McGraw-Hill©Stephen E. Lucas 2001 All rights reserved. CHAPTER EIGHT Organizing the Body of the Speech

McGraw-Hill ©Stephen E. Lucas 2001 All rights reserved.

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EIGHTOrganizing the Body of the Speech


Chronological Order

A method of speech organization in which the main points follow a time pattern.


Example of Chronological OrderSpecific Purpose: To inform my audience how the Great

Wall of China was built.

Central Idea: The Great Wall of China was built in three stages.

Main Points: I. Building of the Great Wall began during the Chou dynasty in the fourth century B.C.

II. New sections of the Great Wall were added during the Ch’in, Han, and Sui dynasties from 221 B.C.-618 A.D.

III. The Great Wall was completed during the Ming Dynasty of 1368-1644.


Spatial Order

A method of speech organization in whichthe main points follow a directional pattern.


Example of Spatial OrderSpecific Purpose: To inform my audience about the

design of the Eiffel Tower.

Central Idea: The Eiffel Tower is divided into threesections.

Main Points: I. The lowest section of the tower contains the entrance, a gift shop, and a restaurant.

II. The middle section of the tower consists of stairs and elevators that

lead to the top.

III. The top section of the tower includes an observation deck with a spectacular view of Paris.


Causal Order

A method of speech organization in which the main points show a cause-effect relationship.


Example of Causal Order

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the possible causes for the collapse of Mayan civilization.

Central Idea: The causes for the collapse of Mayan civilization have not been fully explained.

Main Points: I. Mayan civilization flourished for over a thousand years until 900 A.D., when it mysteriously began to disintegrate. (EFFECT)

II. Scholars have advanced three major explanations for the causes of this disintegration. (CAUSE)


Problem-Solution Order

A method of speech organization in which the first main point deals with the existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem.


Example of Problem-Solution OrderSpecific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the

United States should act now to solve the problem of adult illiteracy.

Central Idea: Adult illiteracy is a continuing problem that can only be solved by a national commitment on the part of government and individual citizens.

Main Points: I. Adult illiteracy has reached crisis proportions in the United States.

II. Solving the problem will require action by government and citizens alike.


Topical Order

A method of speech organization in which the main points divide the the topic into logical and consistent subtopics.


Example of Topical Order

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the artistic versatility of Pablo Picasso.

Central Idea: Picasso was equally versatile as a painter, sculptor, and printmaker.

Main Points: I. As a painter, Picasso tested the limits of abstraction.

II. As a sculptor, Picasso often incorporated “found” objects.

III. As a printmaker, Picasso gave vent to his whimsy and eroticism.


Connective

A word or phrase that connects the ideas of a speech and indicates the relationship between them.


Types of Connectives

• Transition

• Internal preview

• Internal summary

• Signpost


Transition

A word or phrase that indicates whena speaker has finished one thought andis moving on to another.


Examples of Transitions

• Now that we have explored the ancient origins of astrology, let us turn to its modern popularity.

• So much for the present; what about the future?

• We have spent a lot of time talking about the problem. It’s time to discuss the solution.


Internal Preview

A statement in the body of the speechthat lets the audience know what thespeaker is going to discuss next.


Example of an Internal Preview

In discussing how Asian Americans havebeen stereotyped in the mass media, we’lllook first at the origins of the problem andsecond at its continuing impact today.


Transition Combined with Internal Preview

[Transition]: Now that we have seen how serious the problem of faulty credit reports is, let’s look at some solutions.

[Internal Preview]: I will focus on three--instituting tighter government regulation of credit bureaus, holding credit bureaus financially responsible for their errors, and giving individuals easier access to their credit reports.


Internal Summary

A statement in the body of the speechthat summarizes the speaker’s precedingpoint or points.


Example of an Internal Summary

In short, palm reading is an ancient art. Developed in China more than five thousand years ago, it was practicedin classical Greece and Rome, flourishedduring the Middle Ages, survived the Industrial Revolution, and remainspopular today.


Internal Summary Combined with a Transition

[Internal Summary]: Let’s pause for a moment to recapitulate what we have found so far. First, we have seen that America’s criminal justice system does not effectively deter crime. Second, we have seen that prison programs to rehabilitate criminals have failed miserably. [Transition]: We are now ready to explore solutions to these problems.


Signpost

A very brief statement that indicates where a speaker is in the speech or that focuses attention on key ideas.


Examples of Signpost

The first step in producing a Broadway play is choosing the

play.

The second step in producing a Broadway play is selecting

the cast.

The third step in producing a Broadway play is conducting

the rehearsals.

The fourth step in producing a Broadway play is

performing the play.


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McGraw-Hill©Stephen E. Lucas 2001 All rights reserved. CHAPTER EIGHT Organizing the Body of the Speech