Organizing the
Body of the Speech
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, students should be able to:
2. Identify
the five major patterns of organizing main points in a speech.
4. Explain
the four kinds of speech connectives and their roles in a speech.
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CHAPTER 9—ORGANIZING THE BODY OF THE SPEECH
139
Chapter Outline
I. The ability to organize one’s ideas clearly and coherently is a vital skill.
A. Clear organization is essential to effective public speaking.
B. Clear organization is also connected to critical thinking.
1. Organizing speeches helps students understand the relationships between ideas.
2. The skills of critical thinking used in organizing speeches will benefit students
in many aspects of their lives.
II. The main points are the most important element in organizing the body of a speech.
A. Because main points are the central features in the body of a speech, they should be
selected carefully.
B. Speeches should have a limited number of main points.
2. If a speaker discovers that she or he has too many main points, the points should
be condensed into a few broad categories.
C. Main points should be organized strategically to achieve the speaker’s purpose.
1. When arranged chronologically, main points follow a time sequence.
3. When arranged causally, main points show a cause–and–effect relationship.
5. Main points are most often arranged in topical order.
D. There are three tips for preparing effective main points.
2. Speakers should try to use parallel wording in their main points.
3. Speakers should balance the amount of time devoted to each main point.
III. Once the main points of a speech are in strategic order, a speaker must make sure that
the supporting materials are effectively organized.
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CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
B. There are four types of connectives.
2. Internal previews let the audience know what the speaker will take up next.
4. Signposts are brief statements that indicate exactly where a speaker is in the
speech or that focus attention on key ideas.
Exercises for Critical Thinking (from text page 175)
1. What organizational method (or methods) might you use to arrange main points for speeches
with the following specific purpose statements?
To inform my audience about the geographical regions of Argentina.
Discussion: A speech with this specific purpose would probably be organized spatially,
To persuade my audience that the state legislature should enact tougher laws to curb the
problem of predatory lending to college students.
Discussion: Based on the methods of organization discussed in this chapter, a speech with
To inform my audience about the causes and effects of Lyme disease.
Discussion: A speech with this specific purpose would most likely follow a causal pattern
To inform my audience about the major kinds of symbols used in Native American art.
Discussion: Although a speech with this specific purpose would probably be arranged in
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
where connectives are needed in a speech and in creating the appropriate connectives.
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. 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.
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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
speech organization discussed in the chapter can arise in real–life situations outside the
classroom. Begin class discussion by focusing on the first question posed at the end of the
scenario. Students should have little difficulty understanding that chronological order would
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 central section of California Route 1 includes the spectacular Big Sur region.
III. The northern section of California Route 1 traverses towering redwood forests.
I. Cyberbullying is a widespread national problem.
II. The problem can be solved by a combination of individual awareness and social action.
I. Caused by an antibiotic–resistant strain of staphylococcus bacteria, MRSA is prevalent
Discussion: This complements Exercise 3 on page 175 of the textbook and gives students
additional work in understanding the methods of organization discussed in this chapter.
Alternatively, you can assign the worksheet to students from the assignments available in
Connect.
I. Caused by a rare genetic mutation, progeria is an inherited disease that has no known
treatment.
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.
(topical)
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CHAPTER–BY–CHAPTER GUIDE TO THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
I. The southern section of California Route 1 winds through picturesque beach towns.
I. Caused by an antibiotic–resistant strain of staphylococcus bacteria, MRSA is preva-
lent among college students.
II. The effects of MRSA include skin infections, damage to internal organs, pneumonia,
and, in some cases, death.
(causal)
I. At the top of the rainforest is the emergent layer, where trees can be 200 feet tall.
2. Have students read “Ramadan,” which appears on pages 342–345 of this manual. Assign
students three tasks: (1) Pick out the main points of the speech; (2) Locate places where it
uses connectives; (3) In each case, identify the kind of connective used—transition, internal
preview, internal summary, or signpost.
Discussion: This exercise can be done with almost any of the speeches in the appendix
of the textbook or in Part Five of this manual. I recommend “Ramadan” because it is rich in
its use of connectives, especially signposts. Other excellent choices are “The Horrors of
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.
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-
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.