CO 1003: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Formula for Preparation Outline

Use the following as a checklist or example for your preparation outlines for your speeches. In
order to have a well-organized, clear speech, you must have all of the following components.

Title: A good title reflects the tone of your speech, as well as, gives the topic.
General Purpose Statement: The overall goal of your speech.
Specific Purpose Statement: A focused statement that identifies exactly what the speaker wants to
accomplish with his or her speech.
Central Idea: A single, declarative sentence that summarizes the main propositions, assumptions, or
arguments that you want to express in your speech.

Introduction

I. Attention Getter: This is when you begin your speech by getting our attention directed to
what you are about to tell us.
A. It must be relevant to your topic.
B. You should work on making it creative and interesting.

II. Reveal the topic: A specific statement of what your speech is going to be about.
A. Make sure that your relate your topic to your audience.
B. This will draw their attention and help them to listen better.

III. Establish credibility and goodwill: This is when you tell us why you chose to speak on this
topic and why you are qualified to speak on this topic.
A. Telling us why you’re qualified to speak on a topic doesn’t mean you’re an expert.
B. It may mean that your interest in the subject has caused you to find out more about this
topic through research.

IV. Preview of main points: This is your preview of the main points of your speech.
A. It should let the audience know exactly how you are going to develop/explain your
specific purpose.
B. The best previews are brief, they set the audience up for what is to come, but they don’t
go into too much detail.

(Connective: Use one of the four types of connectives to link the Introduction to the body of your speech.)

*Note: Your Introduction does not have to be in this exact order. It must have these four elements, but
you can rearrange them to fit your speech topic and purpose. You can have more or less sub-points.
 Body

I. This is where you state your first main point.

A. You might need to fully explain your point.
B. You need to also use supporting materials to support your main point.
1. You just might need to explain your supporting materials.
2. You might also try to remember to relate and personalize.

(Connective: Always use some sort of connective between your main points.)

II. This is where you state your second main point.

A. Again, make sure it is well explained.
B. Make sure also that it is backed up by supporting materials.
C. Keep in mind that personalizing and relating are always important.

(Connective: Again, you need a connective to link your main points together.)

III. This is where your third main point should be.

A. Explain your main points clearly.
1. Use examples to add human interest.
2. Remember that your audience wants to know why they should care about what
you say.
B. Use supporting materials to back-up your main points.

(Connective: Here we go again, let them know you are leaving the body of your speech and are going to
the closing.)

Conclusion

I. Signal closure: Tell us you are concluding.

II. Reinforce central idea (thesis statement): You might want to summarize the key points you
made in our speech.
A. It is not always necessary to restate your main points.
B. Your conclusion should ALWAYS reinforce your thesis statement.

III. Closure: Conclude your speech very clearly.

A. Make sure we know you are at the end of you speech.
B. Work hard to be clever and intelligent, the last words you say do leave a lasting
impression.

* Note: The length of your outline will vary depending on the number of main points and sub-points
you have. Your outlines will not look exactly like this one, but this is a guideline for how it should look.
Also, remember that if you have an A. you must have a B., and if you have a 1. you must have a 2.