Topical/Categorical Division - organizes a speech according to aspects,
subtopics, or topics.
Topic: Types of wine
I. Red Wines
A. European
1. Bordeaux
2. Burgundy
B. Californian
1. Cabernet
2. Sauvignon
II. White Wines
A. European
1. Bordeaux
2. Mosel
B. Californian
1. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Chardonnay
Topical/Categorical Pattern
• Topic: Seven Deadly Sins
I.
I.
History behind the sins
A. Venial sins
B. Mortal sins
Meaning of each sin
A. Greed
B. Gluttony
C. Envy
D. Sloth
E. Wrath
F. Lust
G. Pride
Chronological Pattern organizes speech according to a time
sequence (historical topics).
Topic: Life events that impacted Shakespeare’s writing
I. Traveling actors perform in Stratford
II. Gets Anne Hathaway pregnant
III. Acting career in London
IV. Joins the Lord Chamberlain’s Men
V. Son Hamnet dies
Sequential Pattern Example- Specific chronological order dealing
with process or procedure topics (how to cook, paint)
Topic: How wine is made
I. Step One: Harvest the grapes
A. Harvesting procedure number one
B. Harvesting procedure number two
II. Step Two: Prepare the grapes
A. Preparation procedure number one
B. Preparation procedure number two
III. Step Three: Ferment the grapes
A. Fermenting procedure number one
B. Fermenting procedure number two
IV. Step Four: Press the grapes
A. Pressing procedure number one
B. Pressing procedure number two
V. Step Five: Age the wine
A. Aging procedure number one
B. Aging procedure number two
Spatial Pattern- organizes a speech according to
the geography or physical structure of the subject.
Best for topic dealing with parts of an object or a
place.
Topic: Places to visit in Seattle
I. Downtown Waterfront
A. Aquarium
B. Pike Place Market
II. Seattle Center
A. Space Needle
B. Pacific Science Center
III. University District
A. University of Washington campus
B. The "Ave" (shops on University Avenue)
Compare and Contrast Pattern arranges
information according to how two or more
things are similar to or different from one
another (or both).
Topic: How to choose a post-secondary school
I. Similarities
I. Cost of Tuition
A. Educational programs
A. Two-year
B. Quality of education
B. Four-year
II. Differences
II. Quality of Education
A. Cost of tuition
A. Two-year
B. Type of degree
B. Four-year
C. Living expenses
III. Educational Programs
A. Two-year
B. Four-year
Cause and Effect Pattern - Organizes a speech from cause to
effect, or effect to cause. Identify / trace a condition from its causes (i.e.
recession, medical topic disease).
Topic: Eating disorders
I. Causes of eating disorders
A. Poor self image
B. Feelings of powerlessness
II. Effects of eating disorders
A. Excessive exercising
B. Starvation
C. Purging
D. Serious health problems
E. Possible death
Pro/Con organizes a speech according to arguments for and
against one policy, position, or action.
Topic: How to decide if a community college is right for you.
I. Advantages
A. Cost
B. Accessibility
II. Disadvantages
A. Number of educational programs
B. Quality of instruction
Climactic Order—arranges items
according to their order of importance
Topic: Why you would not want to have lived
in Medieval England
I. Dirty water
II. Poor personal hygiene
III. Primitive medicine
IV. The Black Death
Gimmick/Mnemonic OrganizationOrganizes a speech according to a special
memory device, such as alliteration, rhyme, or
initial letters that spell a word.
Topic: Characteristics of an epic hero
•
•
•
•
S—a hero enters a supernatural world
M—a hero faces mythical beings
A—a hero has supernatural abilities
R—a hero receives rewards for his
heroism
• T—a hero will be tested on his quest