Dr. A. Lenard Introduction to Speech Communication
1
Listed below is a simplistic guide to help you construct your formal outline. I will be
looking for a similar format when you submit your outline to me. This should help you
get started. For the purpose of this assignment, complete all of the highlighted sections
and submit online via Blackboard. Use the headings that are provided in the outline and
complete accordingly. NOTE: Everyone should have the same “General Purpose”.
OUTLINE
Title of Your Speech:
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: This statement should include what specifically you plan to inform
audience about.
I. INTRODUCTION (All capital letters)
A. Attention Getter: This represents the first words out of your mouth! So make sure
it GRABS the audience in. 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: This statement should clarify to the audience what you are
going to inform them about and introduce your topic.
C. Significance: (optional) 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 (i.e. first, second, third) to be simple and
concise and allow the audience to hear how many points they will hear within your
speech.
TRANSITION: This statement allows the audience to hear that you are moving from the
Dr. A. Lenard Introduction to Speech Communication
2
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 (All capital letters)
A. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point A to point B.
B. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point B to point C.
C. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
Dr. A. Lenard Introduction to Speech Communication
3
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
TRANSITION: This sentence should move the audience from your body into your
conclusion.
III. CONCLUSION (All capital letters)
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 points.
B. Final Thought: This sentence leaves 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 ONLY the information/evidence you use within your
speech as opposed to all of the information you researched. Make sure to put citations
in APA format and list in alphabetical order according to last name of authors. Note,
you can go to www.easybib.com to help you with proper citation.
1
Listed below is a simplistic guide to help you construct your formal outline. I will be
looking for a similar format when you submit your outline to me. This should help you
get started. For the purpose of this assignment, complete all of the highlighted sections
and submit online via Blackboard. Use the headings that are provided in the outline and
complete accordingly. NOTE: Everyone should have the same “General Purpose”.
OUTLINE
Title of Your Speech:
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: This statement should include what specifically you plan to inform
audience about.
I. INTRODUCTION (All capital letters)
A. Attention Getter: This represents the first words out of your mouth! So make sure
it GRABS the audience in. 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: This statement should clarify to the audience what you are
going to inform them about and introduce your topic.
C. Significance: (optional) 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 (i.e. first, second, third) to be simple and
concise and allow the audience to hear how many points they will hear within your
speech.
TRANSITION: This statement allows the audience to hear that you are moving from the
Dr. A. Lenard Introduction to Speech Communication
2
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 (All capital letters)
A. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point A to point B.
B. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
Minor Transition: This sentence shows movement from point B to point C.
C. Main Point: Provide an opening sentence which is previewing information and
evidence to come.
1. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
2. Sub-point: Related to the main point, but provides more specific information
and may include evidence to support.
Dr. A. Lenard Introduction to Speech Communication
3
a. Related to the firs sub-point, but again, provides even more detailed
information/evidence.
TRANSITION: This sentence should move the audience from your body into your
conclusion.
III. CONCLUSION (All capital letters)
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 points.
B. Final Thought: This sentence leaves 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 ONLY the information/evidence you use within your
speech as opposed to all of the information you researched. Make sure to put citations
in APA format and list in alphabetical order according to last name of authors. Note,
you can go to www.easybib.com to help you with proper citation.