What type of organizational pattern is used in the following outline: "I respect Joni Tada for three reasons: I. She has lived as a quadriplegic for almost 50 years II. She is a wise and winsome communicator III. She gives her life to helping those with disabilities"?

• A. Chronological
• B. Topical/Part of Whole
• C. Causal
• D. Sequential

Answer: (B)

The organizational pattern used in the outline is indeed topical, which is a method that categorizes information into distinct areas or themes. In this case, the speaker has chosen to present three independent reasons that collectively support the main idea of respecting Joni Tada. Each reason identifies a different aspect of her life and character without relying on a temporal sequence (which would be chronological) or a cause-and-effect relationship (which would be causal).

By organizing the speech around topics related to Joni Tada's life—her experience as a quadriplegic, her communicative abilities, and her philanthropy—the speaker effectively delineates clear points that contribute to the overall argument, making this approach a prime example of topical organization. This method is especially effective in speeches where the speaker wants to highlight multiple distinct attributes or arguments related to a single subject.