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

Developing the Main Points

Once you have determined the main points of your speech and have made an informal plan of

organization, you can arrange your supporting information under appropriate headings.

Remember that the main points provide a basic structure that you fill out with supporting

information. As you sort and arrange your supporting material to group related ideas, take

care to keep unity in mind. A speech is unified when all its parts fit together to make a whole

and all of the information contained in the speech relates to the specific purpose. The best

way to plan a unified speech is to prepare an informal outline.

Preparing your Conclusion

The conclusion of an informative speech usually includes a summary of the main points.

Many speakers end with a quotation, an anecdote, or a final thought that makes the

conclusion more memorable. The conclusion is the final portion of a speech. Although a

conclusion is seldom longer than a few sentences, it is very important. The goals of an

effective conclusion are:

to emphasize the key idea or ideas of the speech

to intensify the emotions, or feelings, of the audience

Delivering Your Speech

Any speech will be more effective if it is delivered well.

Credibility - A speaker’s credibility is the amount of trust and belief the speaker

inspires in an audience. You want to establish yourself as a speaker whom the

audience can trust to give accurate information. One way to do this is to tell the

audience a little about your background or experience to let your audience know what

makes you qualified to talk about your topic. Be thoroughly prepared, but if you do not

know something or if experts are still debating a point, freely admit this.

Enthusiasm - Be enthusiastic about your topic. Your audience will probably find it

difficult to become excited about the topic you are speaking about if you do not seem to

find it important or interesting. The more enthusiasm you show, the more likely you

are to get and to hold the audience’s attention.

Eye contact - Establish eye contact with your listeners. If you look at the members of

your audience, they will look at you. If you fail to establish eye contact, the members of

the audience will let their eyes - and their attention - wander.

Vocal Variety and Emphasis - Vary your tone, rate, volume, and pitch to emphasize

key points and to make your speech more interesting.

Clear Articulation and Enunciation - Be careful not to slur your words. When you

speak clearly, your audience will find listening to your message easy and enjoyable.

Good Pronunciation - Your pronunciation can either help or hurt your credibility. If

you mispronounce key words in your speech, your listeners will begin to question

whether you have a thorough knowledge of your subject.

Informative Speech Outline Template Page 7