Organizing and Outlining

This outline consists of Four parts; The Header, The Introduction, The Body, and The Conclusion. Before you start writing your speech you should make an outline using these 4 headings and their sub headings.

1. Header Topic Decide on your topic. Audience Analyze your audience. What do they already know about your

topic? Are they interested in the topic? Refine and limit topic Based on your analysis of the audience you may need to slightly

change you topic, by either changing the focus, or the scale of the topic.

Purpose Statement Write down a clear statement of what it is you intend to achieve.

What is the purpose of your speech. For example; The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience

how to travel in Japan without spending to much money.

Organizational Method or Pattern

There is no single way to organize a speech. The pattern you will select will be determined by the information you have and the specific purpose you want to achieve. There are six basic patterns for organizing a speech:

Logical or topical Chronological Spatial Classification Problem-Solution Cause-effect

Once you have completed these five parts of the 'Header', you are then ready to start planning the speech itself.

2. Introduction

Greeting and Attention getter How will you greet the audience? How will you get the audience's attention?

Think of a sentence that will make the audience sit up and listen.

Thesis Statement The 'purpose statement' is where you simply state what your goal is. However, it

is not possible to use this in the speech. You need to convert it to a 'thesis statement'. A thesis statement is one sentence in the introduction in which you declare your purpose and topic.

For example, a thesis statement of the above purpose statement would be; 'Traveling in Japan need not be an extravagance.'

Credibility If the audience do not know who you are, you will not only need to introduce

yourself, but you will also need to 'establish your credibility'. This means you will have to explain to the audience why you are 'qualified' to speak about the subject.

Outline of main the points - overview What are your main points?

Why? Tell your audience why you think your presentation will be useful to them.

3. The body Transition Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the

audience that you have finished the introduction, and are now about to start the body of the speech.

Main points and ideas Main ideas Supporting ideas Details & Examples

Visuals Write your main points and ideas here What ideas

will you tell the audience to support your main points?What details or examples do you have? Will you

have any visuals to help explain your points?

main ideas = sub-topics supporting ideas = sub-sub topics evidence = details and examples

4. The conclusion

Transition Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience that you

have finished the body and are now coming to the end of the speech.

Restatement of main points Summarize your main ideas and think of which piece of information

you really want the audience to remember.

Closer Think of a final sentence to help the audience remember your

speech.

Note that the presentation outline is not a word-for-word script for the speech but an outline of ideas to serve as an organizational and presentation tool for the speaker.

Once you have finished the outline you are then ready to start writing.

Main Points, Supporting Points, and Transitions

Main points express the key ideas and major themes of the speech.

Using purpose and thesis statements as guide posts.

– Specific purpose statement expresses the goal of the speech.

– Thesis statement expresses the theme or central idea of the speech.

Some stats about main points.– Audiences listen to only 2-7 at one time.– They remember only those made in beginning and end

of speech. A main point should only introduce one idea. They should also be stated in parallel form

– Points should be stated in similar grammatical form and style.

Always express your main points as declarative sentences.

Supporting Points

supporting material or evidence used to justify the main points and lead your audience to accept the purpose of your speech.

They are subordinate to main points.

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points

Unity– Avoid tangents, or moving off topic.

Coherence– Refers to clarity and logical consistency. – Do not jump around to different parts of the speech.– Principle of coordination and subordination

Balance– Give equal weight to each point you make.

Transitions: Giving Direction to the Speech

Transitions defined Types of transitions

– Full-sentence transitions• “Next, let’s look at exactly

what sales contests can do for us.”

– Signposts• Next,… First,… We now

turn… finally,…

– Restate-forecast form• “Now that we’ve established a

need for sales contests, let’s look at what sales contests can do for us.”

– Rhetorical questions• “Will contests be too

expensive? Well, actually…”

– Internal Preview• Dayane Souza has overcome

many difficulties, and throughout all of this she has still managed to complete a master’s degree, work a full time job, and care for a family.

– Internal Summary• It should be clear that an

education is very important in today’s society. Now, employers are even looking to hire only individuals with masters degrees and beyond.

Arranging Speech Points Topically

Topical pattern of arrangement

• I. Cultural variety

• II. Economy

• III. Recreational Activities

– This type of arrangement gives speaker greatest freedom to structure main points according to the audience’s interests.

–

Arranging Speech Points Chronologically

Chronological pattern of arrangement– Needs a time ordered sequence of events.

Thesis statement:

Main Points: I.

II.

III.

Arranging Speech Points Using a Spatial Pattern

A spatial pattern of arrangement– When your speech provides the audience with a

“tour” of a particular place.• Thesis statement: El Morro National Monument in

New Mexico is captivating for its variety of natural and historical landmarks.

– I. Visitors first see an abundant variety of plant life native to the high-country desert.

– II. Soon visitors come upon an age-old watering hole that has receded beneath the 200-foot cliffs.

Arranging Speech Points Using a Causal Pattern

Causal (cause-effect) pattern of arrangement– Cause

– Effect

Multiple causes for a single Effect: reasons students drop out of college– Cause 1 (lack of funds)– Cause 2 (unsatisfactory

social life)– Cause 3 (unsatisfactory

academic performance)– Effect (drop out of

college)

Arranging Speech Points Using a Problem-Solution Pattern

Problem-solution pattern of arrangement– Two main points used:

• Problem (define what it is)• Solution (offer a way to overcome the problem)

– More than two main points:• The nature of the problem (identify its causes,

incidence, etc.)• Effects of the problem (explain why it’s a problem, for

whom, etc.)• Unsatisfactory solutions (discuss those that have not

worked)• Proposed solution (explain why it’s expected to work)

Alternative Patterns of Organization

Narrative Pattern of Arrangement– Speech consists of a

story or a series of short stories, complete with characters, settings, and a plot.

Circle Pattern of Arrangement– To demonstrate how

one idea leads to another and then another, all of which lead back to the speech thesis.

Types of Outline Formats

Working outline

– Preparation or rough outline Speaking outline

– Delivery outline, the one you will use when practicing and presenting your speech.

Steps in Organizing and Outlining the Speech

Create the main speech points

Note any obvious subpoints

Select an organizational pattern

Flesh out the main points with subpoints

(supporting Material)

Create a working outline using full sentences

Transfer the working outline to a speaking outline using phrases or key words

Types of Outlines

Sentence Outlines– Each main and supporting point is

stated in sentence form as a full declarative sentence.

– Usually used when:• Speaker is inexperienced• When the issue is highly

controversial or emotion- laden for listeners.

• When the material is highly technical and exact sentence structure is critical

• When a good deal of material relies on quotations and facts from another source.

Phrase Outlines– Uses a partial construction

of the sentence form of each point.

Key-Word Outlines– Uses the smallest possible

units of understanding associated with a specific point to outline the main and supporting points.