outline

Examples of outline in the following topics:

• The Preparation Outline

  • A preparation outline is a precursor to your speech outline.
  • Common outline styles include sentence outlines, topics outlines, chronological outlines, and alphanumeric outlines.
  • Remember, an outline is simply your guide.
  • Some word processing programs may even have pre-made outline templates that will make outlining your speech even easier.
  • Describe the purpose of a preparation outline, and the different preparation outline styles used by speech writers

• Building a Speech: Starting with an Outline

  • It is always a good idea to make an outline before you begin writing a speech.
  • Outlining a speech is similar, but there is one key difference: speechwriters can use the outlining process to create prompts to aid with delivering the speech.
  • Many speakers like to brainstorm before making an outline.
  • A topic outline is a hierarchical list of a speech's main points.
  • Sentence outlines are more detailed than topic outlines, but less detailed than first drafts.

• The Rough Draft Outline

  • Creating rough draft outlines—i.e., an outline that serves as a precursor to the speech's rough draft—often helps organize and structure speakers' ideas into a cohesive and definitive topic.
  • Outlines help form the skeleton of the speaker's speech.
  • The parts that comprise a rough draft outline are similar to other types of writing outlines.
  • Your rough draft outline is essentially a technique for organizing and jotting down ideas into a traditional outline format.
  • Describe the role and different components of a rough draft outline

• The Speaking Outline

  • Speaking outlines help presenters with the timing, pacing, and overall delivery of the speech.
  • After putting together a rough draft outline (i.e., the "skeleton" of the speech), writers can then progress to the speaking outline.
  • Unlike the rough draft outline, which includes short notes on structure, the speaking outline covers both the main points and aids the speaker's memory on certain topics.
  • Nevertheless, a basic speaking outline generally includes:
  • Each sub-point in the outline should have a supporting bullet.

• Reasons to Outline

  • There are many reasons to create an outline; but in general, it may be helpful to create an outline when you want to show the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information.
  • An outline helps guide you as you prepare your speech as follows:
  • It is important to keep in mind that your outline is only a guide.
  • Think of your outline as a skeleton -- a tool for delivery of extemporaneous speaking.
  • Justify out the reasons to outline prior to writing a speech or presentation

• Kohlberg and Moral Development

• Extemporaneous Speeches

  • An outline is a list of items with each item divided into additional sub-items.
  • Each level in an outline has at least two subcategories.
  • There are three basic types of outlines:
  • Sentence outline - Each complete sentence includes a heading or single sentence about the subject of the outline.
  • Speaking notes, topic outlines, and phrase outlines have an advantage over sentence outlines.

• Organizing and Outlining the Speech

  • Outlining your speech as a series of chronological events or points allows your audience to follow along a linear timeline for easy understanding of your subject matter.
  • Here is a sample outline about issues of feminism in William Shakespeare's Hamlet:

• Dealing with a Difficult Audience

  • An extemporaneous speech (extemp speech) is delivered from a prepared outline or note cards.
  • The outline or note cards include the main ideas and arguments of the speech.
  • Outlines and note cards should be used for keeping the presentation organized and for reminding the presenter what information needs to be provided.
  • In order to play to the strengths of extemporaneous speech, it is important to practice presenting with the outline or note cards being used.
  • Inexperienced speakers tend to worry that they will forget important information if they do not write it out on their outline or note card.

• Step 3: Outlining

  • An outline is a great way to troubleshoot and firm up your argument before you commit to it in a draft.
  • The outline stage allows you to experiment with different ways of organizing.
  • Here are some ways to use the outline to make a better argument.
  • Leave enough time after creating your outline to get at least a night’s sleep before writing your first draft.
  • Looking at your outline board, come up with counter-arguments and questions for each claim.