This document provides guidance on organizing a public speaking presentation. It explains that the introduction should grab the audience's attention, set the purpose, and preview the main points. The body should have 2-3 main points supported by evidence, using an organizational strategy consistently. The conclusion should reiterate the topic and purpose, review the main points, and leave the audience with a concluding thought. It recommends starting by outlining the body, then writing the introduction and conclusion, adding an attention-grabbing opener and memorable closing statement. Transitions and revisions are also important.

1. ORGANIZATION
Public Speaking

2. Objectives
 Identify the “big” parts of any speech
 Distinguish various options for structuring the
body of a speech

3. All speeches have…

4. Organizing a speech is like
taking a road trip…

5. At first, it can seem kind of
scary…

6. But, once you figure out where
you’re going…

7. It’s not so bad!

8. Where to start…

9. Introduction
 Gets the audience’s attention
 Sets a purpose for the speech
 Previews main points

10. Attention Getter
 Purpose is to grab the audience’s attention
 Should motivate them to listen for the next
several minutes
 Your wording “should be refined and practiced”
(Poway).
 See handout for strategies and examples.

11. Middle Ground:
Navigate your Main Points

12. Body
 There’s no single right way to organize your
ideas.
 The strongest idea will have the largest impact
on your audience.
 Choose an organizational strategy (see
handout) and stick to it. They only work when
they’re unified.
 Have 2-3 main points and support them with
evidence.
 Use transitions.

13. Wrapping it up

14. Conclusion
 Reiterate your topic
 Repeat your purpose
 Review your main points
 Leave the audience with a concluding thought,
a clincher

15. Clincher Ideas
 Memorable quotes
 A vivid image
 A reference to what you said in your
introduction
 A call to action

16. Where to Start
 Body first
 You need to know what you’re saying
 Then, write your intro and your conclusion.
 Be sure to add an attention getter and a
clincher.
 Check for transitions.
 Revise and edit.

17. Works Cited
"Organization." Organization. University of
Pittsburgh, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.speaking.pitt.edu/student/public-
speaking/organization.html>.
Senior Project. Poway High School. PDF.