topic and become skeptical of your comparative alternative as well as your credibility. The final step in a comparative advantage speech is to drive home the unique advantages of your option relative to competing options with brief but compelling evidence.

Thesis: New members of our hospital’s board of directors must be conflict free.

Main point 1: Justin Davis is an officer in two other organizations.

Main point 2: Vivian Alvarez will spend six months next year in London.

Main point 3: Lillian Rosenthal’s husband served as our director two years ago.

Main point 4: Sam Dhatri has no potential conflicts for service.