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Effective outlining and organization are important components of an effective speech. When outlining, make sure to know and use standard formatting, correctly divide points and subpoints, make your outline coherent by using logical consistency and clarity, use complete sentences, and balance the amount of content across your points.
There are several ways to effectively organize a speech. A topical pattern can be used when your main points divide easily into types or parts of a whole. A chronological pattern follows a specific sequence of events. A spatial pattern visualizes where things are across a space. A causal pattern can use either cause-effects or effects-cause to look at who or what is responsible for something. A problem-cause organization explores the nature of a problem and possible solutions for the problem. Related to a problem-cause organization, speakers may also develop a speech around problem-cause-solution and expand upon the causes of the problem as well. A comparative advantages pattern compares things in order to make an argument about who or what is better. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is basically a more detailed problem-solution organization that follows five specific steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. A narrative pattern organizes a speech around a story with plot, characters, settings, and a theme.
There are several other important considerations when organizing and outlining a speech. Be careful to define key terms clearly and precisely – don’t assume your audience already knows specifically what definition of a term you are using. Use signposts to indicate structure and organization verbally to your audience and use transitions to connect clearly between points. Utilize internal previews to add additional previews into the body of your speech, and give internal summaries to review points already made within the speech. Once you have developed the content of your speech, develop an abbreviated presentation outline that focuses on key words and phrases.