Interpreting through Organization

Finding a thesis

Earlier in the semester, we defined and talked about the importance of a thesis. There are clues in organization to the identification of the thesis. None of these are one hundred percent guaranteed to give you the thesis, but they provide useful techniques.

Look for sentences with the characteristics of a thesis. Good theses are single, simple, declarative sentences. When you find one of these early in the speech, it becomes a candidate for thesis.
Look for a thesis by placement. Generally, a thesis is located near the end of the introduction. So a wrap-up of the introduction or a transition into the body of the speech can indicate a thesis.
Look for terminology and signposts. Sometimes speakers say, "My thesis is . . ."; sometimes they may say, "What I will talk about today is . . ." or "In this speech I will argue . . ." It is also not unusual for speakers to use volume, pace, or other characteristics of the voice to indicate to you where a thesis is located.
Look for sentences that serve the function of a thesis. A thesis does particular work in the speech, so look for that work to be done.

Limiting the topic. A good thesis draws limits around the topic to help the listener understand what the speaker will talk about and what not.
Suggesting the purpose. A good thesis indicates the speaker's objectives in the speech. Look for evidence of what the speaker is attempting to accomplish.

Determine the significance of the speech. A good thesis makes it obvious to the audience why the speech is important and why listening to it is important. Answer this question and you will be close to the thesis.

Remember, speeches need not have overt theses stated in the speech, but if they are good strategic discourse they will have a thesis -- overt or understood -- which defines their central idea.

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Orientation

Being Sensitive to Outlines

Organization can help you in understanding and evaluating strategic discourse. Strategic discourse is easier to interpret if we can separate it into its parts and understand each part. Outlining is a particularly good way to do this.

Look for the parts of a message. You can use the principles of outlining to lay out the major and minor parts.
Determine the purpose of each part, its thesis. Just as the speech has a thesis, so does each major part and subpart. Once you have the claim of a part isolated, you can locate its purpose in the discourse.
Listen carefully and critically to each part. You can now employ the things you have learned to evaluate the proof or to understand the part.

Patterns of Organization

By directing us through strategic discourse, patterns of organization lend power to the discourse. You should know these patterns of organization defined in Campbell and Huxman.

Chronological
Topical
Cause-Effect
Problem-Solution Sequence
Motivated Sequence

Working through a message

Good strategic discourse recognizes the expectations of an audience in the form of a message. The general form of a message is:

Introduction. Establishes your relationship with the speaker and the subject.
Body. Explains and offers support for the speaker's strategic purpose. Listen and evaluate the body of the discourse.
Conclusion. Last chance for you to understand the purpose and evaluate the strategic discourse.