Koppers
Skeleton outline / manuscript
Topic: _________________
Purpose Statement: One complete sentence stating your purpose (i.e. the purpose of this
speech is to persuade my fellow classmates……).
Thesis Statement: One complete sentence stating your stand on the issue.
Attention – getter: One – three complete sentences gaining your audience’s attention.
Remember to choose an attention-getter that follows your topic.
Introduction
I. Introduction
A. Write out your complete attention-getter
B. Write out your topic (in complete sentence format)
C. Write out the importance of your topic (similar to the purpose statement)
D. Write out your thesis in one complete sentence
[Transition: write out one complete sentence making a transition from your
introduction to your first main point]
Body
II. First main point written out in complete sentence form
A. First sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
3. Third supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
4. Fourth supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
B. Second sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. 1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
3. Third supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
4. Fourth supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
C. Third sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence) – optional
D. Third sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence) – optional
Koppers
[Transition: write out one complete sentence making a transition from your first main
point to your second main point]
III. First main point written out in complete sentence form
A. First sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
B. Second sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. 1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
[Transition: write out one complete sentence making a transition from your
second main point to your third main point]
IV. First main point written out in complete sentence form
A. First sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
B. Second sub-topic (written out in a complete sentence)
1. First supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence - optional
2. Second supporting-order detail (elaboration) written out in a
complete sentence – optional
[Transition: write out one complete sentence making a transition from your third
main point to your conclusion]
Conclusion
V. Conclusion
A. Restate your topic in one complete sentence
B. End with an interesting thought (one complete sentence)