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Organizing the
Body of the Speech
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, students should be able to:
1. Explain
why it is important to organize speeches clearly and coherently.
2. Identify
the five major patterns of organizing main points in a speech.
3. Discuss
the guidelines given in the text for organizing main points.
4. Explain
the four kinds of speech connectives and their roles in a speech.
9
CHAPTER 9—ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH
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CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
CHAPTER 9—ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH
141
2. Turn to the outline of main points and supporting materials for the speech about hypnosis
on page 169 of the textbook. Create appropriate transitions, internal previews, internal
summaries, and signposts for the speech.
Discussion:
The purpose of this exercise is to give students practice in thinking about
3. Identify the organizational method used in each of the following sets of main points.
I. Mardi Gras parades are lavish events that take place over the course of several weeks.
II. Mardi Gras costumes include disguises, medallions, and the colors purple, green, and
gold.
III. Mardi Gras food features Cajun and Creole dishes common to southern Louisiana.
(topical)
I. In ancient Rome, the Colosseum hosted gladiatorial games and other kinds of popular
entertainment.
II. In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was occupied by religious groups and used as a
cemetery.
III. In modern times, the Colosseum has been restored and turned into a tourist attraction.
(chronological)
I. Human trafficking is a widespread national problem.
II. The problem can be solved by a combination of national and international action.
(problem-solution)
Using Public Speaking in Your Career (from text page 167)
You are the purchasing manager for a large jewelry manufacturer. The company’s president sent
you abroad to find new suppliers of base metals, including brass, copper, nickel, and aluminum.
You were asked to evaluate each supplier based on the quality, availability, and cost of its prod-
ucts.
You have just returned from a 12-day trip to suppliers in Cambodia, China, South Korea,
and the United Arab Emirates. You will present your findings and recommendations to the com-
pany’s senior executives, but you’re not sure how best to organize your speech.
Your major choices are chronological order, problem-solution order, and topical order. What
might be the main points of your speech with each of these methods of organization? Explain
which method you think would be most effective for your presentation.
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CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Discussion: The purpose of this scenario is to have students see how the principles of
Additional Exercises and Activities
1. Identify the organizational method used in each of the following sets of main points.
I. Caused by a rare genetic mutation, progeria is an inherited disease that has no known
treatment.
II. The effects of progeria include the appearance of rapid aging, limited growth, and a
shortened lifespan.
I. Founded in 1948, NASCAR was limited primarily to the South through the 1950s and
1960s.
II. The modern era of NASCAR began in the 1970s with the development of the points
system to crown a yearly champion.
III. Today NASCAR is one of the most popular spectator sports in America.
I. Sonia Sotomayor is best known as the first Hispanic justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
II. Sonia Sotomayor is also an accomplished communicator who has given hundreds of
public speeches.
CHAPTER 9—ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH
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CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
CHAPTER 9—ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH
145
3. Below is a speech outline with 12 main points. Reorganize the outline so as to reduce the
original 12 main points to three main points, each with three subpoints. Use the new main
points and subpoints to fill in the blank outline that follows. Be sure to use parallel wording
when stating the main points.
I. The first part of preparing for a backpacking trip is plotting the course.
II. Choose a course that is suitable for everyone in the hiking group.
III. Check detailed maps so you can identify obstacles on your course.
IV. Consider the climate of the hiking area when plotting your course.
V. Preparing your food is also important.
VI. Work out a menu that covers all meals you will eat on the trip.
VII. Shop for the food you will need.
VIII. Carefully pack the food in waterproof bags.
IX. Good equipment is a necessity as well.
X. You will need a tent that is lightweight yet spacious.
XI. You will need strong, comfortable hiking boots.
XII. You will need proper clothing for the terrain and climate.
I.
A.
B.
C.
II.
A.
B.
C.
III.
A.
B.
C.
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CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Discussion: When reorganized, the outline should look similar to the one printed below.
Although the main points need not be stated exactly as written here, they should use par-
allel wording. The most important matter, however, is that students see how the 12 original
points can be regrouped into three main points with three subpoints each.
I. The first part of preparing for a backpacking trip is plotting the course.
A. Choose a course that is suitable for everyone in the hiking group.
B. Check up-to-date maps so you can identify obstacles on your course.
C. Consider the climate of the hiking area when plotting your course.
II. The second part of preparing for a backpacking trip is getting the food.
A. Work out a menu that covers all meals you will eat on the trip.
B. Shop for the food you will need.
C. Pack the food in waterproof bags.
III. The third part of planning a backpacking trip is choosing the equipment.
A. Pick a tent that is lightweight yet spacious.
B. Look for strong, comfortable hiking boots.
C. Get proper clothing for the terrain and climate.
4. Have students complete the Connectives Worksheet, which is on page 147 of this manual.
Discussion: Easily copied and distributed, the Connectives Worksheet works best when
147
Connectives Worksheet
As discussed on pages 170–173 of your textbook, connectives are words or phrases that connect
the ideas of a speech and indicate the relationships among them. Below are excerpts from two
speech outlines—one on immigration, the other on the shortage of psychiatrists in the U.S. For
each outline, provide the connective(s) indicated in the space provided.
***
I. Over the years, millions of people have immigrated to the United States.
A. Since the Civil War, 72 million people have immigrated to the United States.
B. Today there are 45 million Americans who were born in other countries.
Transition:
II. There are several reasons why people immigrate to the United States.
A. Many people immigrate in search of economic opportunity.
B. Others immigrate to attain political freedom.
C. Still others immigrate to escape religious persecution.
Internal Summary:
***
I. Mental healthcare in the United States faces a growing shortage of qualified psychiatrists.
A. Over 60 percent of counties in the U.S. do not have a single psychiatrist working in
them.
B. Experts warn that the shortage will become even worse in the years ahead unless steps
are taken to solve it.
Transition and Internal Preview:
II. The problem can be solved through better recruiting efforts and increased emphasis on
telepsychiatry.
A. Better recruiting efforts at medical schools will attract more students to psychiatry.
B. Increased emphasis on telepsychiatry will get existing psychiatrists into areas where they
are most needed.
