Outline Format

Title

Specific purpose: indicating your intent (for YOUR and my benefit, NOT announced)

Thesis statement: One or two complete sentences summarizing the central idea, message, or argument of
speech (again, for YOUR and my benefit, NOT announced).

I. INTRODUCTION
a. Attention-getter: personal story, facts, figures, other statistics, etc. that gain audience’s
attention
b. *this is where the speech starts; the “purpose” & thesis statements are for focus
c. Preview: followed by a CLEAR preview of intended material, i.e., main 2 -3 points.
(e.g. First, I will discuss…Second...Third or my speech will address three main points X,
Y, and Z)

Transition: Phrase that lets me know you are moving from one point to the next. (e.g First, let’s talk
about problem X or now that I have discussed problem Y let’s move on to talking about problem Z)

Body: (general format—yours may vary according to your specific topic’s number of sub-points, sub
sub-points, etc.)

II. Major point 1 (should obviously support thesis)

a. Second level point supporting major point 1
i. A point supporting second level point
ii. Another point supporting second level point.
b. Third level point supporting major point 1 Optional
i. A point supporting third level point
ii. Another point supporting a third level point

Transition: See above

III. Major point 1 (should obviously support thesis)

a. Second level point supporting major point 1
i. A point supporting second level point
ii. Another point supporting second level point.
b. Third level point supporting major point 1 Optional
i. A point supporting third level point
ii. Another point supporting a third level point

Transition: See above

IV. Major point 1 (should obviously support thesis)

a. Second level point supporting major point 1
i. A point supporting second level point
ii. Another point supporting second level point.
b. Third level point supporting major point 1 Optional
i. A point supporting third level point
ii. Another point supporting a third level point

Transition: transition to the conclusion (In conclusion, in summary, to wrap up….)

V. Conclusion: NO new information

a. Consists of a CLEAR summary
b. Reviewing main 3 points
c. Memorable closing statement