InformativeSpeechOutlineGuide.docx

OUTLINE GUIDE

Title of Your Speech

Your Name

General Purpose: To Inform

Specific Purpose (Thesis): This statement should include what specifically you plan to inform the audience about.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Attention Getter: This represents the first words out of your mouth! So make sure it GRABS the audience. Make sure it is relevant/appropriate to your topic. Some devices you can use for the attention getter are:

· Joke/Humor (Make sure it is appropriate/in good taste!)

· Narrative/Story (Be brief)

· Shocking Statement

· Fact/Statistic

· Poem

· Quote

· Question

· Visual Aid/Activity

B. Purpose Statement/Central Idea: This statement should clarify to the audience what you are going to inform them about and introduce your topic. Answer the questions, “Why am I here and what is my topic?”

C. Significance: This statement should let the audience know why it is relevant and/or important to them.

D. Credibility: (optional, but will help create ethos with your audience) If you have a particular credibility with a topic (i.e. if you have diabetes and your speech is on diabetes) then reveal this in a credibility statement. This will help create trust between you and your audience and demonstrate that you know what you are discussing.

E. Preview Statement: This statement should reveal ALL of your main points in one simple sentence and give the audience a clear picture of what is to come in your speech. Be sure to use parallel words/signposts (i.e. first, second, third) to be simple and concise.

MAJOR TRANSITION: This statement allows the audience to hear that you are moving from the introduction to the body and can be relatively brief. “Now that we know what we are going to discuss, let us first look at….”

II. BODY

A. Problem/Need: Provide a general opening sentence which introduces the problem or need you are addressing with your topic.

1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.

Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point A to point B.

B. Solution/Satisfaction: Provide a general opening sentence which introduces the potential solutions to the problem/need you have established.

1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.

Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point B to point C.

C. Visualization: Provide a general opening sentence which helps the audience visualize the consequences or rewards if the solution you proposed is either implemented or ignored.

1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.

3. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information and may include evidence to support.

i. Related to the first sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed information/evidence.

MAJOR TRANSITION: This sentence should move the audience from your body into your conclusion.

III. CONCLUSION

A. Summary Statement: This statement should reiterate your points again to summarize what your audience learned about in your speech. Make sure to include all of your main points. This should be the mirror image of your preview statement but written/spoken in past tense, “Today we have learned about…”

B. Action Step: This sentence should present the audience with a specific action that they can take to assist or address the problem you have posed. It should be a reasonable and simple action that they can participate in (donating, volunteering, informing others etc)

C. Final Thought: This sentence should leave your audience with a great last impression of you and your speech/information. Like the attention getter, you can use devices such as a quote, question, story, joke, etc. to create a lasting memory.

WORKS CITED

Your works cited should represent the information/evidence you use within your speech. You should have at least five sources. Make sure to put citations in APA format and list in alphabetical order according to last name of authors.

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