EXAMPLES OF CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Main points follow a time pattern
Specific Purpose:
To inform my audience how the
Great Wall of China was built.
Central Idea:
The Great Wall of China was built in
three major stages
Main Points:
I. Building the Great Wall began during Qin dynasty of
221-206 BC
II. New sections of the Wall were added during Han
dynasty of 206 BC-220 AD
III. The Wall was completed during Ming dynasty of
1368-1644
EXAMPLES OF SPATIAL ORDER
Main points follow a directional pattern or have a
spatial relationship
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the structure
of a hurricane.
Central Idea: A hurricane is a meteorological phenomenon
consisting of an eye, eyewall, and spiral rain bands
Main Points:
I. At the center of a hurricane is the calm, cloud-free eye.
II. Surrounding the eye is the eyewall, a dense ring of clouds
that produces the most intense wind and rainfall.
III. Rotating around the eyewall are large bands of clouds and
precipitation called spiral rain bands.
EXAMPLES OF CAUSAL ORDER
Main points show a cause-effect relationship
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that the declawing of cats should be outlawed
Central Idea: De-clawing can have serious and potentially
fatal effects on cats
Main Points:
I.De-clawing is a painful procedure in which a cat’s claws
and first joint are surgically removed [CAUSE]
II.Declawed cats are unable to protect themselves outside,
and are unable to climb and scratch, both of which are
natural feline activities [EFFECT]
EXAMPLES OF PROBLEM-SOLUTION ORDER
First main point shows existence of a problem and second main
point presents a solution to the problem
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that legislation is needed
to control the abuses of fraudulent charity fund-raisers.
Central Idea: Fraudulent charities raise millions of dollars from
unsuspecting citizens due to a lack of governmental oversight and
public unawareness.
Main Points:
I. Fraudulent charity fund-raising has become a widespread national
problem. [PROBLEM]
II. The problem can be solved by a combination of government
initiative and individual awareness. [SOLUTION]
EXAMPLES OF TOPICAL ORDER
Main points divide the topic into logical and consistent subtopics.
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the major
kinds of fireworks
Central Idea:
The major kinds of fireworks are
skyrockets, Roman candles, pinwheels, and lances
Main Points:
I. Skyrockets explode high in the air, producing the
most dramatic effects of all fireworks
II. Roman candles shoot out separate groups of sparks
and colored flames with a series of booming noises
III. Pinwheels throw off sparks and flames as they whirl
on the end of a stick or post
IV. Lances are thin, colorful fireworks used in ground
displays
Transition
A word or phrase that indicates when a speaker has finished one
thought and is moving on to another.
At the same time, we need to consider the effect on humans.
If that is true, what about those who can’t afford it?
Internal Preview
A statement in the body of the speech that lets the audience know
what the speaker is going to discuss next.
Many people say that spanking is the best way to discipline an outof-control child. I’d like to show you why this isn’t true.
There are four major studies which have been done in the last 5
years on the effects of cigarette smoking and sexual dysfunction. I’ll
be highlighting two of the most widely-quoted ones here in order to
give you some insight into the problem.
Internal Summary
A statement in the body of the speech that summarizes the
speaker’s preceding point or points.
 Again, let’s look at the key facts: Child abuse is a cyclical problem.
The vast majority of child abusers were themselves abused as
children. And 90% of the men on Death Row were victims of
violent child abuse.
 As I mentioned previously, before we start to talk about a cure,
we need to understand the causes of the disease: close contact,
poor hygiene, and substandard nutrition.
Signpost
A very brief statement that indicates where a speaker is in the
speech or that focuses attention on key ideas.
 The most critical point to remember is that the rain forests are in
trouble.
 The second reason for voting is to allow your voice to be heard.