SPEECH PATTERNS

Christine Martin | Steph Estavillo | Melanie Padilla

SPEECH PATTERNS
Distinctivemanneroforalexpression
Structures that will help you organize the ideas
related to your topic

Are you trying to inform your

listeners about an issue? Or trying
to persuade them to share your
opinion? Perhaps you are
commemorating an event?

BIOGRAPHICAL
Presents description of your life or of an another
person.
MAIN PURPOSE: to inform and to entertain

Natalie Portman was born on June 9, 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel. While she was a toddler, Portman's
parents immigrated to the United States. They first lived in Washington D.C., and then settled in Long
Island, New York, where Natalie attended Syosset High School.
While at a local pizza parlor, Portman was discovered by a representative of Revlon cosmetics, who
encouraged the 11-year-old to pursue a modeling career. However, Portman found modeling mundane,
and decided to direct her efforts toward acting. Shortly after, she began working with the Usdan Theatre
Arts Camp, where she appeared in a number of local productions.
Portman made her film debut in Luc Besson's memorable 1994 feature, The Professional. The
demanding role, which featured her as hitman's apprentice, caught the attention of critics and
audiences. The following year, her fame grew with a brief but captivating performance as Al Pacinos
troubled daughter in Heat (1995). In her subsequent film projects, Portman held her own alongside
Hollywood's A-list actors and directors. Ted Demmes heartwarming film Beautiful Girls(1996) featured
Portman in a pivotal role as a coming-of-age pre-teen. She was noted for her charming performance,
opposite an impressive cast, including Matt Dillon, Timothy Hutton, Uma Thurman, and Lauren Holly.
Later that year, she took on lighter parts in Woody Allens musical Everyone Says I Love You, with Drew
Barrymore and Julia Roberts; and in Tim Burtons sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks!, with Jack
Nicholson and Glenn Close.
After turning down the controversial role of Lolita, Portman took a brief sabbatical from the big screen.
In 1997, she spent a year on Broadway in the title role of The Diary of Anne Frank. The play was a
critical success, and Portman was credited with delivering a fresh interpretation of Anne Frankss
character.

Categorical/ Topical
Presents related categories supporting the topic
Organizes a speech according to aspects, subtopics,
or topics
MAIN PURPOSE: to inform, entertain and to persuade

CAUSAL
Presents cause-effect relationships
Organizes a speech from cause to effect, or effect to
cause
MAIN PURPOSE : to inform

EXAMPLE:

What Causes It?

Global warming occurs when greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, and methane trap heat inside the earth's atmosphere. Think
about what happens when you open your car door after the windows have
been rolled up on a hot day. Heat from the sun enters the car, but the frame
of the car prevents it from escaping. To a small extent, this is a
representation of what happens during global warming. Burning fossil fuels
like petroleum and deforestation both contribute to the problem. What Effects
does Climate Change Have on the Earth and its Inhabitants? Global warming
has already started to affect the earth in several ways. Arctic glaciers have
begun to melt, threatening indigenous life such as the polar bears. Melting
glaciers also cause sea levels to rise. This could become a problem for low
land areas like the ones in the South Sea Islands. Ocean temperatures have
begun to rise. This causes some of the algae to die which can affect the
entire food chain.

CHRONOLOGICAL
Presents idea in time order
Historical Topics, Process or procedure topics (how to
cook, paint)
MAIN PURPOSE: to inform

...We all know what happened to the special action force

of the Philippines, an elite force trained for counter
terrorism, hostage-rescue, and even disaster response.
Last Friday, January 23, 2015 our brave soldiers fought for
their lives against several armed groups in Mindanao.
They willingly put themselves in danger to address threats
to our security. They were wounded. And yes, they did kill
targets but unfortunately, last Sunday, January 25,2015 it
was announced that these brave men lost their lives...

COMPARISON/ CONTRAST
Presents comparison/ contrast of two or three points
MAIN PURPOSE: to inform and to persuade

What is it like to transition from elementary to middle school? That is a question many kids ask
each year. Having experienced both, I can tell you that there are plenty of similarities as well as
some very big differences between the two types of schools. Elementary schools and middle
schools have many traits in common. Typically, both are open five days a week for a set
number of hours each day. Students sit at desks in classrooms and are expected to listen to and
learn from their teachers. There is a set time for lunch. Each day, students are given homework
assignments. Students take quizzes and tests. In all of these ways, middle school should feel
somewhat familiar to new students. However, there are some big changes that new middle
school students should be aware of. In elementary school, students usually stay in the same
classroom with one teacher for most of the day. That is not the case in middle school, where
students typically have a different teacher for each subject. Students must move to a different
classroom for each subject too. Since there is not one classroom in which to store supplies,
middle schools often provide students with lockers. For many kids, getting a locker is a welcome
rite of passage. Making the move from elementary school to middle school may seem scary,
but knowing what to expect can really help. Elementary school provides kids with the
experiences they need to be ready for middle school. Even though moving on means adjusting
to a new environment, some things, including many of the classmates who accompany you, will
remain the same

PROBLEM-SOLUTION
Presents an identified problem, its causes and
recommended solutions
MAIN PURPOSE: to inform and to persuade

Consumption of processed and convenience foods and our dependence on the car have led to an increase in obesity and reduction in
the fitness level of the adult population. In some countries, especially industrialized ones, the number of obese people can amount to
one third of the population.This is significant asobesity and poor fitness lead to a decrease in life expectancy, and it is therefore
important forindividualsandgovernmentsto work together totackle this issue and improve their citizens' diet and fitness.
Obesity and poor fitness decrease life expectancy. Overweight people are more likely to have serious illnesses such as diabetes and
heart disease, which can result in premature death. It is well known that regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and
stroke, which means that those with poor fitness levels are at an increased risk of suffering from those problems.
Changes by individuals to their diet and their physical activity can increase life expectancy. There is a reliance today on the
consumption of processed foods, which have a high fat and sugar content. By preparing their own foods, and consuming more fruit
and vegetables, people could ensure that their diets are healthier and more balanced, which could lead to a reduction in obesity
levels. In order to improve fitness levels, people could choose to walk or cycle to work or to the shops rather than taking the car.
They could also choose to walk up stairs instead of taking the lift. These simple changes could lead to a significant improvement in
fitness levels.
Governments could also implement initiatives to improve their citizens' eating and exercise habits. This could be done through
education, for example by adding classes to the curriculum about healthy diet and lifestyles. Governments could also do more to
encourage their citizens to walk or cycle instead of taking the car, for instance by building more cycle lanes or increasing vehicle
taxes. While some might argue that increased taxes are a negative way to solve the problem, it is no different from the high taxes
imposed on cigarettes to reduce cigarette consumption.
In short,obesity and poor fitness are a significant problem in modern life, leading to lower life
expectancy.Individualsandgovernmentscan work together totackle this problem and so improve diet and fitness.Of the solutions
suggested, those made by individuals themselves are likely to have more impact, though it is clear that a concerted effort with the
government is essential for success.With obesity levels in industrialized and industrializing countries continuing to rise, it is essential
that we take action now to deal with this problem.

SPATIAL
arranges information according to how things fit
together in physical space.
This pattern works well when a writer wishes to
create a mental picture of something which has
various parts distinguished by physical location.
Topics involving geography, for example, are often
best organized using a spatial pattern.

Example:
Volcanoes are a feared and destructive force for good
reason. A volcano is like a pressure valve for the inner
earth, but they can also be very beautiful. One part of the
volcano that people rarely see is the magma chamber. The
magma chamber is way beneath the Earths bed rock. It is
tremendously hot. Running from the magma chamber to
the crater of the volcano is the conduit. The conduit
connects the magma chamber to the outer world. At the
top of the volcano is the the crater. This is where the
magma exits. Volcanoes are a beautiful yet dangerous
natural phenomenon.

MOTIVATED SEQUENCE ORDER

is a technique used to organize the entire speech.
The motivated sequence pattern is more complex than the others listed here. However, it's highly
effective when used for persuasive speeches.
MAIN PURPOSE: to persuade and to inform
It uses five steps:
Attentionsnag the audience's attention
Need This step relates the problem to the audience. This step can be supported with statistics,
quotations, or other facts.
Satisfactionpresent the specific, detailed plan that addresses the need as you anticipate and
respond to any questions the audience has about the solution.
Visualization Here you help the audience see themselves in the future. With positive
visualization, the speaker describes the advantages of adopting the plan that was presented.
Action This final step is designed to move the audience to do somethingapply the information,
vote for a particular candidate, sign-up for a program, buy a book, or take some other action.

SPEECH PATTERNS
IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR
TOPIC AND PURPOSE

LETS PLAY A GAME!

Consumers listed rising gas prices and falling prices for electric vehicles as the
main reasons behind their newinterestin electric cars
- CAUSAL
Studies have found majordemographicdifferences between consumers who would
consider buying electric cars and those who would not, but both groups still share the
same concerns
-COMPARISON/ CONTRAST
Market research shows that consumers weigh three main issues when they
consider buying an electric car: purchase price, convenience, and long-term cost
savings
-CATEGORICAL/ TOPICAL
The market for electric cars has evolved significantly in the years between
itsinventionin the late nineteenth century and the mass-production of electric cars
today
-CHRONOLOGICAL
Belgian inventor, Camille Jenatzy, combined solid engineering skills with a flair
forpublicity stunts to build a successful electric vehicle company in the 1890s
-BIOGRAPHICAL

Dr. Marc Sprenger of the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention draws on his experience as a
doctor and epidemiologist to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
-BIOGRAPHICAL
The European Union banned the practice of routinely feeding antibiotics to healthy livestock in 2004. Since
then, calls for similar legislation in the U.S. have become increasingly urgent as new studies warn of public
health risks from antibiotic-resistant bacteria
-CHRONOLOGICAL
The case for legally-binding restrictions on agricultural consumption of antibiotics should be evaluated in
terms of its costs, benefits, and practical feasibility...
-CATEGORICAL/ TOPICAL
The European Union banned the routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock as part of its quest to fight
antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Compared to the strict regulations in other industrialized nations, the
U.S.policyof trusting agri-businesses to regulate themselves seems outdated and irresponsible
-COMPARE/ CONTRAST
Dangerous bacteria are adapting to resist antibiotics on under-regulated U.S. farms. The FDA should scrap
its useless "voluntary guidelines" for agribusiness and impose legally-binding restrictions on the practice of
feeding antibiotics to healthy animals
-PROBLEM-SOLUTION
The U.S. industry standard of giving daily antibiotics to healthy livestock promotes the creation of antibioticresistant bacteria
-CAUSAL

Are we justified in our nostalgia for a bygone era of chivalry? Behavioral economists have taken
one step toward answering this question, using data from theTitanicand theLusitaniato study
social norms in disaster responses. How many men actually gave up lifeboat seats to women and
children? I will address these questions by analyzing the effects of age,gender, ticket class, and
family structure on an individual's chance of surviving one of these disasters
-CATEGORICAL
After theTitanicsank in 1912, the White Star Line spent four years in arbitration before reaching
a deal to cover 16 million in legal claims with a settlement of 664,000. Let's give that controversial
legal battle a retrial from beginning to end to see if the settlement is actually a fair outcome
-CHRONOLOGICAL
Tonight, we are gathered to celebrate Eva Hart, who was only seven years old when she sat on a
lifeboat watching theTitanicsink into the sea with her father on board. The experience left her
with terrible nightmares, but she overcame her fears and lived a full life as a singer, politician, and
magistrate
-BIOGRAPHICAL
The passenger carrierLusitaniasank only three years after theTitanicand claimed nearly as
many lives. However, the legend of theTitanicovershadows theLusitania'sstory. When I compare
these two tragedies, I find myself askinghow different are they, really?...
-COMPARE/ CONTRAST

The sinking of theTitanicinspired a new wave of maritime

safety laws. My panel will discuss the life-saving provisions we
owe to that tragedy.
-CAUSAL

REFERENCES

speech pattern. (n.d.)WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. (2003-2008). Retrieved

September 8 2016 fromhttp://www.thefreedictionary.com/speech+pattern
Patterns of Organization: Informative, Persuasive, and Commemorative.Boundless
Communications. Boundless, 18 Jun. 2016. Retrieved 08 Sep. 2016
fromhttps://www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communicationstextbook/organizing-and-outlining-the-speech-10/principles-of-organization-51/patterns-oforganization-informative-persuasive-and-commemorative-205-10678/
Organization of Speeches (n.d.) Retrieved: 08 Sep. 2016 from
http://web.gccaz.edu/~kshinema/Speechorganization.html
Patterns of Speech Organization PublicSpeakingGuidebook.com (2015) Retrieved 08 Sep
2016 from: http://www.publicspeakingguidebook.com/the_abcs_of_public_speaking_p10.htm