Create a demonstration speech outline using the outline lectureLinks >>( https://vimeo.com/433384666) Follow the exact format from the scanned pages from the book. Follow the exact format. From font size, spacing, bold letters, labeling and more, be sure it’s exactly like the pages. Only difference is you can double space for a completed outline.
INTRODUCTIONS
Introductions do not include a lot of information about the topic of your speech. That information should be presented in the body of the speech. Instead, an introduction motivates and prepares an audience to receive the entire speech effectively. It is the first main area of your speech, usually comprising around 15% of your overall speaking time. For instance, the introduction for a six-minute speech should last approximately one minute. It is possible that certain highly complex or controversial topics may require more time to introduce, but always be sure that you leave yourself enough time to cover the content of your speech in the body thoroughly.
Goals of a Speech Introduction
While introductions do not generally attempt to present a lot of information about a speech topic, they do have several goals critical to the overall effectiveness of your speech.
Introductions must gain the attention of the audience so they will be ready to hear the material to follow. Also, they need to reveal your speech topic clearly, since there should be no confusion about the subject you are speaking about as you begin the body of your presentation.
Also, it is not enough just to reveal the topic of your speech. You must also use your introduction to inspire audience interest in your topic so they are motivated to listen attentively to the rest of the speech.
Another goal of the introduction is to create rapport. Rapport is a friendly feeling between you and your audience so they will be open and receptive to what you have to say, even if they initially disagree with your position. Audiences listen differently to speakers they know and like.
Similarly, you must also build another kind of relationship with your audience in the introduction – one of trust. In other words, you must establish your personal credibility. It is essential that the audience accepts you as someone who has the authority to speak about your topic, or they may not be receptive to what you have to say for the rest of the speech.
Finally, introductions need to give the audience a “road map” so they have a general idea of where the speech is going. While many people newer to public speaking often bristle at the idea of “giving away” too much information about the speech early on, presenting the audience with a broad, general view of the direction of the speech will prepare the audience more effectively to listen to your speech. Remember from Chapter 4 that audiences retain relatively little of the information presented to them. Repeating your main points several times during a speech will help the audience in understanding and remembering your overall speech content; this is the first of many times your audience will hear the main points you will be discussing.
Six Content Areas of an Introduction
In order to achieve the six goals listed above, you can use the following content areas when writing your introduction: the greeting, attention device, topic revelation statement (or TRS), significance statement, credibility statement, and a preview of main points.
Please keep in mind, however, that for this class your instructor may not require all of these elements in every introduction.
Six Content Areas of an Introduction
Greeting
Attention Device
Topic Revelation Statement, or TRS
Significance Statement
Credibility Statement
Preview of Main Points
The Greeting
A greeting is perhaps the simplest part of your speech to prepare and deliver, but as the first thing you say to an audience, it is also one of the most important. A greeting is a brief and friendly phrase extended to your audience to begin your presentation, such as “Good morning,” “Hello everyone,” or “How are you doing today?” The most effective greetings are those offered naturally in a conversational tone with a warm smile. Sometimes audience members will even respond with verbal comments and a smile back toward the speaker. This interaction is a great way to create rapport as a speech begins.
If a greeting is not used to start a speech, then a speaker should build rapport with a warm smile and conversational tone during the rest of the introduction.
The Attention Device
The attention device is a short (2-4 sentences) section of your speech designed specifically to draw the attention of the audience to you, your speech, and your specific topic area. It is a great place in your speech to utilize your creativity, since there are several different strategies you can use to gain your audience’s attention:
Ask a question. Interesting questions inspire audience members to think of answers, so they immediately involve the audience in your presentation. There are two kinds of questions that you might ask an audience. Real questions ask the audience to think of an answer and then respond. However, it can be confusing and take a lot of time to listen to all audience members’ answers to a question, so real questions should be phrased carefully and must always direct an audience as to the proper way to answer. For instance:
“By a show of hands, how many people drove on a freeway to get here today?”
“Do you like cake? Show me how much by applause.”
You can also get the audience’s attention by using a rhetorical question — a question that doesn’t require the audience to verbalize an answer, just to reflect inwardly. For instance:
“Have you ever held in a secret that you really wanted to tell, but couldn’t?”
If you are going to start your speech with a question, make sure the question is interesting enough to grab the attention of the audience. Not all questions are thought-provoking, and overly obvious questions may leave an audience flat, such as asking, “How many people here like money?”
Make a provocative or startling statement. Unexpected statements can be a great way to get the audience to listen. A shocking first line may arouse interest quickly:
“Despite what you have heard, humans have never walked on the moon. It was all an elaborate hoax.”
Refer to a recent event. People like to hear about events that are in the news at the present time. “Two weeks ago, classes at this college were cancelled because of severe weather conditions which caused almost a billion dollars in damage. Today, I would like to talk about violent wind storms.”
Use humor. Tell a joke. Humor is a very effective way to begin a speech, as long as you avoid potentially offensive jokes and relate the joke to your topic revelation statement.
Make a reference to the audience. Using your training from Chapter 6, take the time to specifically show the audience you’ve customized your speech for them. “It is a pleasure to be speaking before such a well-educated group of individuals. My research indicates that more of this community college’s faculty have earned doctoral degrees than the average at four-year universities in California.”
Find common ground with the audience. An audience member will always want to know, what is in it for me? For instance, “We all buy our books here at the book store on campus where we pay high prices and we get very little when we sell them back. I’ve got a place where you can save 35% on your textbook purchases and get 40% more when you sell them back.”
Make a reference to the occasion. Referencing the occasion acknowledges the current situation and involves everyone in your speech. “As a former member of this school’s track team, I am especially honored to be invited back to deliver a speech at the dedication of this new stadium.”
Begin with a quotation. Quotations add a personal dimension to your speech. “As Mark Twain once said, `We should never let school get in the way of education’.” When you use a quotation, it is important to link the quotation to your topic revelation statement.
Begin with a hypothetical situation. Sometimes you need to create a fictional scenario to prove a point. “Today, take a vacation from your everyday existence. You are a student at the most prestigious college in the United States. You are attending this college because you have earned enough scholarship money to pay for your entire tuition, room, board, and even extra spending money. You have no financial worries.”
Begin with a story. A strong story can relate the subject directly to the audience. It can be about someone else or yourself. “Janine Jeffrey was only 20 years old. She carried 23 units each semester of her college life, always attended summer school, and completed her master’s degree in one year. Her friends called her an overachiever.” A technique many speakers employ with this device is to save the ending of the story for the lasting thought in the conclusion of the speech.
Reveal a startling statistic. A startling statistic will make the audience say “wow.” “According to an AOL Finance report from October 6, 2016, forty percent of women working in the fast food industry have been sexually harassed at work.” Remember, make sure you always cite your source for your statistic.
Begin with a visualization. A visualization will put the audience into a particular place or frame of mind. “You are on a white sandy beach, waves crashing to the shore from the beautiful blue ocean. You’re swinging in a hammock between two large palm trees, sun in your face, wind in your hair, tropical drink in your hand, loved one at your side, not a worry in the world. Can you picture such a place? Well I’ve been there and that place is Maui.”
This list of attention devices above is not exhaustive. There are even more types of attention devices that could be effective, including examples from popular culture, politics, history, role-plays, audio, or visual aids. In fact, there are countless types of possible attention devices. The key is to draw the attention of the audience to you, your speech, and your specific topic. With so many possible techniques at your disposal, there will never again be an excuse to begin a speech with, “Hi, my name is … and my topic is…”
Keep in mind that you should not combine multiple devices and allow this part of your speech ramble on and on. As you end your attention device, you may also need to add a connecting link to make a natural connection to the next part of your introduction, your topic revelation statement.
The Topic Revelation Statement, or TRS
Certainly most public speaking instructors would agree that the most important single sentence in your entire speech is the one in which you disclose the exact subject you will be speaking about, otherwise known as your topic revelation statement, or TRS for short.
The technique for choosing and writing your TRS was discussed at length in Chapter 5, so make sure you review this information as you write your speech introductions.
The Significance Statement
Recall that one of the goals of a speech introduction is to inspire audience interest in your topic. To accomplish this, it can be extremely effective to address this goal with a specific content area: the significance statement. Significance is the relative importance of a topic to an audience member. Hopefully you have selected a topic that has a direct or indirect impact on your audience (see Chapter 5); now you have to convey this briefly and clearly in a short (one to three sentence) statement.
To construct a great significance statement, use personal language that relates to your specific audience. For instance, you could say in a speech to your classmates:
“Understanding the dangers of their credit card debt will have a big impact down the road for college students.”
However, it is much better to say:
“Understanding the dangers of our credit card debt will have a big impact down the road for those of us in college.”
Whenever possible, it is also effective to use a source citation to strengthen your significance statement. One of the best kinds of support you can use to build significance is a direct or paraphrased quotation from a knowledgeable or respected expert on your subject, known as testimony. For instance:
Not only can debt cost us a lot of money, it could impact our future housing options. CBS Money Watcher of October 2016 warns, “Credit scores do matter. Bad scores can harm a person’s ability to secure a mortgage and result in lower credit limits for credit cards, for instance.” We must understand and address the problem of debt among college students before it’s too late.
A secondary benefit of using testimony with a source citation in your introduction is that it can help achieve the goal of establishing your personal credibility on your subject, since it shows the audience that you have done research for your presentation. Be sure to refer back to Chapter 7 for more information about the best use of source citations and support in your speeches.
At a minimum, a significance statement must plainly state why the audience should keep listening to the remainder of your speech. Make a strong and direct appeal for their involvement.
Credibility
Credibility can be added to an introduction in a number of ways. A direct and often effective way to meet the goal of establishing your personal credibility to discuss your speech topic is to present a brief credibility statement in your introduction. This statement tells the audience your qualifications. If you have a personal relationship to your topic, such as prior personal experience, it can be effective to mention this directly. One way to accomplish this is with a complete credibility statement, which is best used when you have extensive experience and knowledge about a topic. For instance:
As a certified public accountant with more than 15 years of tax preparation experience for literally thousands of clients, I am confident in sharing my tax advice with all of you here today.
You can also make a partial credibility statement, which can be added to another part of your introduction. For instance, this is a partial credibility statement added to the beginning of a TRS:
As someone who works with many overweight young kids in my job as a teacher’s aide, today I hope to convince you about the dangers of feeding children a fast food diet.
Of course, you must be careful not to sound boastful or superior when making credibility statements, which could harm your rapport with your audience. The following statement would probably not be very effective, for instance:
You may think you know how to get good grades on tests, but unless you are like me and always get the high score in every class you take, you probably don’t, so you should listen up.
One of the best ways to include a credibility statement in a speech is to have someone else make it for you before you even begin speaking. For some real-life public speaking events you will be introduced by another person. Take this opportunity to ask the other person to make a reference to your title, special qualifications, awards, or experiences that make you qualified to speak on your topic. Before you even begin your speech, the audience will see you as a credible speaker.
Finally, in lieu of a direct credibility statement, you must build your personal credibility through your language use and speech delivery techniques. Using the appropriate language and terminology for your subject area and pronouncing names and technical terms with accuracy is essential. Direct eye contact, good posture, body control, a strong and loud voice, and low (or no) dependence on notes will help the audience see you as a more confident and assured speaker, as well.
The Preview of Main Points
The last element of your introduction before you move into the body of your speech should be your preview of main points. This is a brief and clear list of the two to four main points you will discuss in the same order in which they will occur during the body of the speech.
If you have selected and thoughtfully labeled your main points, constructing your preview is easy. First, simply state your first point label. Second, state your second point label. Third, state your third point label, and so on for each main point. Order indicators help the audience visualize the structure of your speech and include words in series, such as, “First, second, and third,” or “First, next, and last.”
Remember to avoid the word “and” in labeling any main point, since this will likely confuse the audience and make them hear two ideas, not just one.
An example of a preview of main points is:
First, I’ll discuss the important historical aspects of golf. Second, introduce you to a few heroes of professional golf. Third, share the health benefits of playing golf.
Sample Introduction
I. (Attention Device) What do you think is the fastest growing sport in our country right now? Maybe you are thinking NFL football or NBA Well, if so, you would be wrong!
II. (Topic Revelation Statement) In the next few minutes, I will inform you about the fastest growing sport in America: Rugby.
III. (Significance Statement with Credibility) Rugby might sound like just something from a movie set in England, but as a ten year fan I hope to show you how it is different and more interesting than other ball games.
IV. According to CNN on March 4, 2016, “It’s the fastest growing team sport in the country, pulling in players from American Football, and the U.S. national side aims to be ranked within the top five in the world in five years.”
V. (Preview of Main Points) First, I will explain the history of Rugby. Second, I will explain the characteristics of the Finally, I will talk about some of the most famous players.
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions of speeches are also important because they leave the audience with a final summary and impression of your entire presentation. Conclusions are generally not as long as introductions; only about 5% of your speaking time should be spent in the conclusion. There are three content aspects of the conclusion.
The first goal of the conclusion is to, well, conclude. The audience needs to perceive that your speech is coming to an end. This can be done with your words such as “Finally,” “To wrap up,” or very simply “To conclude today.” You can also indicate finality with your voice. Using pauses, a tone of finality, or altering your rate can help the audience feel that the end is near.
The second goal of the conclusion is to summary the key components of your speech: the topic revelation statement and main points reiterate what your purpose was (or what you wanted to accomplish in giving the speech) and the main points you used to achieve your goal. When you summarize, the audience will be more likely to remember these concepts after your speech has ended.
Finally, the third goal of the conclusion is to create a lasting thought about your speech. This is achieved by sharing an idea or phrase that brings the concepts of the speech together and will remain with the audience after your speech has ended. Any of the techniques used to grab the attention of the audience can also be used to “end with a bang.” A good way to create psychological unity for the audience is to use a cyclical ending. To do this, tie in your lasting thought with the attention device you used in the introduction. This is easily done when you return to and complete the same story or device you used in the opening of the speech. You may also choose to end with a meaningful quotation, a final call for action, advice, a dramatic statement, or your personal feelings about the topic you discussed.
Remember from Chapter 3 to end strong and end with finality. We should know your speech is over by the last sentence in your speech. Never end with a weak phrase or a cliché like “thank you” or “that’s about it.” The last line and last word should be powerful, vivid, and memorable. Think of it as the final note at the end of a symphony. It must also be delivered well. You want to allow the speech to resonate well beyond the moment you leave the stage. Always hold the last moment before you walk away from the speaking situation and walk back to your seat with confidence and poise.
Sample Conclusion
I. (Summarize topic & main points) Today I have informed you of the history of Rugby, the characteristics of the sport, and introduced you to some new players to follow.
II. (Lasting Thought): As you can see, Rugby is the most exciting and fastest growing sport in America. Next time you are home on Sunday morning and you are bored watching traditional American sports, turn your channel to the riveting Rugby match up! Whether you call it egg chasing, oval ball, or just plain rugby, soon American’s will be embracing this new sport!
CONNECTIVES
Connectives are the words and phrases that tie ideas together. This is the umbrella term used to describe transitions, signposts, and road maps. Just like the way our ligaments hold our bones together and smooth out our movements, connectives link ideas in our speeches to make our speeches flow better.
Transitions are the phrases used to connect the major parts of your speech together. Think of them as bridges. Bridges allow us to get from one point to the next without falling into water or going down a path we don’t want to travel. The transition allows us to go from one point of the speech to the next without getting lost.
In a three-point speech, you will have four distinct transition statements:
INTRODUCTION to FIRST MAIN POINT
FIRST MAIN POINT to SECOND MAIN POINT
SECOND MAIN POINT to THIRD MAIN POINT
THIRD MAIN POINT to CONCLUSION
The transition immediately following your introduction is a simple transition. It alerts the audience to your arrival at the first point:
So let’s find out about the ingredients you’ll need for your cake.
Sometimes, you will need internal previews. This is a preview of your sub-points within a speech. This helps the audience follow your structure within each main point. It is helpful in longer speeches or speeches where there are multiple factors to discuss. For example:
There are two secrets to baking delicious cakes, oven temperature and the right icing.
The remaining transitions should be summary transitions which review the previous main point and carry the audience into the next point. For instance, a transition from the first point to the second point might be:
Now that you know the ingredients you need, I will explain how to make your batter.
Even though they may sound repetitive, clear transitions are necessary for your audience. Listening comprehension is far worse than reading comprehension, so we need to make every possible effort to keep the audience from being lost and confused during speeches.
Signposts are statements that indicate where you are at various places during your speech. A polished public speaker works like a great GPS locator – helping the audience know where they are. The most common signpost is simply a number. Some examples are first, second, third, next, last, finally, in conclusion, etc. See the sample outlines throughout this book for examples.
CONCLUSION
Introductions, conclusions, and transitions are vital components of the overall effectiveness of your speech. The introduction will give the audience a first impression; the conclusion will give the audience a lasting impression. Take time to prepare and practice these critical elements of your speech. Remember, you want to start strong and end strong!
Speaker’s Secret
Studies about the beginning and ending of a message (known as the primacy and recency effects) show that both areas have a strong impact in the overall perception of a message. You can take advantage of this knowledge by spending extra time creating your introduction and conclusion and then rehearsing their delivery over and over for the best possible primacy and recency effect.
From Fright to Might Moment
If you feel nervous about delivering your speech, take the time to memorize the first line of your introduction and the last line of your conclusion. In addition to reducing some of your anxiety, it will make your speech delivery even more effective.
THE THREE FUNCTIONS OF OUTLINING
Sometimes students think that a speech class won’t involve any written work, complaining that, “I thought it was all just about talking.” While it is true that you can speak without writing anything down in advance, the preparation work you do will drastically impact the quality of your speech. While some speeches will involve the eventual creation of a complete manuscript of every word you will say, all speeches can benefit from a process of writing and editing in advance of the presentation. This advance preparation of your speech is usually achieved by outlining the speech, a process with three distinct functions.
The First Function of an Outline: Helping You to Be Organized
The first function of an outline is to help you organize the body of your speech into appropriate main points and sub points. Main points are identified in the outline farthest left on the page. This is a visual cue for the speaker that the speech topic has equal subdivisions. Sub points are the subordinate ideas that develop and clarify the main points. They are indented. If any of the sub points need further development, you can create and indent your sub-sub points, and so on.
The convention typically followed in outlining is that the most general idea also be identified with Roman numerals, descending to capital English letters, then to numbers, then to lower case English letters, and, if necessary, to lower case Roman numerals. For instance:
I. Main point
A. Sub point
1. Sub-sub point
a. Sub-sub-sub point
i. Sub-sub-sub-sub point
Often the information conveyed on the furthest indented line of a speech outline is your support for your ideas, which you will recall from Chapter 7.
The Second Function of an Outline: Checking for Logical Progression of Ideas
The second function of an outline is to ensure your speech has a logical sequence. Make sure you adhere to the following principles when organizing your outline: simplicity and subordination.
Simplicity is the first principle of outlining. Simplicity ensures that each symbol of the outline should be followed by only one idea or statement. You must make your ideas easy to follow by splitting them into the smallest possible units. The example below illustrates how an idea can be divided into simpler units.
I. In order to develop proper study habits, you should create a good study space, get plenty of rest, and organize your study materials.
This main point has three different ideas, and should be divided so each line contains only one idea.
I. There are several steps to developing proper study
A. You should create a good study space.
B. You should get plenty of rest.
C. You should organize your study materials.
However, you should also not split ideas that are already simple. Only break down information into substructure if there are at least two sub-ideas that you can identify. You should avoid, for instance:
I. There is one reason why people don’t take enough vacations.
A. Their jobs don’t allow it.
The previous information can all be expressed as follows:
I. The reason people don’t take enough vacations is because their jobs don’t allow it.
Subordination is the second principle of outlining. Splitting information into A-B-C or 1-2-3 is fairly easy, but subordination requires that each idea in your outline support the idea that is superior to it symbolically. In other words, each sub point must directly support the main point under which it falls. Each sub-sub point must support the sub point under which it falls. This example demonstrates a sub point that does not support its main point:
I. A lawn mower has many uses.
A. It cuts grass.
B. It provides exercise to the person mowing.
C. There are several maintenance concerns with a lawn mower.
1. Adjustments must be made to the motor.
2. The blade must be sharpened.
3. The engine must be properly lubricated.
4. The mower must be properly stored.
The problem with this organization is that the maintenance concerns have nothing to do with the uses of a lawn mower. Let’s make the maintenance concerns a separate main point:
I. A lawn mower has many uses.
A. It cuts grass.
B. It provides exercise to the person mowing.
II. There are several maintenance concerns with a lawn mower.
A. Adjustments must be made to the motor.
B. The blade must be sharpened.
C. The engine must be properly lubricated.
D. The mower must be properly stored.
The Third Function of an Outline: Practicing the Delivery of the Speech
The third function of an outline is to help the speaker practice and deliver the speech. Classroom speeches, as well as real-life speech situations, are often extemporaneous, meaning the speaker prepares the complete content of the speech — including a very thorough outline — but does not write the speech out word for word. The outline helps the speaker practice because the main points are clearly identified. Also, since many people learn information visually, it creates a clear separation between concepts to help a speaker remember where ideas are in their speech.
You will learn that there are three kinds of outlines for every speech that you will give. One is designed as you prepare your materials. One is to be given to the professor. The last outline is the one you will use when delivering the speech.
THE THREE TYPES OF OUTLINES
While preparing speeches in life, you may need to prepare three different types of outlines: the working outline, the formal outline, and the speaking outline.
The Working Outline
The first stage of outlining should begin with a working outline. You create a working outline for your own benefit, and it is not usually shared with others unless you are seeking feedback on your work in progress.
A working outline is a rough draft of the main ideas and sub points of your speech. This working outline will go through many drafts and changes before your ideas are finalized.
As you develop your main points and sub points, you will want to be mindful of the time limit for the overall presentation. Since most speeches you give in class will be less than ten minutes, too many sub points or sub-sub points will likely lead you to exceed your time limit. Also, work to balance the amount of information contained within each main point so it is roughly equal. An outline that has six sub points for Main Point #1, but only two for Main Point #2 is weighted too heavily towards one point.
For some speeches, especially impromptu speeches with very little preparation time, a working outline may be all you need to create before your presentation. However, some situations will require you to formalize your outline so it is presentable to others.
The Formal Outline
A formal outline is an outline that contains all the ideas you will cover in your speech, including research you will cite and all the support you plan to use. A formal outline is always typed and should be formatted so it has a professional, consistent appearance and is easy to follow. Usually it requires that all content be expressed in complete sentences, not just fragments. You create this document for the purpose of showing it to others. Often professors, colleagues at work, or others may wish to see the content of a presentation, either for review and evaluation, or because they missed the speech and need to know the content. A formal outline is the written document to accompany a prepared speech.
A formal outline should also contain a bibliography or Works Cited page, especially for all college-level academic work. It is essential to give proper credit to your sources. A formalized bibliography provides a context for the sources you will cite in your speech and makes it easy for someone who wants to learn more about your topic to find some excellent resources. Your professor may require you to use the guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or another format. Ask your professor for assistance if you do not know how to construct a formal works cited page. A brief guide to MLA citation can be found in Chapter 7.
While they are often prepared for others, formal outlines can benefit the speaker, too. Formal outlines provide a great way to look at your speech as a whole and to make sure the ideas flow logically. The process of creating it will also solidify the information in your mind and allow you to think though each idea as a complete thought, which will help your phrasing of the ideas later on when you speak.
The Speaking Outline
The third type of outline is for your use while preparing and, possibly, delivering your speeches: your speaking outline. These are extremely limited notes that are often written on small index cards to help make them less apparent during the presentation, though any type of note will always be visible to the audience.
When preparing your speaking outline, here are some useful tips:
Try orienting note cards vertically rather than horizontally. This makes them less visually obvious and to replicate the shape of the paper on which you probably wrote your other outlines.
Avoid using more than two note cards. This helps avoid getting them out of order and making it easy to find the information you are looking for.
Express ideas in key words and short phrases. This helps avoid the impulse to “read” from the cards.
Write or type clearly and legibly and large enough to read. Please don’t decide to shrink your formal outline down to a tiny font and paste it onto your note cards. This will likely produce disastrous results.
Limit the information on the cards to the bare minimum that you require. Typically students have trouble remembering numbers, unfamiliar names, and the publication and date of source citations.
Only write notes on one side of the cards. The audience should not be able to read ahead while you are still delivering your first main point.
It is also essential to keep in mind a few tips about delivering your speech with note cards:
Practice with the note cards you plan to use. Don’t just scratch out what you think you will need just moments before your speech.
Do not read extensively from your notes. Notes can easily become an excuse for looking away from the audience. Don’t let them be a substitution for practicing a speech – they are there as a backup for a prepared speaker.
Use them intentionally when needed. Don’t try to hide notes from the audience or peek at the cards. Audiences appreciate speaker’s who want to check their facts or make sure they are quoting someone accurately. Keep the card at your side, and then when you need it, lift it up, look at it, and put it back to your side when you are finished.
Only hold the card with one hand. Face it, note cards just aren’t that Still, many speakers show their lack of confidence by clutching the cards with both hands or playing with them. Only hold notes in one hand and use your other hand to gesture, when needed.
Use your notes to remind yourself about good. In addition to the content of your speech, you may wish to write reminders to yourself to smile or make eye contact. You can also indicate places to pause or directions on how to use your voice in a certain area.
Watch out for non-words or verbal. Often when speakers look down at note cards they will also utter a non-word, such as “um” while they look information on their note cards. In Chapter 13 you will learn more about non-words and how to control them. But be aware that non-words have the potential to creep in when you use notes for speaking.
If you have difficulty holding note cards or seeing the cards, you can always ask your professor for ideas to make an effective choice that accommodates your needs.
Finally, while notes may be allowed for a speech, keep in mind that you may be able to deliver your speech without any notes at all. Many speakers find that, with just a little more practice, they are able to recall what would normally be contained on just two index cards. Speaking without notes is extremely impressive and also improves eye contact and your connection with the audience.
CONCLUSION
In this chapter we have explained the importance of outlining as well as how to structure your speech. This discussion included the functions of an outline, the principles of outlining, and the various types of outlines. As you work on your outline, keep in mind your professor will have different expectations about outlining for specific assignments than may be presented here. Listen carefully for the instructions for each of your assignments. One thing that both professors and audiences will appreciate is when you keep your presentation well organized.
Speaker’s Secret
When typing your formal outlines in Microsoft Word, it can be very helpful to turn off the auto-format function. The program tries to help you make numbered or bulleted lists, but they may not be the ones need.
From Fright to Might Moment
Nervous speakers must be careful not to become too dependent on notes during speeches. It may be a good idea, in fact, to try to deliver your speech without note cards but keep a set of notes in a pocket just in case you need them during the speech. If that time comes, take the notes out with confidence and hold them for the rest of the speech.
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SAMPLE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE SPEECH OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. Attention Device: How many of you would place yourselves in a body of water several feet deep, with a dozen animals ranging from 5-7 feet long, weighing up to 400 pounds, who can swim up to 60 mph, and who have been known to kill sharks on their own?
II. Topic Revelation Statement: Today, I’ll share with you the story of my dolphin swim nine months ago at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.
BODY
I. The experience was powerful.
A. The dolphin swim lasted about 30 minutes, but we were at the facility three hours.
B. We sat in a classroom and received an informative talk about the facility and lessons on how to communicate with the dolphins.
C. We were led down to the docks and were introduced to the dolphins.
D. First we did something called “imitates.”
E. he best part of all was the actual dolphin-swim.
II. There were lessons to be learned.
A. We can live in harmony with these beautiful, intelligent creatures.
B. It is crucial to their existence that we all do something to help protect them.
C. Purchase dolphin-safe tuna.
D. Cut up plastic rings that come on 6-packs of soda.
CONCLUSION
I. Review Statement: Now you know a bit about my amazing dolphin swim.
II. Lasting Thought: I strongly recommend this for anyone who is able. I even brought some information with me tonight so that you may plan your own underwater adventure.
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SAMPLE DEMONSTRATION SPEECH OUTLINE
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about how to make throw pillows.
Topic Revelation Statement: Today I will show you how to make your own easy and attractive throw pillows.
INTRODUCTION
I. Attention Device: Last week I was in Pottery Barn and they had some gorgeous throw pillows made of I was going to get them until I saw the price — $60 each. I couldn’t afford it, so I did the next best thing — and now I’ll show you how to do that, too.
II. Topic Revelation Statement: Today I will show you how to make your own easy and attractive throw pillows.
III. Significance Statement: Even if you are on a budget, you can still have a home that reflects your taste and style. Your home says a lot about who you are.
IV. Preview of Main Points: First we’ll go over the items you’ll Then we’ll make the pillow case. Finally, we’ll finish the pillow.
BODY
I. First, you should assemble the items you will need.
A. You’ll need to go to a fabric or craft store for most of the items.
1. I recommend an upholstery store for better fabrics.
2. Purchase 3/4 yards of fabric for each pillow you want.
3. Purchase a pillow insert, approximately 14 inches square.
a) If you have an old pillow you can use its stuffing.
b) I always use new inserts because I have allergies.
B. You’ll also need thread and a needle or a sewing machine.
II. Now that you have your supplies, we can make the case.
A. Fold your fabric in half and iron it.
B. Measure a square 3 inches taller and wider than your pillow insert. Pin the fabric together and trim.
C. Turn the fabric inside out.
D. Sew along the edges about 1/2 inch from the edge. Leave a small opening on one side in the center.
E. Stick your fingers in the opening and turn it inside out. The good side of the fabric should be showing now.
III. Now that you have a case, you can finish the pillow.
A. Stuff the insert or the stuffing into the opening.
B. Stitch the opening closed with a matching thread.
C. Shape the pillow
CONCLUSION
I. Review Topic and Main Points: Now you know how to make a throw You learned about the items you need, how to make a case, and how to finish it.
II. Lasting Thought: So don’t just look at designer home fashions and dream. Spend a few minutes and make your own fabulous accessories!
