Lesson 3

Developing an Effective Speech Outline

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours,
weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is
merely the demonstration of their championship character.”
― Alan Armstrong

1. internalize the guidelines for speech outlines;

2. select and develop ideas; and
3. make a speech using an outline.

Activity 1. TRUE or FALSE. Write T if the statement is true; write F if it is false. Write your
answer on the space before the number.
_____1. An outline determines whether your supporting ideas match your main idea or not.
_____2. Any speech should include an introduction, body, and conclusion.

_____3. In the introduction, you explain the importance of your topic by giving examples.
_____4. Knowing the audience and the occasion is crucial in writing a speech.
_____5. Rehearsing is a major requirement.
_____6. Speech writing is a recursive process.
_____ 7. The approach that you will use in your introduction can determine the success of your
speech.
_____8. The primary objective of speech writing is getting the right or appropriate topic.
_____9. The purpose of the speech will help you identify ideas that will support your main idea
or message.
_____10. Word choice is one consideration in writing a speech.

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 If you were planning to build a house from scratch, you would require a plan or
blueprint to follow. This blueprint would show you exactly where every door, window, wall, and
stairway was located and show its relationship to every other structural detail. This blueprint
would provide you with "at a glance" answers to questions concerning content and structure of
your proposed house and would allow you to proceed with its construction in an orderly manner.
Just as plans and blueprints are essential to builders; so, too, are outlines essential to effective
speakers.

Guidelines for Speech Outlines

1. State the Specific Purpose of your speech.
The specific purpose statement is written as a full infinitive phrase beginning with the
words: "To inform my audience*" or "To persuade my audience*" (Remember: This statement
needs to be sufficiently narrowed so that you can cover the topic effectively and still meet time
constraints. You will not say your specific purpose statement aloud - - it is a statement of intent
only!)
2. State your Central Idea.
Essentially, the central idea statement is equivalent to a thesis statement in a written
essay, summarizing what you expect to cover in a speech in a single sentence. It is what you
will say during the introduction of your speech. For example, "Three beautiful, uncrowded
camping areas in the Rocky Mountains are Bridger-Teton national Forest, St. Charles Canyon in
Idaho, and the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah." Would work as an effective central idea.
(Note: This statement will occur in two locations in your outline--listed at the top of your outline,
directly beneath the specific purpose statement and also as one of your points in your
introduction.)
3. Label the Introduction, Body and Conclusion sections of your outline.
Labeling the parts of your speech not only ensures that you have all the parts, but it also
provides a marker to help you locate where you are when speaking.
4. Use a Consistent Pattern of Symbolization and Indentation.

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 The key word here is consistency. You need to provide your eyes with easily
recognizable focal points. After all, one of the objectives you hope to accomplish with your
outline is to provide yourself with an "at a glance" method of staying organized as you speak. If
you randomly list facts all over a sheet of paper, this objective is more difficult to accomplish.
Traditionally, main points are identified with Roman numeral (I, II, III, etc.) and begin at the left
margin. Sub points of main points are identified with capital letters (A, B, C, etc.) and are usually
indented five spaces from the left margin. Sub-sub points are indicated by Arabic numerals (1,
2, 3, etc.) and are usually indented an additional five spaces from the sub points for a total of
ten spaces from the left margin.
5. State Main Points and Sub points in Full Sentences.
Using vague labels in an outline does not clearly indicate the content of your speech--
what you plan to actually tell your audience. Stating your main points and sub points in full
sentences will ensure that you can fully develop your ideas and can guard against omission of
important information.
6. Label Transitions, Internal Summaries, and Internal Previews.
Transitions, internal summaries, and internal previews are all devices a speaker uses to
connect the ideas she/he is presenting together. Without these connectives, the speech will
seem rather disjointed or uncoordinated. (Transitions are words or phrases that indicate when a
speaker has finished one idea and is moving on to the next, such as: "in addition," "the other
part is*," "now that we have*," "it's time now to discuss*" )
Internal previews are more detailed than transitions and usually indicate when the
speaker is moving on to the next main point. For example, "In discussing the problem of
America's deteriorating public works system, we shall deal first with our streets and highways,
second with our bridges, and third with our water systems" is representative of an internal
preview. In long speeches that cover extensive technical information, the speaker often finds it
necessary to pause and reiterate key points for the audience. An internal summary reminds the
listener what she/he has already heard to make sure she/he has grasped that information
before the speaker moves on to the next point.
7. Attach a Bibliography.
A bibliography is a list of the books, magazines, and newspapers you consulted in
preparing your speech. Use MLA format in noting your bibliography. The key is consistency,
clarity of presentation, and accuracy. The bibliography demonstrates the effort you put forth
researching the topic and reflects your credibility as a speaker.

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Sample Speech Outline Format
Specific Purpose: [Type what you plan to accomplish in your speech here. Remember to begin
with "To inform (or persuade) my audience*"]
Central Idea: [Type the one-sentence summary of the key points to be covered in your speech
here.]

INTRODUCTION [label the introduction to mark it as a distinct section.]

I. Attention Getter
II. Relate to audience
III. Establish Credibility
IV. State central idea and preview main points

(Transition: Type the transition from your introduction to your body here.)

BODY [label the body of the speech to indicate it is a distinct section.]

I. Type first main point as a full sentence here.

A. Type first sub point of first main point here.
1. If further elaboration is called for, type the first sub-sub point of the sub point
here.
2. Type the second sub-sub point here. If you have one sub-sub point, you must
have at least a second.

B. Type the second sub point here. If you have one sub point, you must have at least a
second.

II. Type second main point as a full sentence here.

A. Type first sub point of the second main point here.
B. If no further elaboration was necessary on first sub point, type the second 4 sub point
here. If you have one sub point, you must have a second.

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III. Type the third main point as a full sentence here.
A. Type the sub point first of the third main point here.
B. If no further elaboration was necessary on the first sub point, type the second sub
point here. Remember, if you have one sub point, you must have a second.
C. Type the third sub point here.

CONCLUSION [label conclusion to distinguish it from the body of the speech]

I. Signal you are going into conclusion.

II. Restate central idea & summarize main points
III. End memorably

Bibliography
Provide a list of sources consulted while preparing your speech, using MLA bibliographic style.

Another example…

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: Your specific purpose identifies the information you want to communicate in
the mode you have chosen.
Thesis: The central idea of your speech.
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Something that grabs the attention of the audience. Examples of
this: startling statistics, stories, rhetorical questions, quotations, scenarios, etc. This point should
be more than one sentence long.
B. Reason to Listen: Why should the audience listen to your speech? Make it personal
to each of them.
C. Thesis Statement: Exact same statement as above.
D. Credibility Statement:

1. What personally connects you to this topic?

2. What type of research have you done to establish credibility?

E. Preview of Main Points: (this preview should reinforce the mode you have selected)

1. First, I will describe …

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 2. Second, I will examine …
3. Third, I will discuss…
II. Restate thesis, exact statement as above.
A. Statement of the first main point; you should not use a source in this sentence.

1. Idea of development or support for the first main point

a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc.- cite source)
b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
2. More development or support
a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc.- cite source)
b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
3. More development if needed
Transition: (Required) Statement of movement that looks back (internal summary) and looks
forward (preview).
B. Statement of second main point. Do not use a source in this statement.

1. Idea of development or support for the first main point

a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
2. More development or support
a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
3. More development if needed
Transition: (Required) Statement of movement that looks back (internal summary) and looks
forward (preview).
C. Statement of third main point. Do not use a source in this statement.

1. Idea of development or support for the first main point

a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)

b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
2. More development or support
a. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
b. Support material (ex: statistics, quotation, etc. - cite source)
3. More development if needed

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 III. Conclusion
A. Review of Main Points:

1. Restate your first main point.

2. Restate your second main point.

3. Restate you third main point.

B. Restate Thesis:

Exact same as above.

C. Closure:
Develop a creative closing that will give the speech a sense of ending. This point
may be more than one sentence. You should refer back to your Attention Getter.
References

 MLA format; all references need to be cited in MLA format.

 Electronic sources must be authoritative and credible. Sources from the .com domain
are not to be used unless authorship is verifiable and authoritative. ( .edu, .gov, or .org
domains are acceptable.)
 Be sure to make sure that the references are in Alphabetical order.
 Double-Spaced; all references should be double-spaced and indented.
 Four source minimum: You must have at least four sources (including one print and one
“expert’ interview) cited in your outline and listed on your reference page.
 Make sure to provide all necessary information in the references.

Exercise 1. IDENTIFICATION. Give what is asked. Write your answer on the space before the
number.
___________1. It refers to the blue print of a speech.
___________2. It is a list of all of the sources you have used (whether referenced or not) in the
process of researching your work.
___________3. This part of a speech clearly identifies the topic being discussed, includes the
points discussed in the paper, and is written for a specific audience.
___________4. This part of a speech supports the thesis statement.
___________5. The purpose of this is to summarize your main points and to prepare the
audience for the end of your speech.
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___________6. It is an empty space at the beginning of a line to signal the start of a new
paragraph.
___________7. This part of a speech represents your chance to get your audience's attention
before clearly stating your topic.
___________8. It is a definite aid in the construction of the speech, thus ensuring that you do
have a definite development of your introduction, body, and conclusion.
___________9. It refers to a device a speaker uses at the beginning of a speech to capture an
audience's interest and make them interested in the speech's topic.
___________10. These are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to
another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Make your own outline and speech. You can follow any of the format presented on “Let’s Dig
Deeper”.

 The topic of the speech is of your own choice.

 You can use the space on the next page.
 Below is the rubric for the outline and speech.

Speech

Mechanics - 15 points
(The speech is free from errors such as capitalization, punctuation and spelling)
Organization - 10 points
(The speech is organized; the paragraphs are connected to each other)
Content/Substance - 25 points
_______________
50 points
Outline

Outline format - 20 points

(Students followed standard outline format precisely)
Breadth of Information - 15 points

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(Student provided a detailed outline. Topics and subtopics are logical, balanced, and
appropriate, and are connected to the focus of the paper)
Depth of research - 15 points
(Outline shows a high level of acceptable sources connected to the paper topic)
__________
50 points

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You can write your outline here:

References:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-publicspeakingprinciples/chapter/chapter-8-outlining-your-
speech/

https://mcckc.edu/tutoring/docs/br/english/Speech_Outline.pdf

https://www.hffmcsd.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=232&dataid=946&FileName=
informative%20speech%20outline%20format.pdf

https://www.google.com/search?q=rubrics+for+making+an+outline&sxsrf=ALeKk01uY05E6GfPMMCHcsf
4JslBc357Gw:1597208178592&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj02feQ8JTrAhUlL6YKHdut
BGIQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1242&bih=597#imgrc=mcARww4LR1rAUM

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