Structuring and Outlining Your Speech

Pages 195-225

1. Develop simple, well ordered, balanced speeches

2. Construct and outline body of your speeches3. Plan transitions4. Prepare effective introductions and conclusions5. Prepare a final outline

Well Structured Speech: Simplicity Limit the number of main ideas

◦Order your ideas into main points and sub points

Repeat Key Points for emphasis◦Preview message in the intro, repeat

in the body, and review in the conclusion

Main Points◦Use simple, direct statements

Well structured speech: Order

Open by introducing message and guiding your audience

Main ideas develop the message ◦Should be organized in some design (cause-

effect, categorical, narrative...)End by summarizing the meaning of

what you said

Start with body, then write intro/conclusion

Well Structured Speech: BalanceBody should be the longest part

◦Develop your message in full

Balance development of main points◦Equal, descending, ascending

emphasis (pg199)

Intro/Conclusion should be brief and about the same length

Design Options (Informative) pg 328

Categorical: main points arranged by natural divisions/categories

◦We organize info how it makes sense to us,

◦By patterns within or patterns we create.

◦Each category becomes a main point.◦Very effective for informative speeches.

Design Options (Informative) pg 329

Comparative: compares different ideas to show differences and/or similarities.◦For example, comparing current events

to past events. ◦Literal vs. figurative analogy

Subjects compared from the same field of experience vs. different fields of experience.

Example: literal analogy= Saudi and American foods figurative analogy= healthy eating/body and good car maintenance

Design Options (Informative) pg 330Spatial: ideas developed in a

physical setting. ◦Main Points organized how they

appear in physical space.◦Starting point, take listener’s on a

journey to a destination. ◦Each point should receive equal

attention for well-balanced speech. Great to describe locations, travel, cities…

Design Options (Informative) pg 331Sequential: steps of a process

in the order they should be followed. ◦“How to” speeches◦Steps are main points (no more than

5 steps)◦You walk your listeners through the

process.

Design Options (Informative) pg 332

Chronological: explains events/history in the order that it happened. ◦Start from past and move to present,

or present to past. ◦Be selective, mention only key events

that explain your topic.

Design Options (Informative) pg 333Causation: discusses the origins or

consequences of a situation or event.

(cause effect or effect cause)Main points focus on topic

how/why it exists or what the results may be. ◦Major causes or consequences

become the main points.

Which design to use…

Design When to use…

Spatial To describe position, location in physical setting or environment; Orderly “oral tour”

Sequential To describe time/process or series of steps; “how to”

Chronological

To discuss history, moments/events in historical development

Categorical To discuss in logical categories, natural divisions.

Comparative

To describe by comparison to something else. Good for new/difficult info, audience can understand by comparing to something they already know.

Causation To describe using causes or consequences. May be used to explain the present situation or predict future possibilities.