The Informative Speech Outline

                                                         The Informative Speech Outline

1. Start with Main Points
2. Look at the research and try to find a way to organize your three main points.  
3. You should have three main points.
4. Try to keep the wording as similar as possible in all the main points, and state them in full sentences (not in fragments).  Also, devote an appropriate amount of time to each one.
5. Next, Make Components of the Main Points with Subpoints
6. Look at the research that fits under each main point and come up with key ideas that belong to these main points.  These will be your sub points.   You need at least two sub points for each main point. 

B.             Subpoints can be in complete sentences or fragments.

1. Support Your Subpoints with Sub-Subpoints (your facts and examples)
2.             You must have at least six sources, that will be cited in the context of your speech, in your outline, and in your Works Cited section at the end of your outline.  These sources will help you support your main points. 
3.             Make sure in the body of your speech you tell us where your information came from, and/or who said it, in other words, CITE YOUR SOURCES IN YOUR SPEECH. According to The Speaker’s Primer, 2^nd ed. Published in 2016, authors Valenzano, Braden, and Broeckelman-Post, who are speech communication professors and authors, you should include in your verbal citation,1. Name of the publication, 2. Date the source was published, 3. Author of the work and 4. Credentials of the source.
4.                            Sources could be books, book chapters, magazine/newspaper articles, interviews with expert or knowledgeable individuals,

Web sites, or any other viable Internet sources or electronic media.

D.            Some examples you use for supporting your main points–can be personal experiences, but remember you need both.

IV.            Use Transitions Throughout Your Speech.

1. Know what transitions, internal previews, internal summaries, and signposts are, and when to use them.
2. Label and include all transitions in outline.

The Following is a Template and Guidelines FOR AN  INFORMATIVE SPEECH PREPARATION OUTLINE:  MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU LABEL EVERYTHING! (All labels are in parentheses–include all labels and visual framework in your outline.  You will have 3 main points.).   You must use the following template for your outline by typing your information into the template and replacing the explanations. You must use this example/template to format your outline. In your introduction and conclusion you will include the same number of elements.  In the introduction the Attention getter is always first and the Preview is last.  The order of the other elements is up to you.  It may make more sense to change the order of the Relevancy statement, Credibility statement, and Reveal Topic according to your topic.  Your outline will include all of the labels and all of the transitions.  You will include your title, Specific Purpose, and Central Idea in the spaces provided.  

                                                                              Title/Topic

Specific Purpose:  This is what your main points must support or prove.  Tell me in one sentence what the purpose of your speech is–for example “I will inform my audience about….”

Central Idea:            Summarize your speech/outline in one sentence.  Should clearly sum up all of your main points.  A declarative sentence.

INTRODUCTION

1.           (Arouse the Audience)  This could be a story, rhetorical question(s), quote, startling statement(s) or statistic(s), reference to a historical event, or anything you know think will get your audience’s attention. Write out at least three of the attention getting devices you plan to use.

1.          (Reveal Topic) Reveal your topic to your audience–just your topic–not a preview.

1.         (Credibility Statement)  Answer the question “Why should we listen to YOU?”  Give some type of factual information or some reference that will show that you know what you are talking about.  This could be the fact that you had a class on the topic, or that you have done a lot of research, or that you have first hand experience with your topic, or you are an expert, etc. 

1.        (Relevancy Statement)  Tell your audience how your topic is relevant to them.

•        (Preview)  Briefly reveal your topic and state what your three main points in the order you plan to discuss them.  Your Preview is your central idea/thesis statement.  You could use your central idea. Write out in a complete sentence(s) what you plan to say.

                                                                                                                     Updated 8.2020

(TRANSITION:  Transitions are used to go smoothly from one part/point of the speech to another. Write out all transitions.

BODY

1.           (MAIN POINT 1)  The first of your three main point goes here-it MUST be one complete sentence –your main points must be consistent with your preview and your central idea – similar wording.

(INTERNAL PREVIEW: of Subpoints (A, B, AND C) Go HERE – Include the exact wording of your internal preview that you will say in your speech)

1.         (SUBPOINT)  You MUST have at least two subpoints under each main point.      This should be one complete sentence or a phrase.

1.          (SUB-SUBPOINT) According to . . .(write out the publication, date, author(s) and their credibility) are where the specific examples from your research are included to support your main points.  You can use quotes, examples, stories, facts, statistics, analogies, etc…. Be sure to cite all sources in the verbal citation format.   

1.          (Sub-sub-subpoint) Further examples and information to support your subpoint. 

•          (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you must have a ‘b.’

2.         (SSP)  More of the above. If you have a ‘1.’ you must have a ‘2.’

                        B.        (SP) You Must have a ‘B.’  You must include at least 2 subpoints for each Main Point

1.         (SSP) Sub-Sub-Points and SSSPs are optional, however, you will most likely have both in your speech to support your subpoints and main points.

1.          (SSSP) Further examples and information to support your subpoint.

•          (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you need a ‘b.’

                                                2.         (SSP)

                        C.         (SUBPOINT–optional) Each fact, statistic, quote, interview or narrative, must include a verbal citation.

1.          (SSP)

•          (SSP)

(INTERNAL SUMMARY – OF SUBPOINTS A, B, AND C GOES HERE – Include the exact wording of your internal summary that you will say in your speech)

TRANSITION: A transition is used to go smoothly from the 1st Main Point to the 2nd Main Point.

                       (Include the exact wording of your transition) Write out all transitions.

II.         (MP 2) The second of your three MAIN POINTs goes here.  Follow the same format that you used for the first main point. 

(INTERNAL PREVIEW: of Subpoints (A, B, AND C)  Go HERE – Include the exact wording of your internal preview)

A.        (SUBPOINT)  You should have at least two subpoints under each main point.      This could be one complete sentence.  You cannot have an A without a B.

1.         (SUB-SUBPOINT)  This is where the specific examples from your research are included to support your main points.  You can use quotes, examples, stories. Be sure to cite all sources.  If you have a ‘1.’ you must have a ‘2..’

•           (Sub-sub-subpoint) Further examples and information to support your subpoint. 

•          (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you  need a ‘b.’

2.         (SSP)  More of the above.

                        B.         (SP)

1.         (SSP)

a.         (SSSP) Further examples and information to support your subpoint.

b.         (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you  need a ‘b.’

                                                2.         (SSP)

                        C.         (SUBPOINT–optional)

1.         (SSP)

2.         (SSP)

 (INTERNAL SUMMARY – OF SUBPOINTS A, B, AND C GOES HERE)

TRANSITION: Write out a transition to go smoothly from the 2nd Main Point to the 3rd Main Point.

III.        (MP 3) Your third MAIN POINT goes here. (Three main points seems to be the number easiest to manage as a speaker, and the easiest to remember for your audience.)

(INTERNAL PREVIEW: of Subpoints (A, B, AND C)  Go HERE – Include the exact wording of your internal preview)

1.         (SUBPOINT)  You should have at least two subpoints under each main point.      This should be a complete sentence.  You cannot have an A without a B.

1.         (SUB-SUBPOINT)  This is where the specific examples from your research are included to support your main points.  You can use quotes, examples, stories. Be sure to cite all sources.  If you have a ‘1.’ you must have a ‘2..’

a.         (Sub-sub-subpoint) Further examples and information to support your subpoint. 

b.         (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you  need a ‘b.’

•          (SSP)  More of the above.

                        B.         (SP)

1.          (SSP)

1.          (SSSP) Further examples and information to support your subpoint.

•          (SSSP) If you have an ‘a.’ you  need a ‘b.’

                                                2.         (SSP)

                        C.         (SUBPOINT–optional)

1.          (SSP)

•          (SSP)

(INTERNAL SUMMARY – OF SUBPOINTS A, B, AND C GOES HERE – Include the exact wording of your internal summary)

TRANSITION:           Write out the transition you plan to use to transition smoothly from the body of your speech into the conclusion. (Include in your transitional statement the  wording you plan to use in your speech)

CONCLUSION (Introduction and Conclusion should be balanced)

1.           (Reiteration)  Restate your three main points, using the same or similar wording used in the Preview.  Be specific and concise. Give a brief reminder from each of your three main points.

1.          (Memorable Closing Statement) Leave your audience with something to think about.  A memorable close that refers back to the attention getter creates psychological unity for your audience. Use at least two of the following techniques; a story, rhetorical question(s), quote, startling statement(s) or statistic(s), reference to a historical event, or anything you know think will bring closure, be memorable and help achieve balance.

                                                Works Cited (at least 6 credible sources)

Your sources.  Include in your outline complete citations (using APA or MLA format) of the sources you used.  Include interviews and EVERY SOURCE of information you used to prepare your speech That you Cite in your speech. The verbal citation, written out, will appear in the outline before the quote, fact, statistic or example etc.