Outlining

Sample Keyword and Preparation Outline

SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform my audience about the three major principles for outlining a speech

CENTRAL IDEA: The three major principles for outlining a speech are having the right parts, using proper outlining form, and properly documenting sources.

INTRODUCTION: {may be written in paragraph form or outlined in five points}

There’s an oft-quoted maxim about public speaking that says, “tell ‘em what you are going to tell ‘em, tell ‘em, and then tell ‘em what you told ‘em” (Safire, 1999). Although readers have the luxury of being able to read a passage over and over again to enhance memory, audiences find that the spoken word disappears almost immediately after it is uttered. Thus, clear organization is essential to an effective public speech. According to Steven Lucas, author of your public speaking text, research demonstrates that if an audience can't comprehend your main points or follow the flow of your speech, you will be deemed less credible and effective than those speakers who have clarity of thought (Lucas, 2000). In other words, a good speech is organized in such a way that it repeatedly emphasizes the structure of the speech. This is important because unlike reading, where a person can go back again and again and find key arguments, the spoken word disappears immediately after it is uttered. Thus, clear organization developed in a formal outline is imperative. Today, I will discuss the three main things you need to keep in mind when you write your formal outline for this class. First, having and labeling the right parts, using proper outlining form, and finally, properly documenting sources.

TRANSITION TO MAIN POINT: First, let’s take a look at the main parts of a speech outline.

There are six main parts of a speech outline.

The first main part is the statement of the specific purpose and central idea.

        1. These are important so that you and your instructor are clear on your purpose.

        2. These belong at the top of your outline.

The second main part is your introduction.

The introduction has five main parts.

• attention-getter
• statement of relevance/audience significance
• establishment of credibility
• orientation to central idea
• preview of points

The introduction may be written in paragraph form or using the five points.

The third main part is transition and summaries.

• Transitions help your audience see the connection between parts.
• Transitions belong between the major parts and the speech.
• They also go between your major points.
• Summaries remind the audience what you’ve said so far so far.

The fourth main part is the body of your speech.

• The body should contain the central ideas of your speech.
• The body is often considered the central part of the speech.
• The body should be clearly organized.
• It should be divided into 2-5 distinct points connected by transitions.
• The main points should be of roughly equal length.
• If you give too much time and space to one point, your speech will seem lopsided and unbalanced to listeners.

The fifth main part is the conclusion.

• The conclusion should summarize your main points.
• The conclusion should end on a note of finality.
• The conclusion should sometimes refer back to the introduction.

The sixth main part is the list of works cited.

• This should follow an accepted format.
• This should contain all sources used in the speech itself.

TRANSITION: Now that we’ve seen the main parts of the outline, from statement of your specific purpose to list of works cited, let’s take a look at the rules for proper outlining form.

There are three main rules for proper outlining.

The first rule is to clearly label the parts.

• This ensures the speech has the right parts.
• This helps you to see the structure of the speech.

The second rule is to use a consistent set of symbols.

• In the most common set, main points are identified by Roman numerals and are indented equally.
• Sub-points are identified by capitalized letters and are indented equally.
• Sub-points and sub-sub-points may be used as well.
• Using a consistent set of symbols helps to show relationships among the various parts of the speech.

The third rule is to use parallel structure.

• Main points and sub-points for a given section should be phrased full sentences that use the same wording whenever possible.
• This also helps to fix the structure of the speech in your mind.

TRANSITION: After you’ve made sure you have proper outlining form, you will want to attend to your documentation of sources.

There are two places where sources need to be documented in the outline.

Sources should be identified in the text of the outline.

• Here, you may use footnotes or parenthetical references after you use a source.
• These should include the author’s name.
• These should include the year of the publication.
• You must include the page number when you use a direct quote.
• Sources should be listed in a bibliography at the end of the speech.
• A bibliography is a list of works referenced in the speech.
• A bibliography must follow a consistent style of citation.
• The two most common styles are APA and MLA.
• Your instructor prefers that you use APA.
• Sometimes, you will find that you have consulted a number of sources that you do not actually cite in the speech itself.
• These may be added in a list of additional sources.

TRANSITION: Once you have your bibliography, you might be tempted to think you are finished. But the process of creating a speaking outline and rehearsing the speech are only beginning.

CONCLUSION {may be written in paragraph or outline form}

Nonetheless, today we’ve seen that creating an outline for your speech involves at least three main principles: making sure you have all the right parts, using proper outlining form, and properly documenting sources. This may seem like a lot of work, but it is essential in being able to follow that age-old advice about public speaking: “tell ‘em what you are going to tell ‘em, tell ‘em, and tell ‘em what you’ve told 'em"