ENG 3UI Speech Writing Outline Name: Basic Outline for Speech Writing

Structuring Your Speech This is a very basic speech outline that you can use to get started with your presentation. Too often, when we approach speech writing, we think in terms of a complete speech—not in terms of an outline. It’s extremely important to begin every speech—even if it is not to be read from a manuscript in the end— with a clear and thorough outline. Your audience will only be able to follow your speech if it is very clearly organized. Develop most of the outline with key words in order to assure that you will talk to your audience; you should write your thesis statement, transition sentences, and all main point statements as complete sentences (and deliver them as written) so that you have a speech that is easy to follow.

You need to make decisions about what information is most important for your audience, what is most useful, what will be easiest to understand? Think about your time limits. It’s generally best to stick to 3 main points of the purpose of a 3 minute speech. Your audience will appreciate your efforts to organize your thoughts and be able to absorb the information in the allotted time.

The Specifics: (What do I need to prepare before I begin my outline?)

 Topic  Interesting facts / Consider the opposition  Direct quotations  Sources consulted  Creative ideas to approach this subject matter  Support *can be personal anecdotes and not necessarily direct quotes

I. Introduction (45 seconds - 1 minute) A. Attention getter—pull the audience in with something interesting (a story, interesting stats, a quotation, etc. demonstration, rhetorical question or idea) B. Establish credibility/build relationship with the audience—why are you speaking on this topic? (why do you care about the subject? Remember: “we don’t buy what you’re selling, but we buy why you’re selling it” –Simon Sinek) B. Introduction of topic—give them a brief glimpse at what you are talking about, maybe some background info that they need for the speech. D. Thesis statement: one clear sentence that previews all your main points in the appropriate order. (Recall enthymeme, (unstated assumptions) and what you will expect your readers to know/assume) E. (transition: one complete sentence/phrase that makes the transition to the next part of the speech)

II. (Main point statement) (1 minute - 1:30 seconds) One clear statement that tells the audience what this section is about. 1. Sub-point (that supports the above main point) 1a. Support material (that supports the above sub-point; examples, sources, etc.) Transition idea 2. Sub-point 2a. Support material Transition idea 3. Sub-point 3a. Support Material

You may also choose to support your sub-points with additional material: 3b. Support Material 3c. Support Material Etc…

III. Conclusion (45 seconds – 1 minute) A. Summary (what do you want the audience to remember after the speech is over?) 1. 2. 3. B. Closer—you need to have a strong ending. It often works well to refer back to your attention getter, ENG 3UI Speech Writing Outline Name: to end with a strong quotation, to create a strong image, ask an important question etc..

Remember to create a Speech Map or Cue Card package to organize your speech. You will submit the hard copy of your speech, your speech map, and your rubric on the day of your presentation.

References Use MLA style to credit your required 2(+) sources for your direct quotations. Refer to the OWL Purdue guide online to follow the correct format.

Adapted from the Agnes Scott College Speaking Centre http://teacherweb.com/MN/FAIR/MrMarkCarignan/Basicoutlineformatforaspeech.pdf