Outline for Speech
4:
Persuasive Belief
Topic
Choose a topic that
is significant, contemporary, meaningful, and relevant to the audience.
Analyze the audience, link the topic to them in a way that will gain and hold attention and
interest, and agreement.
Format
•
This outline must be at least 3 pages long.
•
Use appropriate coordination and subordination. Use full sentences, including
subjects and verbs for the main ideas or main points and the 1st order of
subordinate ideas or sub
-
points. Consistently use either full
-
sentence or list form for
2nd
-
order sub
-
p
oints supporting the same 1st order sub
-
point. Usually use list form
for 3rd order, 4th order, and 5th order sub
-
points.
•
Enhance the readability of the outline. Use only one idea per point, only one
sentence per point, single
-
space each point, and doub
le
-
space vertically between
points. Leave a line of white space between each point at every level.
•
Use a consistent pattern of indentation. Type main points flush with the left margin.
Indent 5 spaces for 1st
-
order sub
-
points, 10 spaces for 2nd
-
order s
ub
-
points, 15
spaces for 3rd
-
order sub
-
points, 20 spaces for 4th
-
order sub
-
points.
•
Use the following system to label the points in the body:
•
Main Points: upper case Roman numerals [I, II, III, IV, V]
•
1st
-
order sub
-
points: upper case letters [A,
B, C, D, E]
•
2nd
-
order sub
-
points: Arabic numerals [1, 2.3, 4, 5]
•
3rd
-
order sub
-
points: lower
-
case letters {a, b, c, d, e],
•
4th
-
order sub
-
points: Arabic numerals in parentheses [(1), (2), (3)]
Content
Specific Purpose:
Formulated into one sentence, the specific purpose identifies the precise
response the speaker desires from the audience (
agree
). Do not use infinitive phrases, i.e.,
“to inform” or “to persuade.”
Place the label for the specific purpose sentence flush w
ith the
left margin.
Thesis Sentence:
The thesis sentence (addressed to the audience, not the instructor)
summarizes everything the speaker intends to say during the speech.
Place the label for the
thesis sentence flush with the left margin.
The
introduction
should gain attention, orient the audience by stating the topic, offer a
reason for listening, and preview the body of the speech. The introduction (which may be
outlined or written word
-
for
-
word) is designed to
(1) gain the attention of the
audience;
(2) establish the speaker's credibility; and
(3) orient the audience to the body of the speech.
Do not say “I will tell the story of ____,” or “I will do X, Y, or Z.” Actually outline or write the
story here in the Introduction, such as
“H
ave you ever found yourself repeating mistakes you
have made before?” Actually outline or write the question here.