2.+Speech+Outlines+&+Writing+Tools

This page includes an example of speech outlines as well as helpful links and tools for speech writing. I've created a Google Document that can be edited and changed to show its pertinence for group projects and speech outlines. Additionally, I have created a brief tutorial on how to use Google Docs using Camstudio in an attempt to get students started on outlines for group collaborative projects. Below you will also find a link to a feed bundle I put together from Google Reader that can be used for topics for class presentations and to find examples of current speeches and rhetorical arguments in the news.

The Google Docs link for group collaboration on outlines and presentations is here: [|Google Docs and Spreadsheet]

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Additional online tools for writing speeches and following other interests can be found on the link below, pertinent information will be listed under Web 2.0 Tools on the blog main page. [|Web 2.0 Tools]

This is a feed bundle I created using Google Reader for helping students find examples of speeches and rhetoric for class. Just click //subscribe// to connect to the agrigator. [|Global News a Reader for CMST 200 Topics]

//A Sample Informative Speech Outline on the subject matter of creating speech outlines... //

(Special note* The Wikispace will not let me create the correct format for indentations, to see appropriate indentations you will have to upload the document. Both documents below have been submited with the permission of Patricia Chambers).


 * **General Purpose: **To inform
 * **Specific Purpose Statement: **To inform my audience about constructing an effective outline.
 * **Central Idea: **Constructing an effective outline requires having good research from which to draw, selecting the best organizational pattern for the purpose, and knowing proper outline format.
 * **Organizational Pattern: ** Chronological
 * **Visual Aid: ** PowerPoint

**I. Introduction ** A. Nine out of ten students report feeling high levels of anxiety when asked to construct an outline. B. I would like to show you how to construct an effective outline. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">C. Having been a tutor in the Writing Center, I have learned the steps to effective outline construction, and I would like you to benefit from them as well. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">D. Constructing an effective outline requires first having good research from which to draw, second, selecting the best organizational pattern for your purpose, and finally knowing proper outline format.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: Let’s begin our exploration of how to construct an effective outline. //

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">II. Body ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A. The first important step in constructing an effective outline is having good research from which to draw. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. Good research results from knowing where to look for information. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. Start with the library homepage to conduct a search <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. Catalog- for books <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. Databases - for periodicals <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. Move on to the Internet to supplement what you've found at the library <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. Search engines <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- Yahoo <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- Google <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. Organizations associated with your topic <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c. You can always ask for help <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. Reference librarians <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. Contact library staff by telephone or e-mail;

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: In addition to knowing where to look, you should also know about quality of the sources you find. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. Good research results from having quality sources. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. Quality requires that you evaluate the credibility of your sources as you go (Smith & Jones, 2002) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. recency <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. qualifications of the author(s) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">iii. source where it appeared <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">iv. lack of bias in the perspective <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. Quality requires that you have a variety of good sources (Broz, 2002) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. no over-reliance on one type <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. aim for at least one each: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- interview <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- book <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- periodical <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-- Internet source

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: Now that you have finished conducting your research, you need to consider your organization options suited to what you wish to cover. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">B. The second important step in constructing an effective outline is selecting the best organizational pattern for your purpose. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. There are many organizational patterns to choose from, such as: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. topical format <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. used when there are different topics to cover within a subject <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. each point is a part of the whole <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. chronological format <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. used when there is a distinct time-related progression <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. each point moves along that progression <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c. spatial format <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. used when there is a clear physical placement of the main points <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. each point refers to a different location or space <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. There is usually one organizational pattern that will work best for your purpose, depending on: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. what the main points are that you want to convey <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. what the best order is for conveying them <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. There are several rules to adhere to when using an organizational pattern <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. avoid overlap between main points (Lucas, 2001) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. devote about the same amount of time to each main point (Lucas, 2001)

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: With your organizational pattern selected, all you have to do is put it all together into a proper outline. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">C. The third important step in constructing an effective outline is knowing proper outline format. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. Use the proper numbering/lettering system <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. usually, will be: I, A, 1, a, i, -- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. ask your professor what her or his preference is for numbering/lettering <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. Use the proper subpoints for your main points <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. subpoints should all directly relate to the point they are under <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. subpoints should never stand alone; if you have only one subpoint, either: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. divide it into two sub-subpoints <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. develop another subpoint to go along with the one that is by itself <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">iii. combine the single subpoint with the point it's under <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c. subpoints should be short and concise <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">i. avoid using direct quotations for subpoints (Broz, 2002) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ii. avoid using paragraphs for subpoints

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: Even the best arrangement of points and subpoints, however, does not mean they will flow well. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. Use the proper connectives to help your outline flow <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a. transitions help audience know when a speaker has completed a thought (Lucas, 2002) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b. internal previews within the speech tell the audience where the speaker is going next (Fujishin, 2002) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c. internal summaries within the speech remind the audience where they have been <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">d. signposts provide a numerical guide for the audience

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Transition: There you have it – you’re ready to construct that fabulous outline! //

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">III. Conclusion ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A. Now that you know three simple steps ..., having good research ..., selecting the best organizational pattern ..., and knowing proper outline format, you can start earning higher grades on papers, speeches, and of course, OUTLINES! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">B. Although most students report high levels of anxiety when asked to construct an outline, knowledge is power, and you can instead be that one in ten who feels comfortable with constructing an outline.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">References <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Broz, S.L. (2003, June). Professor Broz’s guide to effective outlining. __Martha Stewart Living__, __67__, 34-35. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Fujishin, R. (2002). __The Natural Speaker__. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Lucas, S.E. (2002). __The Art of Public Speaking__. Boston: McGraw-Hill. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Smith, T.R., & Jones, A.S. (2001, September 13). Speaking to impress. __New York Times__, __67__, A2-4.



Example of an Informative Speech outline on Sleep Deprivation:



Additional helpful sites:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Speeches-writing for the Audience: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill [|Speeches-writing for the Audience]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">American Rhetoric: by Dr. Michael Eidenmuller <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Four main types of Speech Delivery: My Speech Class <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[]