Speech 30

Topic 16

The Speech Outline

Topic 15: Topic 16:
Main Points and The Speech
Supporting Materials Outline
THE OUTLINE
The Speech Outline

1. The Heading
a. Topic
b. Specific Speech Purpose
c. Major Claim
d. Title
2. The Content Outline
a. Introduction
b. Body
c. Conclusion
I. The Heading (Parts)

(1) Topic
(2) Specific Speech Purpose (SSP):
a. Purpose: To convince/ actuate
b. Specific Audience: Speech 30 class
c. Specific topic: Specific belief or action that you want the
audience to believe or do
(3) Major Claim
(4) Title
II. The Content Outline (Parts)

1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion
II. The Content Outline (Formatting)

Alternation and Indentation

I. Main Point 1
A. Subpoint 1
a. Supporting Material 1
b. Supporting Material 2
B. Subpoint 2
a. Supporting Material 1
b. Supporting Material 2
II. Main Point 2
…
II. The Content Outline (Guidelines)

1. Coordinate and subordinate

2. Phrase points as declarative sentences
3. Use complete sentences
4. Cite sources (if necessary)
5. Use connectives and transitions (especially for
introductions and conclusions)
The outline should be structurally
and logically sound.
 Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me
before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs
are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead.
The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or
no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we
have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My
people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no
blankets, no food. No one knows where they are – perhaps
freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children,
and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them
among the dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no
more forever.

[Chief Joseph, “Surrender Speech”, 1877]

Introduction:
I. I know General Howard's heart.
II. I am tired of fighting. (Preview)

Body:
I. Many of our leaders have already died.
A. Looking Glass is dead.
B. Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead.
C. The old men are dead.
D. The leader of the young men is dead.
1. It is the young men who decide our actions.
 II. Our conditions are dire.
A. The cold is killing us.
1. We have no blankets.
2. Children are freezing to death.
B. Some of my people have run away to the hills.
C. We have no food.

III. All we want now is to stop fighting.

A. We want to have time to look for our children.
B. We want to have time to look for our dead.

Conclusion.
I. My heart is sick and sad.
II. I will fight no more forever.
INTRODUCTIONS
+
CONCLUSIONS
I. Introduction

(1) Attention Step

a. Draw attention to topic
b. Motivate audience to listen
c. Establish credibility

(2) Clarification Step

a. Preview major claim/ major ideas
II. Conclusion

(1) Summary Step

a. Review main ideas
b. Provide psychological closure
c. Reify persuasive message
 Mr. Moderator, Brother Lomax, brothers
and sisters, friends and enemies: I just
can't believe everyone in here is a friend,
and I don't want to leave anybody out. The
question tonight, as I understand it, is "The
Negro Revolt, and Where Do We Go From
Here?" or What Next?" In my little humble
way of understanding it, it points toward
either the ballot or the bullet.

[Malcolm X, The Ballot or the Bullet, 1964]

 What the woman who labors wants is the
right to live, not simply exist — the right to
life as the rich woman has the right to life,
and the sun and music and art. You have
nothing that the humblest worker has not a
right to have also. The worker must have
bread, but she must have roses, too.

[Rose Schneiderman, Bread and Roses]