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Sample Outline Format

Note: The outline you submit should be one MS Word document inclusive of the outline, references page and description of visuals.

Speech Title: A creative title will add to audience interest.

General Purpose: Is it to inform? To persuade? To entertain? To mark a special occasion?

Specific Purpose: A specific statement of what you expect to accomplish with your speech - your desired outcome.

Introduction: Grabs the attention of the audience, presents a topic of the speech and tells the audience the major points of your speech.

A. Attention Getter: grab the attention of the audience - ideas include:

Use a famous quotation; tell a story, real or hypothetical; pose questions, rhetorical or directed; make a startling statement; use suspense; make a personal reference; use humor

B. Thesis Statement: The thesis is a single sentence that summarizes your message.  Every other part of your speech should support your thesis statement. 

Credibility: Somewhere early in the presentation, typically after the thesis statement, but before the preview statement, it will be important to establish credibility as a speaker.

Credibility can be established through reference to your own expertise on the topic and/or through making verbal reference to the sources of your support. This persuades the audience that you are "trustworthy" enough to speak about the subject, which is critical to your success.

You should continue to make references to your credibility throughout the speech to maintain that perception, but it is most important near the start.

Body: Contains the main points of your speech and is where you focus on the details; here your intent is to provide all the necessary evidence to explain and support your points.

Preview Statement: Here you preview your main points, which should be stated using parallel language.

Tie to the audience: Somewhere early in the presentation, typically after the preview statement, but before the first main point, it will be important to tie the topic to the audience. Why should they be interested in what you have to say? Why is it important to them?

You should continue to tie the material to your audience throughout the presentation to maintain the importance of the material, but it is most important near the start.

A. Main Point #1: You should have between 2 and 5 main points in the body of your speech, which will be supported by the subordinate points below.

1. The bulk of your speech will be support.

a. Support should be outlined following the conventions of outlining

b. Your outline should be of sufficient detail

2. The number of support points and sub-points in your outline will vary.

a. Be sure to read the text about the different types of outlines.

b. It is important that you use subordination to effectively demonstrate relationships between ideas.

B. Main Point #2

Supporting materials illustrate the main points by clarifying, elaborating and verifying the speaker’s ideas.

C. Main Point #3

In addition, supporting materials may add a vivid mental picture for the audience that makes the message more intense, striking or intense, hence, more memorable.

Conclusion: Summarizes the main points, stresses the most important details and provides closure, providing a lasting impact on the audience.

A. Summary: This is where you review the main points.

B. Closure: Providing a sense of closure to your presentation is important as this is the last thing the audience will hear. If the audience has to guess whether the speech is over you have failed. Leave a lasting impression by closing with impact.

Transitions: Be sure to use transitions between main points, when introducing new speakers and to demonstrate relationships between ideas in your sub points. Transitions are sentences or phrases that help your audience to follow the format of your speech.

Per the written assignment, you need to submit a description of your visuals and reference page, in addition to a detailed outline.

Description of Visuals: I am looking for you to tell me why you chose to include what you included on each slide. Review the slide functions in the Week 5 lecture for more information.

How does it enhance the audience’s understanding of the material?

How does it add an element of vividness of your speech?

You might say...

Slide 1: Title slide: A title slide is important because...

Slide 2: Main point 1 along with a picture of XYZ: Main points are the one thing you want the audience to take away from the presentation so repeating them visually helps to accomplish that. The picture was important because....

Reference Page: Using APA format, include all references used to support your presentation.