12 Types of Organizational
Arrangements
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. Some common organizational arrangements for speeches are topical, spatial,
causal (cause-effect), and problem-solution.
2. A chronological pattern of arrangement follows the natural sequential order of
the main points.
3. A speech describing a series of events in the development of a new idea would
be best served by a spatial pattern of arrangement.
4. The spatial pattern describes or explains the physical arrangement of a place, a
scene, or an object.
5. The causal pattern of arrangement relates a cause to its effects.
6. It is never appropriate to present the effects first and the causes subsequently
in the causal pattern.
7. The function of the problem-solution pattern of arrangement is to demonstrate
the nature and significance of a problem and to provide justification for a
proposed solution.
8. The problem-solution pattern may not have more than two main points.
9. A topical pattern of arrangement is appropriate when each main point is a
subtopic or category of the speech topic.
10. In a topical pattern, points can be arranged in any order without negatively
affecting one another.
11. Chronological arrangements give you the greatest freedom to structure main
points according to how you wish to present the topic.
12. A speech consisting of a story or a series of short stories should use a topical
pattern of arrangement.
13. Using a narrative pattern of arrangement means that you do not have to include
a thesis statement.
14. A spatial pattern of arrangement helps listeners follow main points according to
their occurrence in time relative to each other.
15. Your subpoints should always follow the organizational pattern selected for
your main points.
16. Organization should be driven by what is most effective for the particular
rhetorical situation.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
17. To describe a series of developments in time or a set of actions that occur
sequentially, a speaker should use which pattern of arrangement?
A) topical C) spatial
B) chronological D) causal
18. To describe or explain the physical arrangement of a place, a scene, or an
object, a speaker should use which pattern of arrangement?
A) topical C) spatial
B) chronological D) causal
19. To discuss a topic in terms of its underlying causes, a speaker should use which
pattern of arrangement?
A) topical C) causal
B) chronological D) circular
20. To demonstrate the nature and significance of a problem and to provide
justification for a proposed solution, a speaker should use which pattern of
arrangement?
A) topical C) causal
B) chronological D) problem-solution
21. When seeking the greatest freedom to structure main points, a speaker should
use which pattern of arrangement?
A) topical C) spatial
B) chronological D) causal
22. If a speech consists of a story or series of short stories, which pattern of
organization is the speaker using?
A) chronological C) narrative
B) spatial D) problem-solution
23. A speaker seeking to express the events leading to higher interest rates should
choose which pattern of organization?
A) topical C) causal
B) chronological D) narrative
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK QUESTIONS
24. A(n) ______ pattern of arrangement follows the natural sequential order of the
main points.
25. A speech describing a series of events leading to the adoption of a peace treaty
calls for a(n) ______ pattern of arrangement.
26. The ______ pattern describes or explains the physical arrangement of a place, a
scene, or an object.
27. The ______ pattern relates a cause to its effects.
28. The function of the ______ pattern is to demonstrate the nature and significance
of a problem and to provide justification for a proposed solution.
29. In a(n) ______ pattern, points can be arranged in any order without negatively
affecting one another.
30. A(n) ______ pattern of arrangement is most appropriate when each main point is
of relatively equal importance.
31. The ______ pattern of arrangement gives the speaker the greatest freedom to
structure main points according to how he or she wishes to present the topic.
32. A speech consisting of characters, settings, plot, and vivid imagery uses a(n)
______ pattern.
33. The ______ pattern involves conveying ideas through the medium of a story.
34. In the ______ pattern of arrangement, the speaker relates something known to be
a cause to its effects.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
35. How can a speaker best decide how to arrange main points in a speech?
36. When is the chronological pattern of arrangement appropriate for a speech?
37.
chronological pattern of arrangement.
38. Give an example of a topic that would call for the spatial pattern of
arrangement.
39. Provide main points for a s
spatial pattern of arrangement.
40. Explain the difference between the causal (cause-effect) and the problem-
solution patterns of arrangement.
41.
pattern of arrangement.
42. What is the narrative pattern of arrangement, and what is a topic that would
lend itself well to this arrangement?
43. Explain and provide an example of how a speech can use more than one
organizational pattern.
ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER 12
