Question

Explain and provide an example of how a speech topic could be organized using different organizational patterns.

AND

Explain the connection between the type of outline you choose and the impact it can have on delivery.

Answer 1

Categorical/Topical: The categories function as a way to help the speaker organize the message consistently. The goal of a categorical/topical speech pattern is to create categories of information that go together to help support the original specific purpose. For example.

Specific Purpose	To persuade a group of high school juniors to apply to attend Generic University
Main Points	I. Life in the dorms II. Life in the classroom III. Life on campus

Comparison/Contrast: While this pattern clearly lends itself easily to two main points, we can also create a third point by giving basic information about what is being compared and what is being contrasted. Let’s look at two examples;

a two-point example a three-point example.

Specific Purpose	To inform a group of physicians about Drug X, a newer drug with similar applications to Drug Y
Main Points	I. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are similar. II. Show how Drug X and Drug Y differ.

a three-point example.

Specific Purpose	To inform a group of physicians about Drug X, a newer drug with similar applications to Drug Y
Main Points	I. Explain the basic purpose and use of both Drug X and Drug Y. II. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are similar. III. Show how Drug X and Drug Y differ.

Spatial:The spatial speech pattern organizes information according to how things fit together in physical space. This is best to be used when the main points are oriented to different locations that can exist independently. We’ll look at two examples :

involving physical geography involving a different spatial order.

Specific Purpose	To inform a group of history students about the states that seceded from the United States during the Civil War
Main Points	I. Locate and describe the Confederate states just below the Mason-Dixon Line (Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee). II. Locate and describe the Confederate states in the deep South (South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida). III. Locate and describe the western Confederate states (Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas).

involving a different spatial order:

Specific Purpose	To explain to a group of college biology students how the urinary system works
Main Points	I. Locate and describe the kidneys and ureters. II. Locate and describe the bladder. III. Locate and describe the sphincter and urethra.

Chronological:This places the main idea in the time order in which items appear—whether backward or forward. Here’s a simple example.

Specific Purpose	To inform my audience about the books written by Winston Churchill
Main Points	I. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings prior to World War II. II. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings during World War II. III. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings after World War II.

Biographical: generally used when a speaker wants to describe a person’s life—either a speaker’s own life, the life of someone they know personally, or the life of a famous person. By the nature of this speech organizational pattern, these speeches tend to be informative or entertaining; they are usually not persuasive. Example.

Specific Purpose	To inform my audience about the early life of Marilyn Manson
Main Points	I. Describe Brian Hugh Warner’s early life and the beginning of his feud with Christianity. II. Describe Warner’s stint as a music journalist in Florida. III. Describe Warner’s decision to create Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.

Causal:The causal speech pattern is used to explain cause-and-effect relationships.This pattern will focus on two basic main points: cause and effect. In the first main point, causes of a phenomenon will be discussed, and in the second main point how the causes lead to either a specific effect or a small set of effects. Let’s look at an example.

Specific Purpose	To inform my audience about the problems associated with drinking among members of Native American tribal group
Main Points	I. Explain the history and prevalence of drinking alcohol among Native Americans. II. Explain the effects that abuse of alcohol has on Native Americans and how this differs from the experience of other populations.

Problem-Cause-Solution: Another format for organizing distinct main points in a clear manner is the problem-cause-solution speech pattern. In this format a problem is described , what is causing the problem is identified, and then a solution is recommended to correct the problem.

Specific Purpose	To persuade a civic group to support a citywide curfew for individuals under the age of eighteen
Main Points	I.Demonstrate that vandalism and violence among youth is having a negative effect on our community. II. Show how vandalism and violence among youth go up after 10:00 p.m. in our community. III. Explain how instituting a mandatory curfew at 10:00 p.m. would reduce vandalism and violence within our community.

Psychological: a psychological speech pattern in which “a” leads to “b” and “b” leads to “c.” This speech format is designed to follow a logical argument, so this format lends itself to persuasive speeches very easily. Let’s look at an example.

Specific Purpose	To persuade a group of nurses to use humor in healing the person
Main Points	I. How laughing affects the body II. How the bodily effects can help healing III. Strategies for using humor in healing

I would choose for Casual Speech Pattern for my speech topic because of the following impacts:

• causal speech pattern explains cause-and-effect relationships.
• It not just allows you to introduce the audience with a phenomena but also let's you explore the causes for the phenomena along with looking at the effects from the phenomena.
• This pattern let's you cover all the aspects of a topic, ranging from the history to prevalance and from reasons to implications
• This pattern not just makes it easier for the audience to understand and relate with the topic but also cross examine, analyse abd evaluate different sides of it