Sample Speaking Outline

Sample Speaking Outline

Page 282

Introduction [Speak slowly! Look at audience!]

  1. Juggling commitments? Many give up sleeping.
  2. We need sleep; research 5 we don’t get enough.
  3. Be informed about sleep deprivation (SD) to improve life and prevent negative consequences. image

    Thesis statement. Speaker is so familiar with speech purpose and thesis, she only needs brief reminder.

  4. I will discuss SD: what, causes, effects, prevention. image

    Key-word preview of main points

Transition: What is SD?

Body

Speaker retains more detail in this subpoint to keep statistics straight

Transition: Like to sleep? Then why not sleeping? [Smile, encourage audience response]

  1. SD causes (CDC) image

    Main point 2

    1. Family and work
      1. College students—course work, jobs, relationship
      2. New parents—crying, hungry babies
      3. Shift workers—trouble with inconsistent schedules
    2. Television and Internet
    3. Caffeine and alcohol
    4. Medical conditions—insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea

Transition: Causes: schedules, media, alcohol/caffeine/medical conditions. Who cares?

Speaker makes sure that oral citations are clear throughout speaking outline

  1. SD has negative effects for individuals and community. image

    Main point 3

    1. Decreases performance and alertness (Dr. Michael J. Breus, clinical psychologist & writer for WebMD)
      1. Decreases workplace productivity; costs > $3,000 per employee annually (Patrick D. Skerritt, Harvard Business Review)
      2. Causes auto accidents, especially for teens (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, February 15, 2010) image
    2. Causes relational stress (Dr. Breus)
      1. True for me!
      2. 55% of class fights with loved ones due to SD. (my survey)
    3. Affects memory and cognitive ability (Dr. Jones)
      1. 23.2% report difficulties with concentration; 18.2% report difficulty remembering info. (CDC)
      2. All-nighters lead to lower GPA. (Dr. Pamela Thatcher, psychology professor at St. Lawrence University)
    4. Chronic health conditions—depression, obesity, diabetes (CDC)

Transition: Discussed causes and effects. How to prevent SD?

  1. Daily routine changes [Don’t read as list. Look up!] image

    In practice, speaker noted tendency to read directly from notes, preventing useful interaction with audience

    1. Prioritize sleeping
    2. Consistent sleep and wake-up times
    3. No TV/Internet in bed; just sleep
    4. No alcohol/caffeine close to bedtime
    5. Talk to MD or NP at health center about medical concerns. (Dr. Jones)

Transition: Changes in routine and good habits prevent SD.

Conclusion

  1. Zlatko Glusica [Zlat*ko Glue*sick*uh], image fatigued pilot, Air India Express, killed 158 people landing plane. (Alan Levin, USA Today, 2010) [Show image of crash]
  2. SD is concerning problem for individuals and communities.
    1. Causes: busy schedules, media use, alcohol/caffeine/medical problems
    2. Devastating effects
    3. Mostly preventable with simple changes
  3. Get some rest!

Speaker uses effective delivery cues throughout speech: here for a difficult pronunciation

LearningCurve

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