Informative Speech Outline Template (Page 4 of 7) in pdf

The final step in preparing your material is to organize it. A well-organized speech has three

parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Introduction:

gains the attention and the goodwill of the audience

Body:

presents the main points in an organized pattern and gives supporting

information for the main points.

Conclusion:

emphasizes key idea or ideas of the speech and leaves the audience with

greater interest in the topic.

Planning the Introduction

The beginning section of your speech is the introduction. An introduction can be as short as a

few sentences and should usually be no longer than 10 percent of the speech. Length varies,

depending on the topic, the audience’s interest level, and the audience’s knowledge about the

subject.

An introduction serves three very important purposes. It should:

get the attention of the audience - (sustained interest) - you need to find a way to

focus the audience’s attention on the subject matter of your speech, then, when

you get into the body of the speech, your audience will continue to listen.

gain the goodwill of the audience - (audience’s respect or positive feeling for the

speaker as a person) - What you say in your opening remarks and the way in

which you say it - your tone, your inflection, and other nonverbal signals are

important. If your audience likes or trusts you, they will likely be willing to

listen to what you have to say and to think about your message.

develop the audience’s interest in the topic of the speech - (involvement or

concern your audience shows about your topic) - Include facts, examples, and

other information that will hold your audience’s attention.

You can use any of the common methods for beginning a speech - a startling statement, a

question, a quotation, a story, or a personal reference - in an informative speech.

Using transitional devices

Transitional devices are bridges between ideas. They connect parts of a speech and help to

emphasize the points you are making.

Example: Between the opening and the body of your speech about dogs being our best friends,

you might say, “First, let’s look at ways dogs help people.” Between the first and second

points you might say, “Now that we have seen examples of how dogs work with people, let’s

move on to our second point.”

Transitional devices also help you emphasize ideas. For example, you might say, “Here is a

point I want to stress,” or “The key point here is . . .” Statements like these alert your

audience to be prepared to hear information that you think is important.

Informative Speech Outline Template Page 4