Section 5. DESIGNING THE SPEECH

The ability to present ideas logically in informative speeches can be innate; however, it can be also improved or even taught. Notwithstanding to one’s ways of thinking or analytical skills, there is a number of conventional organizational patterns to make your speeches as comprehensive as possible to different types of audience. This section will discuss only the patterns which are most often used by students and professional speakers. These include chronological, topical, causal, and spatial structures.

Chronological Design

Usually chronological design is associated with using such words as successive, sequential, or the order of events. This pattern strictly follows a time line or historical approach, thus setting up the topics in their order of occurrence. The same pattern is also referred to as a temporal (relating to time) one. For example, if you would like to inform the visitors to Kyiv about how they could spend a three-day vocation, a chronological approach might be very helpful. So, the three parts in the body of the speech will naturally cover day one, day two, and day three.

Past Events

Speeches with goals to describe a series of past events work well with a chronological organizational schema. For instance, to inform the audience about the events that led to World War II, or tell the audience how Google became a leading search engine could each be well executed with this type of approach.

Demonstration Speeches

If you are going to show or explain to the audience how something is done, then a chronological approach is almost a must. You will definitely describe the steps of some process or actions in the stages of their development. So, the demonstrative speeches with goals such as “how to install the Microsoft Office” or “how to decorate a birthday cake” will inevitably involve a demonstrative speech design.

Topical Design

The topical approach, sometimes known as a categorical pattern is probably one of the most commonly used designs among public speakers. You simply organize the speech around three (sometimes two and occasionally more than three) main points that ultimately meet your goal. If, for example, you inform the audience of freshmen how to adapt to studying and become a successful Kyiv-Mohyla student, your three main points could be (1) the peculiarities of curriculum in NaUKMA, (2) honoured traditions of the university, and (3) NaUKMA student communities (brotherhoods).

Causal Design

The pattern is often explained as cause-effect or effect-cause in that you can organize causal arguments in either way: focus on causes and then identify their effects or you can begin by identifying the effects and then try to determine their underlying causes.

The first example represents cause-to-effect argument:

The main idea: An increase in tuition will leave students with less spending money.

Supporting evidence:

a. Students will still have to pay high rents and residence fees.

b. They will still have to buy groceries and supplies.

c. They will still have transportation costs.

Conclusion: A tuition increase will cause a reduction in students’ standards of living.

The next example develops effect-cause argument:

The main idea: Ivan failed his university course because of neglect.

Supporting evidence:

a. He skipped half of his classes.

b. Moreover, he did not hand in the required assignments.

c. And finally, he did not revise for the exam.

Conclusion: Ivan needs to change his studying habits not to be expelled.

Spatial Design

If the purpose of your speech is to describe objects in terms of where they are located in space, then spatial design will certainly be the most appropriate. For example, if your speech goal was to inform about the infrastructure of a Shopping Mall, you might (1) begin with the location of departments within the floors, (2) follow with the locations of cafes and snack-bars, and (3) end with the location of entertainment facilities.

Speeches that have as their goal to describe equal parts of a whole employ a spatial pattern as well. Topics such as “Product Arrangement in Supermarket Chains”, “My Trip across Europe”, or “How to Plant a Vegetable Garden” would work well with a spatial arrangement.

Practice Assignments

Suggest the most appropriate structure for the speeches on the given topics. Mind that some topics can be developed according to different designs. Substantiate your ideas:

· There is always something to discover in the native city

· The valuable things I’ve learnt in Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

· How to avoid intrusions into your privacy

· The advantages/disadvantages of keeping a diet

· Getting better in the art of photography

· How to make a traditional Ukrainian doll

· Combining studies and work

· The bestsellers of modern Ukrainian literature

· Conventional Physical Training classes at schools can be harmful

· Discover the Big Canyon of Crimea

· The spread of Social Networking

· Modernizing historical city centers is a crime