Public Speaking

114 CHAPTER^9 Organizing Your Main Points

valuable asset to the company and team. I never know who may be

listening, taking note of my abilities, and considering me for future

projects and opportunities.^1

As Elisia noted, good organization is vital. One student put it this

way, “I think of organization as being kind to your audience as well as

yourself.”

Guidelines for arranging your main points and your speech

materials fall into the canon of disposition, which was introduced in

Chapter 2. This chapter begins with general tips for identifying and

organizing main points, moves on to explain several common orga-

nizational patterns, describes ways to develop, support, and connect

main points, and concludes with alternative methods of arranging the

body of your speech.

Organize Your Main Points

Although the body is the middle part of your speech, plan it first. Your research

has probably turned up several subcategories of information such as a sequence of

events or the causes and effects of a problem. Identifying basic patterns can help

you organize your main points and your underlying supporting material using a few

general organizational tips: limit your points, know some major patterns, and choose

the best pattern.

Use a Limited Number of Points

Cognitive psychologists say we learn better when we “chunk” information into just a

few major units.^2 In other words, listeners will remember your speech better if you limit

the number of your main points. Two to five points are common; the key is to keep your

structure simple.

To decide on your main points, return to your specific purpose and the central idea

you developed in Chapter 5. If you’ve created them thoughtfully, you should have a

pretty good idea about how to cover the material.^3 Keeping in mind your goal and the

general direction of your speech, you can start fleshing out your content.

Consider Traditional Patterns

Over centuries of speechmaking, speakers have developed several traditional patterns

to fit specific topics and purposes. Some work especially well for presenting infor-

mation, while others are better for persuasive messages. Here, you’ll find six widely

used organizational patterns: chronological, spatial, cause–effect or causal, problem–

solution, pro–con, and topical. (Chapter 17 describes several additional persuasive

patterns.)

Chronological Organization

The chronological pattern develops a sequence of events in a given order. Historical

topics or biographical speeches describe events that unfold across a period of years.

Read, highlight, and take
notes online.

Build Your Outline

chronological pattern
presents points in a
sequential or time order

As Elisia Choi recognized, a well-organized
speech is a major plus in most work
environments.

Eric Chan

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