Organizational Patterns for Persuasive Speeches An organized speech or presentation is of utmost importance. After developing the purpose of your speech and conducting research on your topic, you can begin developing the points you want to make, examples you plan to use to support them, and the basic order in which you want to present them. The main points or central ideas of a persuasive presentation can be organized in the following patterns:

• Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

o A pattern that is used to establish and prove the existence of a problem and then present a solution to fix the problem o This pattern is used when presenting a course of action to achieve a resolution o This pattern uses three main points, each of which has a different purpose: §

Main Point 1: Used to point out the problem

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Main Point 2: Used to point out the cause of the problem

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Main Point 3: Used to point out the solution to the problem

• Refutational Pattern

o A pattern that is used when a topic will cause audience members to propose strong objections towards your position o You will present and then refute their arguments against yours o Your purpose is to win over audience members who initially disagree with your stance or who may feel uncertain about their position on the issue o The main points in this pattern include: §

Main Point 1: Present the opposing position

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Main Point 2: Present the possible effects or implications of that claim

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Main Point 3: Present arguments and evidence for your own position

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Main Point 4: Contrast your position with the one that you started with

• Comparative Advantages Pattern

o Show that your viewpoint is superior to other viewpoints on the topic o Most effective when the audience is already aware of the issue and agrees that a solution is needed o The final step for this pattern is to drive home the distinctive advantages of your option relative to competing options at the end of the speech

• Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

o A five step plan which is useful in many contexts §

1. Attention: the speaker gains the interest of the audience

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2. Need: the speaker details the problem

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3. Satisfaction: the speaker proposes solutions that satisfy the need

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4. Visualization: the speaker illustrates how the solutions meet the need

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5. Action: the speaker demonstrates how the solutions may be implemented

*Adapted from O’Hair and Wiemann’s Real Communication (2012, p. 489-494), available in the Public Speaking Center.

Public Speaking Center

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www.uwlax.edu/CommStudies/PSC

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251 Murphy Library