Speech Organization Patterns
“Clear organizational structure benefits both the audience and the speaker.”
(Morgan & Natt, 2013)
• Spatial  This pattern is used when you demonstrate relationships between
points geographically or directionally.
o When is it best used? Spatial pattern is best used for topics which
involve describing parts of a place or object.
o Example Topics : 3D Printers, Solar Powered Airplanes, Purdue
Dining Courts
• Chronological  This pattern is used when you organize material in a
temporal sequence.
o When is it best used? Chronological pattern is best used for topics
which involving history, process, or procedure.
o Example Topics: Starting a Student Club, Using Meal Swipes in
Dining Courts, History of Purdue University
• Problem-Solution  This persuasive speech pattern is used when your
main points both establish a problem and provide a solution.
o When is it best used? Problem-solution pattern is best used for topics
which involve a legitimate problem and a feasible solution.
o Example Topics: Campus Trash, Communication Anxiety, Lack of
Asian American Cultural Center
• Causal Pattern  This persuasive speech pattern is used when you seek to
establish a causal relationship amongst two variables.
o When it is best used? The causal pattern is best used for topics which
involve tracing a link between an independent and dependent variable.
o Example Topics: Economic Recessions, Common Colds, Yellow
Teeth
• Topical Pattern  This pattern is used when your points seek to divide a
topic into subtopics.
o When is it best used? The topical pattern is very general and can apply
to almost any topic.
Adapted from Effective Presentations,
Morgan & Natt, 3rd Edition, 2013