Summary

To effectively organize your speech you should first:

• Focus on your audience when organizing your speech.
• Refine the specific purpose.
• Create a clear thesis statement.

Organize the body of the speech before tackling the introduction or conclusion. Remember that:

• Two to five focused main points should fully develop the thesis statement.
• Use parallel structure, simplicity, and balance.
• Develop main points by using subpoints, supporting points, and further support.

Organize the speech body in one of several patterns:

• time
• extended narrative
• spatial
• categorical
• problem-solution
• stock issues
• refutational
• causal
• motivated sequence
• wave
• spiral
• star
• call and response

Use signposts as transitional statements to help your audience follow the organization of your speech.

The introduction to a speech should:

• open with impact
• focus on the thesis statement
• connect with the audience
• preview the body of your speech

Effective openings may include:

• a brief story
• a quotation
• a startling statement
• reference to the audience
• the occasion, or a current event
• appropriate humor
• a personal experience
• a thought-provoking question

The conclusion to a speech should:

• summarize the main points of the speech
• close with impact

Ways to close include:

• quotation
• brief anecdote
• direct appeal to action
• return to the opening theme

A formal outline is sometimes required of beginning speakers. Many instructors prefer students to use standard outline notation and write a complete-sentence outline.

Speaker's notes, usually placed on small cards, can be used when presenting the speech, as can overhead transparencies or PowerPoint slides.