Invitation to Public Speaking,

Fourth Edition
By Cindy L. Griffin

Chapter 8: Organizing and Outlining

your Speech
 Organize for Clarity
• Organization: the systematic arrangement of
ideas into a coherent whole, makes speeches
listenable
 Main Points
• Identify main points
• Use an appropriate number of main points
• Order main points
 Ordering Main Points
• Chronological
• Spatial
• Causal
• Problem-Solution
• Topical
 Tips for Preparing Main Points
• Keep each main point separate and distinct
• Word your main points consistently
• Devote the appropriate coverage to each
main point
Ineffective and Effective Main Points
Ineffective main points Effective main points
1. Drivers need to know 1. Stop signs assign the
who has the right of way, right of way to vehicles
and a stop sign tells us that. using an intersection.

2. Stop signs slow down 2. Stop signs reduce the

drivers who are traveling at
unsafe speeds.
3. Sometimes, pedestrians
need protections from
vehicles, and stop signs
give them that protection
problem of speeding in
certain areas.
3. Stop signs protect
pedestrians in busy
intersections of near
schools.
 Tips for Preparing Main Points
• Connectives: words and phrases we use to link
ideas in a speech
• Transitions: phrases that indicate you are
finished with one idea and are moving on to a
new one
 Tips for Preparing Main Points
• Internal summary: a statement in the body of
speech that summarizes a point already
discussed
• Signpost: a simple word or statement that
highlights an important idea or that indicates
your location within your speech
 The Preparation Outline
• Outline that includes:

– Title – Main points

– Specific purpose – Subpoints
– Thesis statement – Connectives
– Introduction – Conclusion
– Source citations
 Tips for the Preparation Outline
• Use complete sentences
• Label the introduction, body, conclusion, and
connectives
• Use a consistent pattern of symbols and
indentation
Preparation Outline
 Tips for the Preparation Outline
• Divide points into at least two sub-points
• Check for balance
Main Points
 The Speaking Outline
• Speaking outline (speaking notes): a
condensed form of the preparation outline
that is used as a memory aid when speaking
 Tips for the Speaking Outline
• Use keywords and phrases
• Write clearly and legibly
• Add cues for delivery
 Note Cards
• Use keywords and phrases on no more than
six lines per note card
• Write clearly and legibly
• Use only one side of the card
• Number each card
• Put cues for delivery
• Try not to gesture with them
Sample Note Cards
 Speech Introduction
• Listen to Brandi’s speech introduction.
• Try to outline her introduction according to the
guidelines discussed in Chapter 8.

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