Speech Preparation #3: Dont Skip the Speech Outline The previous article in the Speech Preparation Series

described how to select your speech topic and your core message. This article describes how to support your core message with a speech outline, and provides numerous examples. This is the second step in the six-step speech preparation process. Writing an outline is, unfortunately, a step that many skip. The most common excuse is simply No time. This is unfortunate because time spent on an outline is time well spent. It is necessary to ensure that you craft a coherent and focussed presentation. Contents y y y y y Writing a Speech Outline Basic Speech Outline Speech Outline Variants Outline Writing Tips Speech Outline Extended Example

Writing a Speech Outline An outline is a blueprint for your presentation. y y y y It highlights the key logical elements. i.e. what points are being made to logically support the core message? It highlights the key structural elements. e.g. introduction, body, conclusion, stories, high-level concepts It links these elements together in a sequence, perhaps allocating very rough timings. It can also map out the transitions between elements, although this may be deferred to a later stage of preparation.

Basic Speech Outlines An outline is a blueprint for your presentation. The basic speech outline template for structural elements is: 1. 2. 3. Introduction Body Conclusion

Similarly, the basic speech outline template for logical elements is the familiar advice: 1. 2. 3. Tell them what youre going to say Tell them Tell them what youve said

Put these together, and you have the start of a generic speech outline: 1. 2. Introduction Establish topic and core message; list supporting points Body 1. Supporting Point One 2. Supporting Point Two 3. Supporting Point Three Conclusion Recap main points; summarize core message; call-to-action

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It is surprising how well this simple 3-part outline template works for a wide range of speech topics. Incidentally, this same basic formula can be seen in novels, short stories, movies, plays, reports, business briefings, emails, memos, and many other forms of communication. For many more examples, check out Why Successful Speech Outlines follow the Rule of Three.

Variants or Examples of Speech Outlines Example: Story-based Outline Some people believe that stories are the best building blocks for speeches. For example, in The Story Factor (Annette Simmons), the author claims that storytelling is the key to business communications. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Attention grabbing opening which introduces the topic and core message Tell a story. o Make a point Tell another story. o Make another point. Tell another story. o Make another point Memorable conclusion which ties together all three stories to support the core message.

Example: Scientific Conference Talk Outline The outline for many scientific talks mirrors the scientific method: 1. 2. 3. Define the problem needing a solution Describe the hypothesis which will explore one aspect of the problem Describe the experiment performed to test the hypothesis 1. Detail 1 schematic 2. Detail 2 photograph 3. Detail 3 description Show the data collected and subsequent data analysis 1. Data analysis 1 chart 2. Data analysis 2 chart 3. Data analysis 3 table Draw conclusions relating back to the hypothesis Suggest future actions

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Example: Community Association Meeting Speech Outline 1. 2. Story to introduce the symptom (e.g. vandalism) Use facts and evidence to trace back to the core problem (e.g. lack of safe activities for youth) 1. Statistics 2. Reports 3. Interviews Suggest a solution 1. Budget 2. Volunteers 3. Stakeholders A strong call-to-action motivating the audience to join the cause

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Example: Business Proposal to Investors 1. 2. 3. 4. Be direct: Invest $___ for %___ of the shares Story to illustrate the need for the product XYZ Story to describe the vision of how product XYZ improves lives Demo of product XYZ 1. Benefit #1 (focus on benefits, not features) 2. Benefit #2 3. Benefit #3 Invest now and make product XYZ possible 1. Story illustrating strength of the team 2. Market analysis 3. Financial projections Repeat call-to-action: Invest $___ for %___ of the shares

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Other Speech Outline Writing Tips When sequencing your outline points, try to avoid random order. Seek and extract the meaningful relationship.

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Comments on Face the Wind Outline At the outline stage, I set up many key elements of the speech. I determined the three main stories, planned humorous opening, identified a few key phrases to incorporate, established contrast (tree/people), used a metaphor (roots of people), and concluded with a call-to-action. Opening I wanted to open with humor to offset the drama later in the speech. Also, I wanted to connect with the audience as a homeowner as many in the audience are also homeowners. Story #1 I wanted the first story to establish the strong roots strong tree connection. By establishing that trees have strong roots, it makes the fact that they were toppled in the storm (story #2) more dramatic. Story #2 This story was essentially an expansion of the wind came from a different direction theory of arborists that I picked up several months prior from my friend. The fact that trees cannot face the wind is the key analogy in this speech, although the audience doesnt know it yet.

ote that all of these speech outline examples are appropriate for a short six to ten minute speech. Longer time windows will obviously allow for more detailed outlines. You may be able to customize one of the generic speech outline formats for your speech; more likely, you will need to craft your own to fit your situation. A few other things to consider: y y The granularity of your outline should be roughly one outline point per minute of speaking time, perhaps less for lengthy presentations. For presentations which are complemented with slides, your outline might include slide concepts, but no finer details. o Remember that your presentation is much more than your set of slides. Your outline should reflect your speaking elements which the slides complement. When sequencing your outline points, try to avoid random order. Seek and extract the meaningful relationship. o Chronological e.g. a biographical speech o Spatial e.g. an entertaining travel speech o Cause-effect e.g. speech relating crime rate to drug use o Low to high importance e.g. reasons to exercise o Broad vision to specific details e.g. a management speech outlining new company direction Your outline is not the same as cue cards, but they are related (if you use cue cards). An outline contains high-level speech elements; cue cards might additionally contain selected speech details e.g. transition phrases, key words/phrases, key numbers, or punch lines.

Speech Outline Example Face the Wind Here is the original outline that I put together for the Face the Wind speech. Comments follow which represent my thinking at the time of writing the outline. 1. 2. 3. Opening humor connect with audience as typical home owner Story #1 Backyard tree battle o Strong roots strong tree o Foreshadow: neighbours monster tree falling Story #2 Winter storms knock over many trees ational news (trees falling on houses), but our house okay o o Arborists: Wind came from a different direction o Establish key analogy Trees cannot face the wind. Story #3 Baby Maximus o Michelle and Lance have strong roots o Maximus is born Conclusion o Call-to-action: We must face our problems

The Speech Preparation Series 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. How to Prepare Your Presentation Select Your Speech Topic Plan Your Speech Outline Writing Your First Draft Editing Your Speech Add Speech Impact with Rhetorical Devices Staging, Gestures, and Vocal Variety Practicing Your Presentation Self-Critique: Preparation for Next Time Winning a Toastmasters Speech Contest

Story #3 This story tells about the struggles which eventually led to the birth of Maximus. The key element here is the contrast between trees and people (who can face the wind).

This page explains how to make a detailed outline of a speech. It should be remembered that depending on the type of speech, the outline may vary. However, if you base your speeches on this outline you should be able to make a successful speech. In order to make a detailed and useful outline you must understand the structure of a speech. The basic structure of a speech and how to make a simple outline has been explained on another page. On that page it was shown that there are three main parts to a speech; The Introduction, The Body, and The Conclusion. These three parts can be further broken down. The structure of these three main parts can be seen in the outline below. A presentation outline is a way to organize your material logically and clearly. You should make an outline before you start to write a speech. In fact the writing of a speech comes towards the end of the speech creation process (see '11 Steps to Creating a Speech'). By using a presentation outline, you can "see" your speech and determine where you need to add or revise information. It provides the structure for the introduction, body, and conclusion of your speech. In addition, it can serve as your speaking script. 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 What details or examples do you have? Visuals Will you have any visuals to help explain your points?

What ideas will you Write your main tell the audience to points and ideas here support your main 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.