14: Composing Your Speech

Preparation Outline

Your preparation outline details your speech’s introduction, body, and conclusion. It also lists the references you used to develop your speech and your specific purpose and speech thesis statements. This outline is a great way to keep track of all the information in your speech. You will likely make several drafts of it as you practice your speech and add or delete information as needed. Be sure to keep your outline up to date, so that it reflects your latest thoughts about the speech’s structure. You can find an example of a preparation outline on pages 370–373. When creating your preparation outline, keep the following principles in mind:

Use a consistent set of symbols and indentation. Typically, section headings show the parts of your speech—the introduction, body, and conclusion. Roman numerals (I, II, III) designate your major points for each section; uppercase letters (A, B, C) indicate your subpoints. Additional indentation levels (arabic numbers and lowercase letters) can be used if needed—for example, if you want to include the exact wording for testimony you will quote in the speech. Consistency in symbols and indentation helps you see the relationships among your ideas and makes sure those relationships are logical.

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Identify each main point using one complete sentence. This forces you to determine the best way to communicate each point.
Make certain that all subpoints support the main point they sit under. Known as the principle of subordination, this practice ensures that you’re making valid arguments and that your claims are well supported and logical.
Write your connective words and phrases in the outline, but set them off in parentheses ( ) so that they don’t get confused with your main points or subpoints. Adding these phrases will help you determine whether your ideas are flowing smoothly.
Include a works-cited or references section at the end of your outline. This should encompass all the information you’ll cite in your speech as well as sources you consulted while preparing the speech. Talk with your instructor about any specific content and formatting requirements for this section.