Organizing Your
Speech
Types of Presentations
Manuscript
 Expanded Outline
 Extemporaneous
 Impromptu
 Group Presentations
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Speech Preparation
Select Topic
 Define Purpose:
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◦ General
◦ Specific
◦ Central Idea
Select Topic
◦ Subject of speech: what you will cover
 Choose something you know a lot about or want
to know more about
◦ Generating Ideas
 Brainstorming: don’t wait for perfect topic—START
EARLY
 Methods: lists, clusters, explosion
 Other tools: reference texts, internet searches
General Purpose
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PROVIDES FOCUS
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Broad goal:
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Inform (give knowledge & understanding)
Persuade (advocate & change attitude)
Entertain (boosts spirits & inspire)
Specific Purpose
GUIDES STRUCTURE
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What you hope to accomplish
Focus on one aspect of topic
Critical in preparation –gauge research, structure,
etc.
TIPS:
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A single, specific phrase
Not a question
Avoid broad, ill-defined purpose statements
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CONSIDER
◦ Assignment
◦ Can I accomplish this in time allotted?
◦ Relevance to audience
 Too trivial or technical?
Central Idea
SUMMARY OF MAIN IDEAS
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What you expect to say
What you want audience to remember
Thesis statement
Summary of speech in a single sentence
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covers main points & reveals content
If you are having trouble writing your central idea, you
need to better focus your main points.
EXAMPLE:
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TOPIC: Boys & Girls Clubs
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GENERAL PURPOSE: To Inform
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SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform the audience about
program updates and highlights at the NE Lake Boys &
Girl Club.
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CENTRAL IDEA: The NE Lake Boys and Girls club
strives to be a positive place for kids by continuing to
expand programs through the new Umatilla site, Smart
moves program, and basketball courts.
EXAMPLE:
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TOPIC: Boys & Girls Clubs
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GENERAL PURPOSE: To Persuade
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SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade the audience to
support the NE Lake Boys and Girls Club through
volunteering and donations.
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CENTRAL IDEA: The NE Lake Boys and Girls Club
needs the assistance of community members as
volunteers and financial donors in order to continue to
be a positive place for kids.
YOUR TURN…
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TOPIC:
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GENERAL PURPOSE: To Inform
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SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform the
audience…
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CENTRAL IDEA:
ORGANIZATION
& OUTLINES
Organizing the Body
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Importance
◦ A coherently organized speech helps
audience follow key ideas, but reduces anxiety.
 Yields greater impact & builds credibility
 Helps achieve particular results
Introduction
Reveal topic
 Explain focus
 Preview
 Establish rapport & show respect
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Main Points
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STRATEGIC ORDER
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Chronological (time pattern)
Spatial (by direction & layout)
Causal (cause & effect)
Problem-Solution (state problems & the
solution)
◦ Topical (logical sub-topics points)
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TIPS
◦ Keep main points separate
◦ Use same pattern of wording main points
◦ Balance time devoted to main points
Conclusion
Grab attention
 Summarize message
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Supporting Materials
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Details to back-up & explain main points
◦ Main points are only assertions w/ out
evidence
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Types:
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Statistics
Examples
Testimonies (quotes or personal experience)
Stories
Connectives
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Words or phrases that connect ideas
Show relationship
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KINDS
◦ Transitions
 ―Now that…. let’s look at…‖
◦ Internal Previews
 ―I will be describing…‖
◦ Internal Summaries
 ―So far…. Now‖
◦ Signposts
 ―First…Second…‖
OUTLINES
Preparation Outline
Outline you will be graded on
Outlines main content of what you are
going to say
Organize visually & content-wise
Use a consistent pattern & indent
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full sentences
Include: intro, body & conclusion
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FORM
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Name
Title/Topic
Specific Purpose
Central Idea
Outline (I., II. III., etc.)
Bibliography (MLA style)
Speaking Outline
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Outline you will speak from
Provides visual reminder of what you
are going to say
TIPS
Make sure it is legible
Be brief, but complete
Don’t use full sentences
Include directions
(―pause‖ or ―look at group‖)