COMM 101 CH 14: Organizing-Writing-Outlining Your Speech

delivery reminder

A bracketed instruction in a speaking outline that reminds the speaker about body language, pauses, special emphasis, and presentation aids.

preparation outline

A draft outline the speaker will use, and probably revisit and revise continually, throughout the preparation for a speech; also known as a working outline.

transition

A sentence that smoothly connects one idea or part of a speech to another. introduction The beginning of a speech. It gains the audience's attention, presents the thesis statement, builds common ground with the audience, establishes speaker credibility, and previews the speech's main points.

Outline

A structured form of a speech's content.

speaking outline--advanced speakers

A type of outline that contains words or short phrases that represent the speaker's key ideas and give reminders of delivery guidelines.

sentence outline

A type of outline that offers the full text of a speech, often the exact words that the speaker wants to say to the audience.

phrase outline

A type of outline that takes parts of sentences and uses those phrases as instant reminders of what the point or subpoint means.

list of works cited

An alphabetized list of the sources that a speaker cited in his or her speech. It usually is formatted according to a particular style of documentation, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) style or the Modern Language Association (MLA) style.

working outline

An outline that contains full sentences or detailed phrases of all the main points, subpoints, and sub-subpoints in a speech. It also is referred to as a detailed outline or preparation outline.

call to action

In a persuasive speech, a challenge to listeners to act in response to the speech, see the problem in a new way, or change their beliefs, actions, and behavior.

delivery cues

In a speech outline, brief reminders about important information related to the delivery of the speech.

Subpoints

In public speaking, points that provide support for the main points.

main points

In public speaking, the central claims that support the specific speech purpose and thesis statement.

evidence

Information gathered from credible sources that helps a speaker support his or her claims.

signposts

Key words or phrases within sentences that signify transitions between main points.

outlining

Organizing the points of a speech into a structured form that lays out the sequence and hierarchy of a speaker's ideas.

transitions

Sentences that connect different points, thoughts, and details in a way that allows them to flow naturally from one to the next.

subordination

The act of making one thing secondary to another thing. This principle of outlining dictates the hierarchy in the relationship of main points and supporting materials. Each subpoint must support its corresponding main point, and each sub-subpoint must support its corresponding subpoint. In an outline, supporting points are written below and to the right of the point they support. See also subpoint and sub-subpoint.

key-word outline

The briefest type of outline, consisting of specific "key words" from the sentence outline to jog the speaker's memory.

conclusion

The final part of a speech, in which the speaker summarizes the main points and leaves the audience with a clincher, such as a striking sentence or phrase, an anecdote, or an emotional message.

speaking outline

The final speech plan, complete with details, delivery tips, and important notes about presentation aids; also known as the delivery outline.

body

The main part of a speech. The body falls after the introduction and before conclusion and includes all the main points and the material that supports them.

extemporaneous delivery

The presentation of a speech smoothly and confidently from a speaking outline without reading from it.