Public Speaking Outline Tool
An Outline for Your Informative Speech. To help you organize your informative speech, try placing your ideas and thoughts in the following outline tool:
Introduction - start your speech strong by using a "hook" or attention getter. Then give the big picture of your informative speech, your central point (or thesis statement) and then an overview of where you are going (what you will say) during your speech.
- A "hook" or attention getter - A few sentences to draw in your audience right from the start. What will peak and capture their interest right from the beginning? Maybe it's something unexpected, surprising, or witty.
- You and the topic - Introduce yourself and briefly describe your interest in the topic/what it has to do with you. This is to earn rapport and credibility with your listeners, especially if they don't know you personally.
- Thesis statement - a succinct statement of your purpose and the specific topic that you will discuss.
- Importance, significance, relevance - Answers the "who cares" question. Why is the topic important, significant, and relevant to your audience? Make this clear so that they will be able to see how your speech will be useful to your listeners.
- Signpost - where your speech is headed. Describe in general what you intend to cover so that your listeners won't get lost and will know what to expect.
The body of your speech - the main points and evidence (examples, data) to support your case. You will likely have time for three main points or so. Each main point needs to be supported by examples and supporting data, and diagrams, photos, and visual images.
- Transition - Let the audience know you are diving into the main part of your speech.
- Main point - Here are the central points you are making in your informative speech.
- Examples and supporting data - Support your claims by providing examples and supporting data.
Diagrams, photos, visual images - Sometimes a good diagram or picture is worth a thousand words in explaining or illustrating something. Consider using one or two good ones to help strengthen your case.
Conclusion - Once you have presented your main points, you need to end strong! The conclusion consists of a reminder of the main points you gave, along with a memorable concluding remark.
- Transition - Let the audience know you are drawing to a close so they are not caught off guard.
- Summarize the main points - Briefly restate the main points so your audience is clear on what you have presented.
- Concluding remark - End with a good, memorable, strong statement. Let the audience applaud before you ask for questions.
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Public Speaking Outline Tool