A Detailed Speech Outline

This page explains how to make a detailed outline of a speech. It should be remembered that depending on the type of
speech, the outline may vary. However, if you base your speeches on this outline you should be able to make a
successful speech.
In order to make a detailed and useful outline you must understand the structure of a speech; The Introduction, The
Body, and The Conclusion. These three parts can be further broken down. The structure of these three main parts can be
seen in the outline below.
A presentation outline is a way to organize your material logically and clearly. You should make an outline before you
start to write a speech. In fact the writing of a speech comes towards the end of the speech creation process (see '11
Steps to Creating a Speech'). By using a presentation outline, you can "see" your speech and determine where you need
to add or revise information. It provides the structure for the introduction, body, and conclusion of your speech. In
addition, it can serve as your speaking script.
This outline consists of Four parts; The Header, The Introduction, The Body, and The Conclusion. Before you start writing
your speech you should make an outline using these 4 headings and their sub headings.
1. Header
Topic
Decide on your topic.
Audience
Analyze your audience. What do they already know about your topic? Are they interested in the topic?
Refine and limit topic
Based on your analysis of the audience you may need to slightly change you topic, by either changing the focus, or
the scale of the topic.
Purpose Statement
Write down a clear statement of what it is you intend to achieve. What is the purpose of your speech.
For example; The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience how to travel in Japan without spending to much
money.
Organizational Method or Pattern*(read them at the end of the page)
There is no single way to organize a speech. The pattern you will select will be determined by the information you have
and the specific purpose you want to achieve. There are six basic patterns for organizing a speech:
Logical or topical
Chronological
Spatial
Classification
Problem-Solution
Cause-effect
Once you have completed these five parts of the 'Header', you are then ready to start planning the speech itself.

2. Introduction
Greeting and Attention getter
How will you greet the audience? How will you get the audience's attention? Think of a sentence that will make the
audience sit up and listen.
Thesis Statement
The 'purpose statement' is where you simply state what your goal is. However, it is not possible to use this in the
speech. You need to convert it to a 'thesis statement'. A thesis statement is one sentence in the introduction in which
you declare your purpose and topic.
For example, a thesis statement of the above purpose statement would be; 'Traveling in Japan need not be an
extravagance.'
Credibility
If the audience do not know who you are, you will not only need to introduce yourself, but you will also need to
'establish your credibility'. This means you will have to explain to the audience why you are 'qualified' to speak about the
subject.
Outline of main the points - overview
What are your main points?
Why?
Tell your audience why you think your presentation will be useful to them.

3. The body
Transition
Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience that you have finished the introduction, and are now about to
start the body of the speech.
Main points and ideas
Main ideas Supporting ideas Details & Examples Visuals
What ideas will you tell
Will you have any
Write your main points the audience to What details or
visuals to help explain
and ideas here support your main examples do you have?
your points?
points?
main ideas = sub-topics
supporting ideas = sub-sub topics
evidence = details and examples

4. The conclusion
Transition
Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience that you have finished the body and are now coming to the
end of the speech.
Restatement of main points
Summarize your main ideas and think of which piece of information you really want the audience to remember.
Closer
Think of a final sentence to help the audience remember your speech.
Note that the presentation outline is not a word-for-word script for the speech but an outline of ideas to serve as an
organizational and presentation tool for the speaker.
Once you have finished the outline you are then ready to start writing.

Organisational Patterns for Speeches

Speeches must have an organisational structure. Without such a structure it will be difficult to make the speech, and it will be
difficult for the audience to understand. So, an organisational structure or pattern makes the speech easier to understand. Speeches
can be organised in many ways. The type of pattern you choose will depend upon the topic and purpose of your speech.
There are seven basic patterns for organising a speech:
1. Logical or topical
2. Chronological or Time Sequence
3. Spatial or Geographical
4. Classification
5. Problem-Solution
6. Cause-effect
7. Advantage-Disadvantage
1. Logical or topical pattern
Use this pattern when you have several ideas to present and one idea naturally follows on from another. Or you may have one main
topic, such as 'Advertising', which can be divided into three subtopics; Television Advertising, Magazine Advertising, and Radio
Advertising. This is a useful pattern for informative speeches.
2. Chronological or Time Sequence pattern
Use this pattern when your main points are connected by 'time'. For example, if you are going to give a speech about the history of
Toyota would begin with how the company was created, and finish with a description of may what happen to the company in the
future. Demonstration speeches also use time sequence patterns. For example, if you are demonstrating how to make a cake, the
your first point will be about the ingredients, and your last point will be about taking the cake out of the oven.
3. Spatial or Geographical pattern
Use this pattern when your main points cover a certain physical space. This physical space could be anything from buildings in a
university, to regions in a country. For example, if you were going to give an informative speech about Tokyo, each point could be
about a certain district in Tokyo. Or, if you were going to give a speech about skiing in Japan, each point would be about a certain ski
area (e.g. Nisseko, Appi, Zao, Tateyama and Iox Arosa), or about a certain part of Japan in which it is possible to ski (e.g. Hokkaido,
Tohoku and Chubu).
4. Classification pattern
Use this pattern when your main points are all about parts of one larger unit. For example, if your speech is about the Japanese
Education system, your first main point would be about kindergarten, and your last point about universities. Or, if your speech is
about advantages of using a certain computer, each main point would cover one certain advantage.
5. Problem-Solution pattern
Use this pattern when you have two main points; one point is about a problem, and the second is the solution to the problem. This
pattern is often used in persuasivespeeches. For example, if you were trying to persuade the audience to take regular exercise, your
first main point would be about poor health of many people, and your second point would be about how to become healthier by
exercising (the solution). Each of these two points could be organised in their own way. For example, the first point could have a
'classification pattern' in which you could describe the various health problems that people have. he second point could have a
'logical pattern' in which you describe some exercises that people can take, starting with easier exercises and finishing with some
harder ones.
6. Cause-effect pattern
Use this pattern when you have two main points; the first point is about the cause of a problem, and the second is the effects of the
problem. For example, if you were giving an informative speech about environmental pollution, your first problem would describe
how environmental pollution is caused, and your second point would be about the effects that this environmental pollution has on
our lives. As with the 'problem-solution pattern', each point will probably be organised using one of the above patterns.
7. Advantage-Disadvantage pattern
Use this pattern when have two main points; one point is about the advantages of something, and the second point is about the
disadvantages of something. For example if you were trying to persuade people to buy a certain car, you would talk about the
advantages of that car in one point, and then the disadvantages in another point. As with the 'problem-solution pattern', each point
will probably be organised using one of the above patterns.