Table of Contents |
Try to keep the main points down to three or four with supporting sub-points. An audience will only be able to grasp so much information at one time, and the presenter does not want to bombard the audience with too much information at once.
Additionally, make sure that each of your main points is supported by the same number of sub-points or evidence. This adds balance and proportion to your speech.
The following are the nine different ways to organize your speech, including examples to help you understand better.
Each of the main points, of course, would require additional support and evidence in a speech and are identified only to aid the conceptualization of the organizational forms.
| Type of Organization | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal Organization | Temporal organization is the chronological approach; it is a good choice when you are telling a story, explaining research, or outlining a future plan. |
Explain a new project launch by explaining the process and giving timelines from start to finish:
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| Cause-Effect Organization | Cause-effect organization is telling why something happened; cause-effect may be used for past, present, or future events and processes. Cause-effect can also be reversed, from effect back to cause. |
Costs have been rising over the last year. There are several causes for this change. OR There are new factors causing changes in our industry. The effect has been higher costs all around. |
| Spatial Pattern Organization | When using spatial patterns, be sure to proceed systematically from one place to the next, following a clear order. A size sequence is a variation on spatial organization, describing different artifacts from smallest to largest (or from largest to smallest). This is useful when describing something, especially a progression through a place/time or a physical object. | First you enter here, then you go through there, and you end up… |
| Topical Organization | Topical organization is an appropriate approach when the subject matter has clear categories of division. | Animals: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians |
| Importance Patterns | Patterns of importance can be used to discuss the different reasons for something and then designate their importance. | If you are reporting three problems to your senior management, organize each in order of importance to the company. |
| Compare/Contrast | Comparing and contrasting takes two or more entities and draws attention to their differences and/or similarities. | Define the problem and present options to solve the problem. Compare and contrast them to show the positives and negatives for each. Explain why one of those options is the best choice. |
| Problem-Solution | Problem-solution organization involves the identification of a problem followed by a possible solution. |
Problem: We need to cut our travel costs. Solution: Hold more client meetings online rather than in person. |
| Stock Issues |
Stock issues are designed to organize presentations on issues of policy in a more complicated way than simple problem-solution. There are generally four main components to this organizational scheme:
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| Monroe’s Motivated Sequence |
Monroe's motivated sequence is a good organizational tactic for persuasive speaking. It has five components:
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Attention: Our lakes are becoming more and more polluted. Need: We are no longer able to fish or swim in many of our lakes. Satisfaction: Using organic products on our lawns and gardens will decrease pollution levels and restore our lakes. Visualization: We will once again be able to fish and swim in those lakes. Action: Here’s what we need to do. Will you join me? |
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