PART 3: Organization

Prepared by: Armildez, John Arvi V. Babaran, Suddenly S. Baladad, Marjorie Anne U. Baquilod, Ma. Crisinda P. Cagne, Kathleen Rose M. Gasalatan, Jennifer Mendoza, Jonalyn Pasion, Elline Isabelle C. Patacsil, Mae Christine Anne A.

CHAPTER IX Transforming Ideas into Speech Points There are four stages of organizing ideas (1) Generate many ideas (2) Group similar ideas (3) Label each group of ideas and (4) Rework and thin out the ideas until there are five major groups that encompass the most important ideas and that can be developed in the allotted time. Generate many ideas. Assembling ideas starts from brainstorming. This includes writing down anything that comes up in your mind that maybe covered in your speech. Do not judge or dismissed any idea. The ideas you jot down serves as raw materials to the process. Group similar ideas. There is no one correct way to group these ideas. You can use a number of different techniques to begin your organization. Perhaps the most traditional of speech organization is to arrange ideas in the hierarchical, indented outline format. You can also use concept mapping, a visual method of showing how your ideas relate to each other. You can have your own style in doing so, as long as you know the relationships between them. In grouping ideas you must look first at your general purpose, specific purpose and thesis statement to identify the main point of your speech. You may ask yourself these questions (1) Is there any part of my thesis that is not developed in the speech? And (2) is there any main idea of the speech that is not reflected in my thesis? Label each group of ideas. Look for logical groupings of ideas that could be developed as main points and sub-points of your speech. Main points should be mutually exclusive for maximum clarity. Sometimes when you are grouping ideas under potential main points, you will find that many fit into two or more categories. When this occurs you have not yet found the effective

system for classifying your ideas. What is most important is to choose an organizational pattern that gives you a rule by which to include each example under only one main point. Rework and thin out ideas. Your speech should encompass at least five points. This will help you deliver your speeches concisely without cluttering of ideas. The number of groups developed should depend on the allotted time given to deliver your speech. The longer the time, the more the ideas can be grouped, the more the important ideas to encompass in the speech.

CHAPTER X Organizing Points When you organize your points, consider the traditional patterns of speech organization, and select the one that is suited to your topic and purpose. First step is to arrange your main points either chronological, spatial, cause-effect, problemsolution, and topical pattern. Chronological Pattern. The most common chronological pattern is the historical development, another is to divide the topic into past-present-future and the third way to look at subject chronologically is to analyze a process step by step. Spatial Pattern. It arranges points according to the relationship among physical locations, and is often based on geography and can also be applied to smaller areas. Cause-effect Pattern. This shows that the events that occur in sequence are casually related. This pattern is well suited to a speech to a speech in which the goal is to achieve understanding or agreement rather than the overt action.

Problem-solution Pattern. This pattern arranges ideas to move from discussion of an area of concern to an explication of how that concern can be addressed; it is often used in persuasive speeches that advocate a new policy or a specific course of action. Topical Pattern. This is the most frequently used speech pattern but also the most difficult in that you must understand the range and limitations of the subject in order to select an effective topical pattern. Second step is to group subpoints according to a pattern. After your main ideas are set, look at the subpoints under each and arranged it in effective order. You do not have to repeat the pattern you used for the main points; you can choose the format that makes the most sense for each set of subpoints.

CHAPTER XI Outlining A speech outline is an indispensable tool of speech organization that provides a detailed, logical plan for a speech. Preparing a clear outline helps you keep track of the points you hope to cover. It can also increase the chance that your audience will understand your message. Only through outline can you avoid falling into one of the familiar traps overestimating or underestimating your preparedness. We often use outline to order our basic ideas in the body of speech. But, outline is not intended to be the text of the speech itself. Instead, it should be the framework of your speech built by strategic organization of your main points and subpoints. Here are some points to remember in creating a full outline:

Use the conventional outline format. Visualize the relationship among the ideas of your speech by using standard rules for outlining. Follow a consistent set of symbols. In order to emphasize what part of your speech is the major points and minor points, you can use symbols. For example, you can use symbol like capital letters to represent the main point and small letters for the minor points. Show logical relationship through indentation. In outlining, each subordinate idea should be indented several spaces to align with the first word of the point it supports. By doing this, relationship among ideas become visually obvious. Develop each level of subordination with two or more parts. In order to give better justification to the point you want to express, it is best to use two or more parts in your subordination. The concept of dividing an idea into parts, subordination, becomes nonsensical if a major point is divided only into one subpoint. Categories are useful because they encompass several related things. Be sure each symbol designates only one point and that every point has a symbol. Simply stated, you must not combine two or more ideas in any point in your outline. This may confuse the audience. Each idea should have its own logical heading. By the same token, your outline must not contain any free-floating phrases. Every idea should have individual symbol in the hierarchy of points. Use a full-sentence outline. In a full-sentence outline, the main points and subpoints are stated as declarative sentences. Using this method, you can make your speech more coherent for your audiences. In addition, it makes you more conscious of the exact point you want to make and forces you to frame them explicitly.

Phrase main points to forecast subpoints. It is not enough to have outline with full sentences as main points. The sentences should logically encompass the main idea of the speech. In the outline, you should not include transitional phrases that might be part of your oral presentation. Do not also include your supporting evidence in the phrasing of a main point. Keep statistics, testimony, and examples at the subordinate levels. Phrase points in concise and parallel language. Once you have finished making your outline in such a way that they are logically and grammatically complete, you should take time to think on how you will present the speech in language that highlights them in your audience. When you express your main points in parallel language, that is presenting them in sentences that repeat a certain syntactic structure or a particular grammatical form, you make them more easily identifiable. This covers the techniques of signposts, previews, and reviews which are use to make your organization clear to the listener. Ideas phrased in concise, colourful, parallel language are more likely to be remembered by both speaker and listeners.

CHAPTER XII Connectives Connectives are words or phrases that serve as bridges between speech points. Five types of connective word relationships are chronological, cause-effect, part-to-whole, equality and opposition. They literally connect ideas. Transitional words and phrases reveal logical relationship between ideas and vary according to the type of relationship you wish to signal. For longer speeches, internal previews and summaries serve to guide the listener. See Figure 1.1 on the next page for summary of connective words.

Figure 1.1

An internal preview is a kind of connective that provides a link by forecasting the points that are yet to be developed. An internal summary is a kind of connective that provides a link among parts of the speech by recapping what has been covered so far.

CHAPTER XIII Introductions An effective introduction is brief yet captivating. It is in that short span of time that you offer your audience a reason to listen to your ideas. From the very moment that your name was called to give a speech, or from the moment you stand up from your seat, the spotlight is yours. That entails you to capture the attention of your audience by showing your confidence as you make eye contact with them and letting them know that you are worth listening to. As you begin your speech, you have to show them that you know what you are saying. Your opening sentences should be inviting to the audience, and that excludes apologetic or tentative sentences. You have to develop a strong introduction without trying too hard that you start to deviate from your own personality. Once you have their attention, you now have to turn them into interest. You have to create a personal bond with your listeners and involve them in your speech. You have to be credible and make sure that you are on the same page as your audience by establishing a common ground. Additionally, a good sense of humour can be useful in establishing a relationship with them. Another thing that you have to consider in your introduction is motivating your audience to think about your topic. Let them explore their imagination and visualize your ideas. You have to let them clearly know why they are listening to you and what effect will your speech bring to them. You also need to provide a logical orientation of your idea by relating your topic with a familiar framework, a historical context, or even provide a new definition and concept. After which, you have to give an overview or structure of your speech so that your audience will be able to follow you until the end. Lastly, you have to make your introduction as compact as possible. It has to be

in a natural, narrative style that is engrossing, makes your audience acquisitive and wanting to stay with you throughout your speech. CHAPTER XIV Conclusions According to social scientists, people are most likely to remember what they hear last, and so we must develop an effective conclusion whenever we speak. A conclusion gives our listeners a sense of completeness or closure. There are two elements of a successful conclusion: logical and psychological closure. Providing logical closure involves summarizing the main idea, or making a restatement of your thesis; and re-establishing your topics connection to a larger context, such as that which you have begun your speech with. Providing psychological closure means touching the audience. First, remind them how the topic affects their lives, show them their stakes in what your speech is about. Then make an appeal, ask them directly, tell them to do something. To wrap it all up is your last sentence the clincher. You can use a quotation, a story, a challenge, or the answer to the question in your introduction earlier, if any.