SPEECH OUTLINE

Hi Everyone,

Below is the outline that you can use for your upcoming speeches.


TEMPLATE OUTLINE (TOPICAL ORGANIZATION)

Here’s a template outline for structuring your speech. This outline would be appropriate for a speech using a topical organization pattern. Note that in this skeletal outline there are 3 main points (I, II and III in the body). These correspond to the A, B and C in the introduction (where you’d summarize your main points). The transitions are signaled by square brackets [ ]. The information in parentheses ( ) will remind you of the functions of each outline item.

SPEECH OUTLINE

Title of Speech: ____________________________________

General Purpose:    (your general aim – to inform, to persuade, to entertain)
________________________________________________________________________

Specific Purpose:    (what you hope to achieve from this speech)
________________________________________________________________________

Thesis:        (your central idea; the essence of your speech)
________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

 I. _________(gain attention)____________________________________________
 II. _________(establish speaker-audience-topic connection)____________________
 III. _________(orient the audience)_______________________________________

    A. ______(first main point; same as I in the Body)_________________________
    B. ______(second main point; same as II in the Body)______________________
   C. ______(third main point; same as III in the Body)_______________________

[Transition: _____(connect the introduction to the Body)_________________________]

BODY

I. ____________(first main point; same as A in the Introduction)_________________
  A. _____(support for I, the first main point)___________________________
 B. ______(further support for I)____________________________________

[Transition: _____(connect first main point to the second)________________________]

II. __________(second main point)________________________________________
A. _____(support for II, second main point)___________________________
B. _____(further support for II)_____________________________________
 

[Transition: _____(connect second main point to the third)________________________]

     

      III. _________(third main point)__________________________________________
A. _____(support for III, third main point)____________________________
B. _____(further support for III)____________________________________

[Transition: _____(connect third main point or all main points to the conclusion)______]

CONCLUSION

      I. _____________(summary)_____________________________________________

    A. ______(first main point; same as I in the Body)_________________________
    B. ______(second main point; same as II in the Body)______________________
    C. ______(third main point; same as III in the Body)_______________________

      II. ____________(motivation)____________________________________________
      III. ____________(closure)______________________________________________


REFERENCES
(List your references on a separate sheet of paper)