Key-Word Outline

A key-word outline is the briefest possible outline, consisting of specific “key words” from the sentence outline to jog the speaker’s memory. This type of outline allows the speaker to maintain maximum eye contact with the audience, though the speaker must be extremely familiar with the content of the speech. An example of a key-word outline is as follows:

  1. SD causes (CDC)
    1. Family and work
      1. College students
      2. New parents
      3. Shift workers
    2. Television and Internet
    3. Caffeine and alcohol
    4. Medical conditions—insomnia, apnea