Chapter 8 of Oral Communication: Organizing and Outlining

You can connect the points of your speech to one another by using signposts into your speech such, as implementing summarizes, transitional statements and internal previews.

How do you connect the points of your speech to one another?

You craft a thesis statement by converting your specific purpose statement into your thesis statement, which is summarizing the main points of your speech and is created to give a preview of what your speech will be about. Most importantly, your thesis statement should reflect that purpose of giving the speech and if you are persuading, the thesis should tell the members of the audience about this goal.

How do you craft a thesis statement that clearly and succinctly summarizes the argument you will make in your speech?

You can select a topic that is appropriate to the audience and occasion by simply observing what is happening around you, at your school, in your local government or around the world. Or select a topic that you are already interested in which will make the process of writing and presenting your speech a more enjoyable experience.

How do you select a topic that is appropriate to the audience and the occasion?

A causal speech is when the speaker informs the audience on a cause and effect that has already happened.

What is a causal speech?

A chronological speech is when your main points are delivered according to when they have happened and could be traced on a clock or calendar.

What is a chronological speech?

A comparative speech is sued to explain the differences and similarities between two or more things.

What is a comparative speech?

A preparation outline is used to work through the various components of your speech into an inventive format and it helps your prepare your speech, which will include your full speech.

What is a preparation outline?

A spatial speech is used to arrange main points according to their geographic and physical relationships.

What is a spatial speech?

A speaking outline is the outline that you will complete in order to present your speech and it includes brief words or phrases that briefs summaries all of the content needed to prompt the speaker to successfully deliver the speech.

What is a speaking outline?

A specific purpose statement according to O'Hair, Steward, and Rubinstein (2004) "expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve. It is important to your speech because it tells your audience what your speech is going to do.

What is a specific purpose statement and why is it important for your speech?

A topical speech is when the main points of your speech center on ideas that are more specific from one another.

What is a topical speech?

A problem-solution speech is when a speaker thinks it is necessary to share a problem and a solution with the audience.

What is problem-solution speech?

A specific purpose statement is meant to be used only by the speaker while the thesis statement is to given during the speech to let the audience know what they speech is going to be about and what they are going to get out of listening to it.

What is the difference between a specific purpose statement and a thesis statement?

A speech outline functions as both an organizational tool and as a reference for delivering a speech.

What is the function of an speech outline?

Transitional statements

phrases that lead from one different but connected idea to another

Summarizes

provide a recap of what has previously been said so the audience can remember the points that they hear again

Internal previews

tell the audience what to expect from the speech