If you think your main points don’t make sense in a certain order-or that one point needs to be scrapped entirely-it’s no problem to make the needed changes. The benefit of a working outline is that it’s easy to move things around. 3-5 main points (each one should make a primary claim that you support with references)Įach of your main points will also have sub-points, but we’ll get to those in a later step.An idea for the “hook” in your introduction.To create a working outline, you will need: Think of your working outline as the bare bones of your speech-the scaffolding you’re using as you just start to build your presentation. Types of Outlinesĭid you know there are several outline types? Each type of outline is intended for a different stage of the speechwriting process. The length of your outline will also depend on the type of outline you’re using at any given moment. In other cases, you may feel more comfortable with a full-sentence outline that offers a more comprehensive view of your speech topic. For some speakers, bullet points of your main points might be enough. Are you giving a quick two-minute talk or a longer thirty-minute presentation? The length of your outline will reflect the length of your final speech.Īnother factor that will determine the length of your outline is how much information you actually want to include in the outline. The length of your speech outline will depend on the length of your speech. Now that you know how helpful even the most basic of speech outlines can be in helping you write the best speech, here’s how to write the best outline for your next public speaking project. Your only job is to finish filling everything in. It will be much easier to finish the entire speech because the main points and sub-points are already clearly laid out for you. When you’re working off of an outline to write your draft, you can overcome “blank page syndrome.” Save Yourself TimeĪn outline is an organization tool that will save you time and effort when you get ready to write the final draft of your speech. Instead of seeming like several disjointed ideas, the parts of your speech will naturally flow into each other. When you know what’s happening before and after a certain section, it will be easy to accurately deliver transitional statements that make sense in context. Create Smoother TransitionsĪ speaking outline helps you create smoother transitions between the different parts of your speech. You want your ideas to be laid out in a logical order that’s easy to track, and for all of the speech elements to correspond.Īn outline serves as a structure or foundation for your speech, allowing you to see all of your main points laid out so you can easily rearrange them into an order that makes sense for easy listening. Your speech should have an overall organizational pattern so that listeners will be able to follow your thoughts. And by creating an outline, you can ensure that everything relates back to your main point. Remember, every illustration, example, or piece of information you share in your speech should be relevant to the key message you’re trying to deliver. Gain More Focusīy writing an outline, you’ll be able to center the focus of your speech where it belongs-on your thesis statement and main idea. Here are a few of the biggest benefits of creating an outline before diving straight into your speech. Good public speaking teachers will agree that an outline-even if it’s a rough outline-is the easiest way to propel you forward to a final draft of an organized speech that audience members will love. This step is an extremely important way to organize your main ideas and all the various elements of your speech in a way that will command your audience’s attention. Is a speaking outline worth your time, or can you get through by just keeping your supporting points in mind?Īgain, I highly recommend that all speakers create an outline as part of their speechwriting process. You might be wondering if you should really bother with a preparation outline. While to some, an outline may seem like an unnecessary extra step - after giving hundreds of speeches in my own career, I can assure you that first creating a speech outline is truly the best way to design a strong presentation that your audience will remember. The best way to start writing your speech is to first write an outline. Do you have a speech coming up soon, but don’t know where to start when it comes to writing it?
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