How to Write a Speech Outline

Definition
"Thesis"
A thesis is a statement you plan to prove.

Come up with your own
thesis:
Example thesis:
"Bananas are the best fruit."

Come up with three
reasons why you are right:
Reason 1: "Bananas can fill you up."
Reason 2: "Bananas are versatile."
Reason 3: "Bananas are great in smoothies."

Put the points in order:
Put your best point last:
"Bananas can fill you up."

Put your second-best point first:
"Bananas are great in smoothies."

Put your weakest point in the middle:
"Bananas are versatile."

Write your reasons in the
new order:
1. Bananas are great in smoothies.
2. Bananas are versatile.
3. Bananas can fill you up.

Definitions:
Types of research sources
“Primary resource” means the information
comes from someone’s personal experience.
Examples are blogs, forums, youtube videos,
and interviews (you can even do your own
interview.)

“Secondary resource” means the information
was written by someone who did not actually
experience it. Examples are wikipedia and
news articles.

Add two details for each
reason
You can find your details online or you can do
your own interviews.

At least one detail must come from a primary
resource (see the definition on the previous
slide.)

1. Bananas are great in
smoothies.
Detail 1: Bananas help smoothies create that rich creamy
texture that makes a smoothie great.
Website: http://www.smoothieweb.com/category/fruit-
smoothies/banana-smoothies/

Detail 2: A good trick for beginners as they begin experimenting
with green smoothies, is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas
help your smoothies to taste great, and give them the rich
consistency of a milkshake!
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLfwMWqbz2I
** primary resource

2. Bananas are versatile.
Detail 1: You can eat them when they are mild tasting or when they are
as sweet as candy. A yellow banana with a little green at one end is the
first stage of ripeness. The banana is not yet fully sweet, but it has
begun to sweeten more fully.A fully yellow banana is ripe, the peel has
thinned a little and the banana is softer and sweeter. A yellow banana
with a couple brown spots is a full-ripe banana... this is its height of
sweetness. These bananas also have the strongest banana flavor.
Website: http://askville.amazon.com/Banana-ripe/AnswerViewer.do?
requestId=9016572

Detail 2: Over-ripe bananas can be frozen and used in desserts such
as ice cream or baking.
Website: http://gentleworld.org/the-magic-of-frozen-bananas/

3. Bananas can fill you up.
Detail 1: Bananas are an excellent source of fiber and
carbohydrates, yet are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free.
Website: http://realfoodie.hubpages.com/hub/BANANA-The-
Perfect-Food

Detail 2: One medium sized banana (about 7" long) contains
roughly 110 calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that
will boost your energy.
Website: http://realfoodie.hubpages.com/hub/BANANA-The-
Perfect-Food

Definition
"Sign Posting"
Sign posting during a speech means adding
words and phrases that will help the audience
organize the ideas in their mind.

Next, turn each "reason"
into a paragraph:
Start each paragraph with a sign-posting word
or phrase:
Choose “First”, “Second,” and “Third.”
Or “To begin with,” “Next,” and “Lastly.”
Or you come up with your own variation.

First, bananas are great in smoothies. Bananas help smoothies
create that rich creamy texture that makes a smoothie great. A good
trick for beginners as they begin experimenting with green smoothies,
is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas help your smoothies to taste
great, and give them the rich consistency of a milkshake!
Second, bananas are versatile. You can eat them when they are
mild tasting or when they are as sweet as candy. A yellow banana with
a little green at one end is the first stage of ripeness. The banana is not
yet fully sweet, but it has begun to sweeten more fully.A fully yellow
banana is ripe, the peel has thinned a little and the banana is softer and
sweeter. A yellow banana with a couple brown spots is a full-ripe
banana... this is its height of sweetness. These bananas also have the
strongest banana flavor. Over-ripe bananas can be frozen and used in
desserts such as ice cream or baking.
Lastly, bananas can fill you up. Bananas are an excellent source of
fiber and carbohydrates, yet are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium
free. One medium sized banana (about 7" long) contains roughly 110
calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that will boost your
energy.

Next,
create an introduction...

First, write a lead-in statement that
briefly and bluntly states your thesis
and your three reasons:
Lead-in statement:
"Bananas are the best fruit around because
they can be mild or sweet, they are great in
smoothies, and they can fill you up."

Come up with a way to get the
audience’s attention.
Choose one of the following:
1. Humor (something funny)
2. A story (something interesting you heard or read that
relates to the topic)
3. A quote (something related to your topic)
4. A rhetorical question (philosophical questions to which
you do not expect an answer)
5. A startling statement (surprising facts, statistics or
outrageous ideas related to the topic)
6. A personal experience (a story from your own life)

Startling statement:
"Did you know bananas are the world's best-
selling fruit, outranking the apple and orange?"

Next, transition to your thesis
statement:
"In fact, I would go so far as to say that
bananas are THE best fruit in existence."

Let them know why they should
listen to YOU on this particular
topic:
"I personally eat about 10 bananas a day, and I
love them. I’ve also spent time researching the
banana and what makes them so very
wonderful, and now I’m ready to share what I
know with you."

Give the audience any background
information they might need and/or
define any terms.
(This is optional and may not be needed for
all topics):

"Some background on the banana: the sweet
yellow banana is a mutant strain which
developed from original red and green cooking
bananas most often called plantains. The
banana is also a distant cousin to ginger,
tumeric, and cardamom, and is botanically
classified as a berry."

Combine your introductory
sentences into a paragraph, using
this structure:
1. Get the audience’s attention
2. Transition to your thesis
3. Tell them why they should listen to you
4. Give them background/definitions (optional)
5. Make your lead-in statement

"Did you know bananas are the world's best-selling
fruit, outranking the apple and orange? In fact, I would
go so far as to say that bananas are THE best fruit in
existence. I personally eat about 10 bananas a day,
and I love them. I’ve also spent time researching the
banana and what makes them so very wonderful, and
now I’m ready to share what I know with you. Some
background on the banana: the sweet yellow banana is
a mutant strain which developed from original red and
green cooking bananas most often called plantains.
The banana is also a distant cousin to ginger, turmeric,
and cardamom, and is botanically classified as a berry.
Bananas are the best fruit around because they can be
mild or sweet, they are great in smoothies, and they
can fill you up."

Next, write an end to your
speech...

Begin with a sign-post transition like
“In conclusion” or “In summary,”
and then restate your thesis and
your three reasons
(try to vary the words, if you can):

"In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit
because it makes delicious smoothies, it can
have a variety of tastes, and it can actually fill
you up."

End the speech, thank the audience,
and transition to the Q and A:
"I hope that you found this speech informative
and that you will consider adding more
bananas into your day-to-day life. Thank you
for listening. Are there any questions?"

Turn your conclusion sentences into
a paragraph:
"In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit
because it makes delicious smoothies, it can
have a variety of tastes, and it can actually fill
you up. I hope that you found this speech
informative and that you will consider adding
more bananas into your day-to-day life. Thank
you for listening. Are there any questions?"

Finally, put your paragraphs in the
following order:
1. Introduction paragraph
2. Reason 1 paragraph
5. Conclusion paragraph

Did you know bananas are the world's best-selling fruit, outranking the apple and orange? In
fact, I would go so far as to say that bananas are THE best fruit in existence. I personally eat about 10
bananas a day, and I love them. I’ve also spent time researching the banana and what makes them
so very wonderful, and now I’m ready to share what I know with you. Some background on the
banana: the sweet yellow banana is a mutant strain which developed from original red and green
cooking bananas most often called plantains. The banana is also a distant cousin to ginger, turmeric,
and cardamom, and is botanically classified as a berry. Bananas are the best fruit around because
they can be mild or sweet, they are great in smoothies, and they can fill you up.
First, bananas are great in smoothies. Bananas help smoothies create that rich creamy texture
that makes a smoothie great. A good trick for beginners as they begin experimenting with green
smoothies, is to freeze bananas. Frozen bananas help your smoothies to taste great, and give them
the rich consistency of a milkshake!
Second, bananas are versatile. You can eat them when they are mild tasting or when they are
as sweet as candy. A yellow banana with a little green at one end is the first stage of ripeness. The
banana is not yet fully sweet, but it has begun to sweeten more fully.A fully yellow banana is ripe, the
peel has thinned a little and the banana is softer and sweeter. A yellow banana with a couple brown
spots is a full-ripe banana... this is its height of sweetness. These bananas also have the strongest
banana flavor. Over-ripe bananas can be frozen and used in desserts such as ice cream or baking.
Lastly, bananas can fill you up. Bananas are an excellent source of fiber and carbohydrates, yet
are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free. One medium sized banana (about 7" long) contains
roughly 110 calories, yet is packed with vitamins, minerals that will boost your energy.
In summary, the banana is a wonderful fruit because it makes delicious smoothies, it can have a
variety of tastes, and it can actually fill you up. I hope that you found this speech informative and that
you will consider adding more bananas into your day-to-day life. Thank you for listening. Are there
any questions?

Read over your speech and change anything
that sounds awkward or that doesn’t flow well.

You’re done!

How to Write a Speech Outline

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