Expectations
A preparation outline will assist you in compiling information into a pattern of your choosing. As well, an outline provides a visual structure helping you to holistically “see” your speech prior to presenting. There are two primary types of outlines: preparation outlines and speaking outlines. For this assignment, you will be creating a preparation outline to help you prepare to craft and present your informational speech.
Preparation outlines are comprehensive outlines that include all of the information in your speech. Thus, this outline is full-sentences and includes in-text citations and references. To be clear: if someone were to read your outline, there should be enough depth to provide a skeleton of what will be accomplished in your informational speech.
Thus, whatever you choose as your topic for your outline, will logically be your topic for your speech.
Topic Selection
Ultimately, an informative speech conveys knowledge. When done well, information can provide a new perspective or increase our knowledge around a topic. As the speaker, you are responsible for identifying an argument that is not only worthwhile, but is something for which you are passionate—and either describing it, defining it, explaining it or demonstrating it to/for your audience. You may increase awareness of any passion of your choosing. You may choose a passion that is global, local or of personal or practical interest to define, explore, demonstrate or explain. Suggestion: choose something narrow and not too broad, as you’ll want to keep your speech focused and on something that can be adequately explored in a 5-6 minute speech.
Topics to avoid for your outline/speech,* as they are either too complex to explore, or not considered appropriate for an academic or scholarly piece, are as follows:
The death penalty
Euthanasia or self-assisted death
Abortion
The (il)legalization of drugs (e.g. marijuana)
Religion or religious readings (e.g. existence of a higher order/being, or life after death)
Gun rights/rules
Global warming
