STRUCTURING THE SPEECH
Organization (Colgate State) Helps
9.1 STRUCTURING THE SPEECH: THE RATIONALE
A well-structured speech ties together these four elements--introduction, central idea, body, and conclusion--in a unified overall organization. The three basic approaches to overall speech organization are the partitioning, unfolding, and case methods, which are discussed in detail later in this chapter. *** Here is one person's ideas about structuring a speech. What do you think?
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/s/b/sbw3/100a/workbook/step8.htm
9.2 THE INTRODUCTION
Attention Material
Personal References
Humorous Stories
Remember that humor sets a light tone. Speakers who want to give a serious presentation may have difficulty attaining a somber tone if the introduction has led the audience to anticipate something lighter. Telling a series of jokes at the start of a speech may give an audience the impression that the presentation will contain only humor. (For a more in-depth discussion of humor, see Chapter 6.)
Illustrations
References to the Occasion or Setting
Rhetorical Questions
Action Questions
Unusual or Dramatic Devices
Quotations Related to the Speech Topic
Quotations are most effective when read meaningfully, slowly, and loudly enough to be heard. In addition, the speaker should establish the background and credibility of the source so that listeners understand the validity of the quotation.
Statements of the Theme
Orienting Material
Historical Background
Definition of Terms
Speaker's Personal Relationship to the Topic
Importance to the Listeners
9.3 THE CENTRAL IDEA
9.4 THE BODY
The body of a message develops the major points of the speech and any subpoints that pertain to the speaker's central idea.
One of the most common methods of sequencing is issue arrangement.
Spatial Arrangement
Chronological or Time Arrangement
Topical Arrangement
Causal Arrangement
Comparison-Contrast Arrangement
Problem-Solution Arrangement
See-blame-cure-cost method. In this four-step organizing technique, the evil or problem that exists is examined (see), what has caused the problem is determined (blame), solutions are investigated (cure), and the most practical solution is selected (cost).
Arrangement for Major and Subordinate Points
9.5 THE CONCLUSION
The Summary
A clincher is a device used to make a final appeal to the audience and to ensure that they remember your message.
A personal reference might be appropriate for a heart specialist who established his expertise at the start of the speech and wants to reestablish his authority in the conclusion.
Another speaker may find it appropriate to end the presentation with a humorous story that summarizes the ideas.
A young person who had become dependent on drugs might end a speech with an illustration of how difficult it was for her to turn away from the drug scene.
A speaker who posed rhetorical questions or action questions at the beginning of a presentation can conclude by answering them.
Quotations can also memorably restate the major theme of a presentation.
9.6 THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION OF A SPEECH
The partitioning method of organization depends on a great deal of repetition and is the most direct ordering of ideas for listeners to follow. The sequence requires adherence to this outline:
The unfolding method of organization can be used for a speech with any purpose, but if you want to persuade your listeners of something, you will find this format the most useful.
The Case Method
9.7 THE ROLE OF CULTURE ON SPEECH STRUCTURE
9.8 THE STRUCTURE AS A LISTENING TOOL
Explain why it is important to carefully structure speeches.
Structure a speech to meet the needs of the listeners.
Explain what makes an effective introduction, central idea, body, and conclusion for a speech.
Give examples of attention getters for the introduction of a speech.
Identify the purpose and the various types of orienting materials.
Explain the purpose of the central idea of a speech.
Describe several different methods of issue arrangement for the body of a speech.
Describe the different ways to conclude a speech.
Identify and illustrate the various types of overall organization for a speech.
Recognize that culture has an affect on organizational methods and language choices.
Understand the role of organization of a speech as an aid to listeners.
A public communication message is usually divided into four parts: introduction, central idea, body, and conclusion.
The introduction contains the attention material and the orienting material.
The central idea describes the purpose of the presentation and specifically states its main theme.
The body develops the major points of the presentation.
The conclusion summarizes the presentation and may also contain a motivating statement.
Attention material can include personal references, humorous stories, illustrations, references to the occasion or setting, rhetorical questions, action questions, unusual or dramatic devices, quotations related to the theme, and statements of the theme.
Orienting material gives an audience the background necessary to understand the basic material of the speech.
Orienting material may include historical background, definition of terms, the speaker's personal relationship to the topic, and the topic's importance to the listeners.
The central idea should be presented as a statement.
The method of ordering the points and subpoints in the body of a speech is called issue arrangement.
Issue arrangement takes one of six forms: spatial arrangement, chronological or time arrangement, topical arrangement, causal arrangement, comparison-contrast arrangement, or problem-solution arrangement.
A summary restates the major points of the speech.
Clinchers can include personal references, humorous stories, illustrations, rhetorical questions, action questions, unusual or dramatic devices, and quotations.
The basic approaches to overall speech organization are the partitioning, unfolding, and case methods.
Listeners who understand principles of organization recall more details when they listen to messages.
orienting material
central idea
body
issue arrangement
spatial arrangement
chronological or time arrangement
topical arrangement
causal arrangement
comparison method
contrast method
comparison-contrast arrangement
problem-solution arrangement
see-blame-cure-cost method
conclusion
summary
clincher
redundancy
partitioning method of organization
partitioning step
transitions
unfolding method of organization
case method of organization