Chapter 8

Organizing the Body of the Speech

1. Reasons why a speech must be well organized.

A. Clear and coherent speeches are important.

1)well-organized speeches are easier for listeners to comprehend.

2)well-organized speeches give the speaker more competent and trustworthy characteristics.

B. Main points of a speech.

1)speeches should have a limited number of main points. Too many will get your audience confused / hard to follow.

2)if you have too many points, easy to reduce.

2. 5 Types of Main Points.

A. Main points should be organized strategically.

1)Chronological Order - follow a time pattern or demonstrate how to do something. (inform audience how the Great Wall of China was built / inform audience how to build a model airplane.)

2)Spatial Order - following a directional pattern. (inform audience about the design of the Eiffel Tower)

3)Causal Order - to show a cause effect relationship. The first main point causes the second to effect. (inform audience about the possible causes of erosion of America's seacoasts. Cause=erosion of seacoasts /Effect=effect environmental balance.

4)Problem-Solution - Two main points...1)first shows the existence and seriousness of a problem. 2)second presents a workable solution to the problem. (Examples: To persuade audience our state legislature should enact tougher legislation to deal with problem of child abuse. (1st-main point: Child abuse is a serious problem 2nd-main point: The problem can be resolved by legislative laws.

5)Topical order - break the speech topic into sub-points. You can make any of the five orders you want.....Example: (Topical order=fireworks (topical=four different fireworks. (Problem-solution=fireworks kill people every year and the state should have a law against it.) (Causal Order=inform audiences about the possible causes and effect of firing fireworks in the dry summer heat.) (Spatial Order=Design of a firecracker-fuse, gunpowder, aerial point.) (chronological order=how to build a firecracker or the history of the firecracker.)

3. Tips for Preparing Main Points
A. Keep Main Points Separate

B. Balance the Amount of Time devoted to Main Point.

4. Four types of connectives.
A. Transitions - simple connectives. (Examples: In addition, also, the other part, let us turn to, it's time to discuss...)

B. Internal Previews - More detailed. (Example: Now that we have discussed the danger of fireworks with children, I will discuss 3 examples of the danger of fireworks involving adults.)

C. Internal Summaries - Remind listeners what they have just heard. (Example: Let's review why fireworks are dangerous to small children.)

D. Signposts - Tells audience where you are in the speech. (Example: Using questions, Are fireworks dangerous to adults.)