STRUCTURING YOUR SPEECH
Using Outlines
Outline provides a framework
Contains your main ideas
Shows how main ideas relate to one
another and support your thesis.
Working Outline
Rough draft of your speech
Work in progress
Will move to a formal outline
Formal Outline
Uses a specific format
Provides a clear structure to a speech
Principles of outlining
There are specific rules and principles
to follow when constructing an outline
These rules are based on the use of
standard symbols and format
Outlines either include full sentences, or
keyword statements
Standard Symbols
A speech outline uses the following
symbols:
I. Main point (Roman Numeral)
A. Subpoint (capital letter)
1. Sub-subpoint (standard number)
a. Sub-subsubpoint (lowercase letter)
***The major divisions of the speech—
introduction, body and conclusion—are not
given symbols
The rule of division
Main points and subpoints always
represent a division of the whole
you always have to have at least two
main points for each topic
***Never a I. without a II., or a 1.
without a 2., or an A. without a B.
Remember:
Make sections equal to one another
The ideal number of main points is
three to five
The ideal number of subpoints is also
three to five
Each point should include only one idea
The rule of parallel wording
Your main points should be worded in a
similar or “parallel manner”
Subpoints should also be worded in a
parallel manner
There are many ways to
organize a speech:
Time patterns
Space patterns
Topic patterns
Problem-solving patterns
Cause-effect patterns
Motivated Sequence
Another way to structure a speech
Variation of the problem-solving pattern
Should be used when constructing a
persuasive speech
Five steps of the motivated
sequence:
I. Attention Step
II. The Need Step
III. The Satisfaction Step
IV. The Visualization Step
V. The Action Step
-
Using Transitions
Transitions- keep your message moving
forward
Take place when moving to a new main
point
Transitions perform the
following functions:
Relate introduction to the body of the
speech
Relate one main point to the next main
point
Effective Transitions should…
Refer to the previous point and to the
upcoming point, showing how they
relate to one another and support the
thesis
Provide smooth connections between
two main points
In conclusion
It is clear that a formal outline is an
important element in constructing a
successful speech
Transitions are used to help guide
listeners smoothly from one point to the
next