SPEECH OUTLINE GUIDE
Title of Your Speech
Your Name
General Purpose: To _______
Specific Purpose Statement: This statement should include what specifically you plan to inform the audience about. (communication word + target audience + content)
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Attention Getter: This represents the first words out of your mouth! So make sure it GRABS the audience. Make sure it is relevant/appropriate to your topic. Some devices you can use for the attention getter are:
· Joke/Humor (Make sure it is appropriate/in good taste!)
· Narrative/Story (Be brief)
· Shocking Statement
· Fact/Statistic
· Poem
· Quote
· Question
· Visual Aid/Activity
B. Central Idea (Thesis) Statement: This statement should clarify to the audience what you are going to inform them about and introduce your topic. Answer the questions, “Why am I here and what is my overall point?”
C. Significance: This statement should let the audience know why it is relevant and/or important to them.
D. Credibility: (optional, but will help create ethos with your audience) If you have a particular credibility with a topic (i.e. if you have diabetes and your speech is on diabetes) then reveal this in a credibility statement. This will help create trust between you and your audience and demonstrate that you know what you are discussing.
E. Preview Statement: This statement lays out in one simple sentence a clear picture of what is to come in your speech. Be sure to use parallel words/signposts (i.e. first, second, third) to be simple and concise and help your audience follow along.
MAJOR TRANSITION: This statement allows the audience to hear that you are moving from the introduction to the body and can be relatively brief. “Now that we know what we are going to discuss, let us first look at….”
II. BODY
A. Main Point 1: Provide a general opening sentence which previews information and evidence to come in the sub-points below.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point A to point B.
B. Main Point 2: Provide a general opening sentence which previews information and evidence to come in the sub-points below.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point B to point C.
C. Main Point 3: Provide a general opening sentence which previews information and evidence to come in the sub-points below.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.
3. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.
i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.
MAJOR TRANSITION: This sentence should move the audience from your body into your conclusion.
III. CONCLUSION
A. Summary Statement: This statement should reiterate your points again to summarize what your audience learned about in your speech. Make sure to include all of your main points. This should be the mirror image of your preview statement but written/spoken in past tense, “Today we have learned about…”
B. Call to Action (used in persuasive speaking): This statement should ask the audience to complete a reasonable task that is related to your topic.
C. Final Thought: This sentence should leave your audience with a great last impression of you and your speech/information. Like the attention getter, you can use devices such as a quote, question, story, joke, etc. to create a lasting memory.
WORKS CITED
Your works cited should represent the information/evidence you use within your speech. You should have at least five sources. Make sure to put citations in APA format and list in alphabetical order according to last name of authors.
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