Arranging Speech Points Topically

When each of the main points is a subtopic or category of the speech topic, try the topical pattern of arrangement (also called the categorical pattern). Consider preparing an informative speech about choosing Chicago as a place to establish a career. You plan to emphasize three reasons for choosing Chicago: the strong economic climate of the city, its cultural variety, and its accessible public transportation. Since these three points are of relatively equal importance, they can be arranged in any order without negatively affecting one another. For example:

THESIS STATEMENT: Chicago is an excellent place to establish a career.
  1. Accessible transportation
  2. Cultural variety
  3. Economic stability

This is not to say that, when using a topical arrangement, you should arrange the main points without careful consideration. Any number of considerations can factor into your ordering of points, not least of which should be the audience’s most immediate needs and interests. You may decide to arrange the points in ascending or descending order according to their relative importance, complexity, or timeliness. Perhaps you have determined that listeners’ main concern is the city’s economic stability, followed by an interest in its cultural variety and accessible transportation. You may then decide to arrange the points in the order of the audience’s most immediate needs and interests:

  1. Economic stability
  2. Cultural variety
  3. Accessible transportation

Topical arrangements give you the greatest freedom to structure main points according to the way you wish to present your topic. You can approach a topic by dividing it into two or more categories, for example. You can lead with the strongest evidence or leave your most compelling points until you near the conclusion. If your topic does not call out for one of the other patterns described in this chapter, be sure to experiment with the topical pattern.