Chapter 10: Planning and Organization
Chapter 10: Planning and Organization
Author: Lisa Marie Coppoletta
Author: Lisa Marie Coppoletta
When you think of the most dynamic speakers, you most likely notice their comfort in front of the audience and with their material, and a delivery that seems almost effortless. However, effective speakers understand the time and attention that goes into the planning and preparation for delivery. In this chapter, we will outline the steps in the speech development process beginning with developing purpose and thesis statements. Then, we will examine organizational patterns for informative, persuasive, and special occasion speeches, and the use of transition statements to connect ideas. Finally, we will look at different techniques for creating engaging introductions and conclusions.
Purpose and Thesis Statements
When first preparing a presentation, speakers need to know and understand both their general purpose and specific purpose before developing content or creating an outline for the speech. A speaker’s general purpose is to inform, persuade or entertain the audience. The mindful speaker then plans and organizes the specific purpose, or goal, of their presentation. The specific purpose represents the general goal of the speech as well as a specific takeaway by stating what the speaker wants the audience to know or do as a result of listening to the message. Do you want the audience to consider purchasing new software? Do you want them to understand the steps involved in completing a process or procedure? The specific purpose functions to keep the speaker focused while building the content of the speech.
For example:
To inform my audience of the four steps involved in reporting incidents of theft.
To persuade my audience to support the new telework policy for the sales team.
The thesis statement is a one-sentence summary of the speech. While the general purpose and specific purpose function as the "back story" in the speaker's mind, the thesis statement will become a part of the speaker’s message. In other words, it is overtly stated in the speech to the audience. The thesis statement is often created after a speaker has conducted research on the topic. The following examples represent thesis statements for formal business presentations:
Although cryptocurrency has increased in popularity, investing in crypto online is still a risky financial decision.
There is a direct relationship between employees’ attitudes towards work and their professional outcomes.
The thesis statement may also function as a preview of the speaker’s main points. Note how the following examples preview the main points of the speaker’s message:
Remote work requires not only time management, but also access to technology, and the ability to work independently.
High levels of work related stress can have a detrimental effect on personal health, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and sleep complications.
Both the specific purpose and thesis statements may be modified during the speech development process. It is important that both accurately represent the speaker’s goals and the content of the speech. The next step in the development process is to order the main points of your speech in a way that makes it easy for your audience to follow and listen to your message. To accomplish this, you must select an appropriate organizational pattern that helps your audience follow your ideas.