6: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
- Page ID
- 217869
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 6.0: Why It Matters- Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
- This page emphasizes the importance of effective organization in speech-making to maintain audience engagement and enhance information retention. Presenting facts in a random order can confuse listeners, leading to disengagement. It discusses various organizational patterns that help speakers deliver clear and impactful messages, ultimately assisting the audience in remembering the information long after the speech.
- 6.1: Introduction to Organizing Your Speech
- This page highlights the significance of clear organization in public speaking, contrasting confusing directions with straightforward communication. It presents six organizational patterns for speeches, emphasizing the need to choose the most effective one based on factors such as the topic, audience, and purpose. While topics may fit multiple patterns, only one will be selected for presentation.
- 6.2: Organizing Your Ideas
- This page highlights the significance of organizing messages in public speaking. It stresses that clear organization improves clarity, credibility, memorability, strategic impact, and speaker confidence. By logically structuring main points and supporting materials, speakers can effectively guide audience understanding, enhance information retention, and foster emotional engagement, which is essential for persuasion and informing.
- 6.3: Topical Organization
- This page describes the topical organizational pattern for speeches, ideal for informative presentations, where a main topic is divided into equal sub-topics. While it offers a clear structure, it also restricts content to selected categories, necessitating careful topic selection and effective transitions. An example from Nick Fuhrman's speech on effective teaching is used to highlight four key points. The text underscores the need to assess topic suitability for this organizational method.
- 6.4: Chronological, Step-by-Step, and Spatial Organization
- This page discusses three organizational patterns for speeches: chronological (events in order), step-by-step (process instructions), and spatial (points organized by location). It emphasizes the need for a strong introduction to manage audience expectations and highlights the importance of considering the audience's prior knowledge and time limitations when selecting a format.
- 6.5: Paired Sequences
- This page explores organizing principles for speeches, focusing on paired-sequence formats like pro-con and problem-solution. These formats improve audience comprehension by relating familiar ideas. The problem-solution approach is effective for persuasion, yet depends on the credibility of the solution. An example from Navi Radjou’s speech on creative problem-solving showcases the importance of clear principles for effective audience engagement.
- 6.6: Introduction to Outlining Your Speech
- This page discusses the importance of outlines in speechmaking, highlighting their role in organizing content for clarity and memorability. It offers guidance on creating effective speech outlines and selecting appropriate presentation styles for different contexts.
- 6.7: The Speech Outline
- This page emphasizes the importance of a speech outline for effective speech preparation and delivery. It aids in organizing content, identifying gaps, balancing main points, and enhancing logical flow. By visually arranging material, speakers can bolster their confidence and ensure a well-structured and coherent final speech through careful evaluation.
- 6.8: Parts of the Speech Outline
- This page discusses the essential elements of a speech preparation outline, highlighting its role in organizing and clarifying speech content. Key components include an optional title, central idea, labeled sections for introduction, main points, and conclusion, along with transitions and a bibliography. The outline promotes uniform indentation and full sentences for clarity, emphasizing its importance in the preparation process, even though it won't be used in the actual delivery of the speech.
- 6.9: Methods of Speech Delivery
- This page outlines four speech delivery methods: manuscript, memorized, impromptu, and extemporaneous. Manuscript offers precision but limits engagement, while memorized allows eye contact but risks forgetfulness. Impromptu speeches are spontaneous but can increase nervousness. Extemporaneous speaking blends preparation with spontaneity, promoting conversational delivery and audience connection, though it has risks like forgetting content.
- 6.10: The Speaking Outline
- This page discusses the importance of transitioning from a detailed preparation outline to a concise speaking outline for effective public speaking. It highlights that a well-organized speaking outline should include key phrases and personal reminders to aid delivery. Best practices for layout are suggested, including using large fonts, proper spacing, and avoiding electronic devices, to improve audience engagement and maintain eye contact.
- 6.11: Introduction to Documenting Your Sources
- This page highlights the importance of effectively tracking and organizing research materials, including documenting sources and compiling a formatted bibliography. It emphasizes how these practices make the research process more manageable, using the analogy of squirrels forgetting where they buried nuts. The content is authored by Lumen Learning and is under a Creative Commons license.
- 6.12: Develop a Preliminary Bibliography
- This page highlights the significance of creating a preliminary bibliography for speech research, advising on the tracking of diverse sources including articles, books, and websites. It stresses the importance of noting used sources for the final Works Cited document in the correct formatting style (MLA or APA). The text also includes acknowledgments and licensing details.
- 6.13: MLA Works Cited
- This page explains the MLA citation style, focusing on the concept of "containers" that categorize sources for easier citation. It provides guidelines for creating Works Cited entries, detailing formatting requirements like centering the title, double-spacing, and using hanging indents. The importance of accurate citation practices is emphasized, even when using citation generators. For comprehensive rules, the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook is referenced.
- 6.14: APA References
- This page presents essential guidelines for creating an APA References page, detailing the formatting rules such as alphabetizing sources by author surname, title presentation, and citation styles for various sources including books, articles, and online media. It also includes examples and an interactive practice activity for citation identification, ensuring comprehensive understanding of proper APA citation practices.
- 6.15: Develop an Annotated Bibliography
- This page outlines the structure and purpose of an annotated bibliography, highlighting the importance of full citations, usability notes, and evaluations of source credibility. It emphasizes that each entry should contain a summary, analysis, and relevance assessment. Writers are encouraged to maintain a focused approach and adhere to specific formatting styles (APA, MLA, etc.) to create an effective tool for research.
- 6.16: Putting It Together- Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
- This page discusses methods for organizing and outlining speeches, including topical, chronological, step-by-step, and spatial patterns, as well as problem-solution sequences. It also addresses the typical outline formats, noting variations based on the delivery method, from full scripts to keywords for impromptu speeches.
- 6.17: Assignment- Outlining a Speech
- This page describes an assignment where students are required to outline a speech by accessing "Assignment: Outlining a Speech," following the instructions, and submitting it via the LMS. The content is created by Lumen Learning and is licensed under CC BY: Attribution.
- 6.18: Discussion- Organizational Patterns
- This page provides instructions for engaging with a discussion prompt on organizational patterns, detailing the steps to click the discussion link, read the prompt and instructions, and share responses in the forum. The content is authored by Lumen Learning and is licensed under Creative Commons.


