184 9.1 Organizing and Outlining YOur Speech
Now you are ready to decide which of your main ideas to discuss first, which
one second, and so on. You can choose from among five organizational patterns:
(1) topical, (2) chronological, (3) spatial, (4) causal, and (5) problem–solution. Or
you can combine several of these patterns. One additional variation of the problem–
solution pattern is the motivated sequence. Because it is used almost exclusively
in persuasive speeches, the motivated sequence is discussed in Chapter 17.Organizing Ideas Topically
If your central idea has natural divisions, you can often organize your speech
topically. Speeches on such diverse topics as factors to consider when selecting
a mountain bike, types of infertility treatments, and the various classes of ham-
radio licenses all could reflect topical organization.
Natural divisions are often essentially equal in importance. It might not mat-
ter which point you discuss first, second, or third. You can simply arrange your
main ideas as a matter of personal preference. At other times, you may organize
your main points based on one of three principles: primacy, recency, or complexity.
Primacy The principle of primacy suggests that you discuss your most im-
portant or convincing point first in your speech. The beginning of your speech
can be the most important position if your listeners are either unfamiliar with
your topic or hostile toward your central idea.
When your listeners are uninformed, your first point must introduce them
to the topic and define unfamiliar terms that are integral to the discussion. What
you say early in your speech will affect your listeners’ understanding of the rest
of your speech. If your listeners are likely to be hostile toward your central idea,
putting your most important or convincing point first will lessen the possibility
that you might lose or alienate them before you reach the end of your speech. In
addition, your strongest idea may so influence listeners’ attitudes that they will
be more receptive to your central idea.
Recognizing the controversial nature of stem-cell research, the speaker in
the following example arranges the three main points of the speech according to
primacy, advancing the most persuasive argument first:
Purpose Statement: At the end of my speech, the audience will be able
to explain the applications of stem-cell research.
Central Idea: Stem-cell research has three important applications.
Main Ideas: I. At the most fundamental level, understanding
stem cells can help us to understand better the
process of human development.
II. Stem-cell research could streamline the way
we develop and test drugs.
III. Stem-cell research can generate cells and tissue
that could be used for “cell therapies.”^1