Are you about to give an important speech? You need to set a Speech Outline Template for your upcoming speech event in order to make all things in right direction. We recommend that you prepare an outline to help organize your thoughts and follow along when writing your actual speech in order to keep a logical sequence of events. While writing an essay to apply for a scholarship also follow the same sequential terms which you can understand in this article easily. You can find several speech outline examples below.
Why you need an outline for speech?
An outline is critical in helping organize all your ideas for the speech. Having one will help you greatly when writing the speech later. It is most certainly not a waste of time and should not be skipped in favor of writing the speech itself. What looks like time consuming in the beginning, will be of immense help later on.
Avoid the stress of starting to write unprepared and follow our speech outline template.
Speech Outline Preparation Steps
- Preparation – where you do some research about the topic and the audience that will listen to it. In this part you should also define what your aim is, that is, what you are trying to achieve with this speech
- Introduction – greet your audience and try to get their full attention. Give a short explanation of what your speech is about and what the audience stands to learn from it. Basically this is the part you want to ‘tell them what you are going to tell them’.
- Body – explain your main idea and give points that support it. Provide relevant details and examples. This is where ‘you tell them’.
- Conclusion – sum up the main idea and close the speech with a call to action or any other important message depending on what you are trying to achieve. This is where you ‘tell them what you have told them’.
Speech outline and research paper outline are two different outlines for two different purposes so you must not get confused between them.
Now, let’s see each step with more detail:
Step 1
Decide what you are going to talk about.
Consider who you will be giving the speech to, what they may want and need. This is also important for the language you should use in your speech.
Decide on a thesis statement.
Is the topic too general or difficult to cover in just one speech? Try to limit the scope. It will help focus on your main points.
Lastly, what are you trying to achieve? What kind of action do you want your audience to take after listening to you?
Step 2
How will you compel your audience to listen to you? Are you going to use a quote or open with a humorous line? Whichever you opt for, make sure it relates to the topic of your speech.
Have a sentence or two ready about the main points of your speech.
Also, be prepared to explain your credibility. What kind of authority do you have on the topic?
Step 3
Tie the introduction to the body of your speech.
Explain your main idea(s) and give details and examples that support it.
Step 4
Summarize the main idea or ideas that you explained in the previous step.
Repeat your thesis statement and what your audience will learn or obtain from this speech.
Your final sentence should be memorable. Whether it is a call to action, a message that should stay with them or something else, end with a bang.
In order to help you prepare speeches for different occasions, here are a few examples.
Individual Persuasive Speech Outline Template,
Audience:
Aim:
Introductory section
- Sentence/phrase/section that will grab the audience’s attention
- Why I can talk about this topic (my credibility)
- Explain the topic
- Transition to next part of the speech
Body
- Main idea #1 (description and examples to support it)
- Importance of the idea (who or what if affects)
- Main idea #2 (description and examples to support it)
- Importance of the idea (who or what does it affect)
Closing remarks
- Summarize idea from the body of the speech
- What the audience will gain from this speech
- Call to action.
Expository Speech Outline Template,
Name of speaker:
Date:
Topic:
Purpose of speech:
Introductory section
Phrase to get people’s attention
State thesis
Briefly mention the main points
Body
- Main point 1
- First sub point to support main point
- Second sub point to support main point
- Main point 2
2.1. First sub point to support second main point
2.2. Second sub point to support main point
- Main point 3
3.1. First sub point to support third main point
3.3. Second sub point to support third main point
Transition from last main point to conclusion.
Closing remarks
- Review of main points
- Closing statement
Introduction Speech Outline Template,
Purpose of speech
Topic
Introductory section
Greeting and attention getter
State the topic. Tell the audience what you will be talking about
State your credibility. Let the audience know why they should listen to you
State your main points
- Main point 1 with one complete sentence
- Sub point 1 to support main point 1. Can be a sentence or a phrase.
- Examples to support main point and sub point. Cite sources for any third-party material used.
- Sub point 1 to support main point 1. Can be a sentence or a phrase.
- Main point 2 with one complete sentence
- Sub point 1 to support main point 2.
- Examples to support main point 2 and sub point 1.
- Sub point 1 to support main point 2.
Transition from body to closing section
- Summary of all main points
- Memorable closing statement. Give the audience something to think about.
Informative Speech Outline Template
Topic:
Aim:
Specific aim:
Thesis:
Introductory section
Get the audience’s attention. Mention an interesting fact or situation that relates to the topic.
Tell your audience why they should listen to you
Give your thesis statement
What is your credibility? Why should the audience listen to your speech
Briefly mention the main points
Transition
Body
Explain main points with the help of sub points and examples
Closing remarks
Review main points
Restate thesis
Closing line of your Speech outline
Great!