1. Organizing &
Outlining your
SpeechOral-Interpersonal
Communication
Kelly Soczka
Steidinger

2. Why should you write a
speech outline?
1. An organized speech, lowers the speaker’s anxiety
2. So that your audience does not get lost (Listeners only
have one chance to understand you!)
3. So that the speaker does not get lost
4. Well organized speeches are perceived as more
competent and credible because it exhibits your
critical thinking skills

3. 3 Parts of a Speech
 Introduction
 Body
 Conclusion

4. Three Types of Outlines
1. Preliminary
The basic building blocks
2. Comprehensive
This is the one you will turn into the instructor
3. Speaking
This one will be written on your notecards

5. Preliminary Outline
0 Is a scratch outline with just a few key ideas
of what you intend to research (or you can
create a concept map)

6. Comprehensive Outline
A detailed outline developed during the
speech writing process that includes:
 Full Sentences
 The Introduction – The AGD, Thesis, Est. Credibility &
Preview of Main Points
 Body – Main Points, Sub-Points & Transitions
Conclusion
References – Both in-text citations & Reference page

7. Speaking Outline
A brief outline used to jog a person’s memory
during the presentation.
*Hint: You can write notes to yourself to enhance
delivery on your note cards – i.e. Speak Louder, Pause,
Breath, Look Up.

8. Guidelines for the
Speaking Outline
 Use a visual framework
 Make sure it is legible
 Keep it as brief as possible
 Give yourself speaking clues

9. Visual Framework
A pattern of symbolization and
indentation in a speech that shows the
relationships among the speaker’s ideas.
- Indentation
- Roman Numerals, Letters, & Numbers

10. Example of Visual Framework
I. Main Point
A. Supporting point
B. Supporting point
1. Sub-supporting point
2. Sub-supporting point
a. Sub-sub supporting point
II. Main Point

11. Main Points
The major points developed in the body
of a speech. Expresses claims & key
ideas.
- 2 to 5 Main Points
- Only support one idea
- Main points should support thesis

12. Tips for Writing
Main Points
1. Keep main points separate – use only one
key idea per main point
2. Try to use the same pattern of wording for
main points
3. Balance the amount of time devoted to
main points

13. 1. Keep Main Points Separate
Example
Incorrect Correct
I. West Texas has
its own Grand
Canyon, and
South Texas
has its own
desert.
I. West Texas
boasts its own
Grand Canyon.
II. South Texas
boasts its own
desert.

14. 2. Use the same pattern of
wording
I. Regular exercise increases endurance.
II. Regular exercise improves your
sleeping pattern.
III. Regular exercise helps control your
weight.

15. 3. Give equal time to main
points to balance your speech.
Incorrect Correct
I. 75%
II. 20%
III. 5%
I. 30%
II. 40%
III. 30%

16. How can you
How can you
organize your main
organize your main
points?points?
Informative Speech Organizational Patterns

17. Organizational Patterns for
Informative Speeches
1. Time Arrangement
2. Spatial Arrangement
3. Cause-Effect Arrangement
4. Topical Arrangement
5. Compare-Contrast Arrangement

18. Time Arrangement
Organizing your speech based on a time or date
Thesis: Americans believe they have a fundamental right to
privacy.
I.More than a century ago, Justice Louis D. Brandeis called
privacy “the right to be alone.”
II.Within a decade, the courts began to recognize the right to
privacy.
III.The Supreme Court relied on a privacy rationale in teaching
its fundamental and controversial decisions on abortion.
IV.Threats to privacy are abound in today’s society.

19. Time pattern is also used when
explaining a process…
Thesis: There are four main steps to
getting a professional tattoo.
I. First, the hair is shaved…..
II. Second, the main lines are drawn.
III. Third, colored pigments are applied
inside the outline….

20. Spatial Arrangement
The main points follow a directional pattern.
The main points proceed from top to
bottom, left to right, front to back,
inside to outside, east to west or in some
other route.

21. Spatial Example
Thesis: A hurricane is made up of three major cloud
formations.
I. At the center of the hurricane is the calm, cloud-free
cloud.
II. Surrounding the eye is the eye-wall, a dense ring of
clouds that produces the most intense wind and
rainfall.
III. Rotating around the eye wall are large bands of
swirling clouds.

22. Cause-Effect Arrangement
Main points are organized in a cause – effect
relationship.
This speech has two main points:
1. One dealing with the causes of an event
2. The other dealing with its effects
**Can appear in reverse order – the effect, then the
Cause, but this is rare.**

23. Cause-Effect Example
I. Caused by the bite of infected mosquito, West
Nile virus is spreading throughout the U.S.
II. The effects of West Nile Virus include
flu-like symptoms, convulsions, swelling
of the brain and in some cases, death.

24. Topical Arrangement
The main points of the speech divide the
topic into logical and consistent subtopics.
Speeches that do not fit under any of the other
organizational patterns, usually fall under this
one.

25. Topical Example
I. Genetic engineering is producing new plant hybrids
that will vastly increase world agricultural
production.
II. Genetic engineering is producing breakthroughs in
medicine that will allow people to live healthier lives.
III. Genetic engineering is producing bacteria that will
help clean up industrial pollutants.

26. Compare & Contrast Arrangement
Demonstrates how two things are similar or
different.
Thesis: Comparing performance, fuel economy, and
reliability can help you decide whether to purchase
gas-powered or gas-electric hybrid car.
I.Performance
II.Fuel economy
III.Predicted reliability and battery life

27. Once you have your main points organized, it is
time to add supporting points and materials
(evidence). Yahoo!

28. Supporting Points
Represents the
supporting
material you
gathered to
justify the main
points. Your
evidence/research!

29. Types of Supporting Materials
1. Definitions
2. Statistics/Numbers
3. Examples, Illustrations & Descriptions
4. Testimony
5. Facts
6. Stories

30. How can you tie your
How can you tie yourideas together?
ideas together?
By using connectives!

31. Connectives
Are words, phrases or sentences that tie
the speech ideas together. They keep the
audience and speaker on track.
 Internal Preview & Summaries
 Restate-Forecast Transitions
 Rhetorical Questions
 Signpost Transitions

32. Internal Previews &
Summaries
Previews
Previews key points of a
section of the body of the
speech
Example: I will focus on
three solutions…..
Summaries
Summarizes or reviews a
section just covered to
reinforce key on the body of
the speech
Example: Let’s pause for a
moment to summarize what
we have found so far.

33. Restate-Forecast Transition
States the main point just covered, then
previews the next main point. Examples
below:
Now that we have explored the ancient
origins of astrology, let us turn to its modern
popularity.
So much for the present; what about the
future?

34. Rhetorical Question
Transitions
Are questions that do not invite an actual
response. They make the audience think.
Example: How do the costs of contests stack up
against the expense of training new
employees?

35. Signpost Transitions
Brief phrases that indicate
exactly where you are in a
speech.
0 Numbers
0 Focused attention
words

36. Examples of Signposts
Numbers
The first cause of this
problem is…
The second cause is..
The final cause is..
Focused Attention Words
Finally…
First of all…
Next…
We now turn to….