The end result of Step 3: Composing is a written outline. All the time you put in toward thinking about your topic, researching it, writing a thesis, drafting your main points, and organizing your ideas is reflected in written outlines that you will use in delivering your speech.

Watch any major awards show, such as the Oscars or the Grammys, and you’re bound to see some celebrities take the stage completely unprepared to accept their awards. Fumbling through their acceptance speeches, they make classic mistakes—like forgetting to thank someone or rambling on endlessly. Only on rare occasions do you see celebrities reach into a pocket for prepared notes and speak eloquently and appreciatively about the award. But such planning is crucial for any successful speech.

The last task in composing your speech is to develop your written outlines. A preparation outline details your presentation’s overall structure. Similar to outlines for essays or research papers, a preparation outline helps you plan the order, flow, and logic of your speech, ensuring that there are no weaknesses or missing elements. A delivery outline helps you keep track of your ideas while you’re actually presenting your speech to an audience. The following section provides general guidelines for developing both types of outlines. However, since outline formats often vary, be sure to check with your instructor regarding any specific outline requirements for your class.