Thought patterns:  are the schemes used for organizing main (and sub) points in a speech or essay.  There are a number of common thought patterns that listeners and readers will recognize easily.

• ** Spatial - order the points in terms of spatial arrangements -- front to back, geographically (e.g. east to west), etc.

• Chronological - order the points in terms of time -- first to last / beginning to end, flashback

  • alternative:  process analysis - enumerate the steps of a process or activity in order

• ** Compare and Contrast - order points by discussing similarities in concepts, then differences

• Topical - order the points into appropriate recognizable parts (often a weak choice)

• Cause and Effect - order points by presenting causes and then effects

• Pro - con - order points by presenting arguments for a position or action and then arguments against

  • alternative: topical: pro-con - order the points of the speech by key issues and then discuss in order the pros and cons of each issue.

  
  
  PERSUASIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS
   

• Problem - solution - order points by presenting a thorough description of the problem followed by an explanation of your prefered solution showing how it solves the problems

  • alternative:  Motivated Sequence

• Pro - con - when used in persuasion, order points by presenting arguments for your position or action and then critique the arguments against (or vice versa)

• ** Strength of Argument - strongest arguments to weakest arguments for your case (or the reverse)

• ** Induction - order points by presenting specific cases/examples and then presenting the general principle that those cases represent

• ** Deduction - order points by presenting a general principle and then describing specific cases/examples or outcomes that result from that general principle

** Less commonly used in COMM 101 Speeches.