Organizing and outlining an informative speech

1. Why
What & How
The
Informative
Presentation

2. Why, What & How
1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
6. ______________________________
7. ______________________________
8. ______________________________
9. ______________________________
10. ______________________________
How does a Blu-Ray Player work?
Why are donuts round?
What is a Higgs Boson?
How did 13 become unlucky?
Why are there so many bats on S.C.?
How do new fragrances get developed?
What are the acoustics of a guitar?
How does yeast make bread rise?
What is the history of eyeliner?
How does a perm work?

3. Organizing your
presentation

4. Organizational Patterns
Topical Pattern
Chronological Pattern
Spatial Pattern
Causal Pattern
Problem-Solution Pattern
Ways of arranging information

5. Organizational Patterns
Topical Pattern
Chronological Pattern
Spatial Pattern

6. I. Andre Agassi’s tennis career
II. Agassi’s early influences
III. Agassi’s private life
Topical Organization
Topic 3
Topic 2
Topic 1

7. Chronological Org.
I. Agassi’s first victories in the 80’s
II. Agassi’s big victories in the 90’s
III. Agassi’s performance before retirement
1980’s 1990’s 2006

8. Spatial Organization
I. Agassi’s performance on the West coast
II. Agassi’s perfomance on the East coast
Arranged according to location in space

9. Organizational Patterns
Problem-Solution Pattern
Causal Pattern

10. Causal Organization
I. Agassi’s switch to a new racquet
II. Agassi’s bad performance in 1996
Cause
Effect

11. Circular Pattern
Narrative Pattern
Problem-Solution Pattern Causal Pattern
Topical Pattern Chronological Pattern Spatial Pattern
How was the Internet developed?
Why did the university adopt a new look for its mascot?

12. Topic: Coffee houses #1

13. Topic 3
Topic 2
Topic 1
I. History of coffee houses
A. The origins
B. Coffee houses of the 50’s
C.Coffee houses of the 90’s
II. People who go there
III. Coffee house lingo
A. Espresso
B. Cappuccino
C.Cafe latte
D. Alternative beverages
Organizational Pattern
Past
Present

14. Topic: Coffee houses #2

15. Organizational Pattern
I. Current resurgence of coffee houses
A. Comfortable atmosphere
B. Growing in popularity
II. Coffee houses aren’t new
A. Precursors: 50’s & 17th century
B. Purpose of early coffee houses
C. Unique features of 50’s coffee houses
III. Coffee house crowd
IV. Coffee house terminology Topic viewed from
multiple
perspectives
Present
1950’s
1600’s
1950’s
Present

16. Configural Organization:
- Implicit thesis
- No Preview
- Points explored simultaneously
- No explicit links
- Direction is implied
- Summary left to audience
Eastern cultures
Native American cultures
Mostly Western cultures Latino cultures
Culture & Org. patterns
Preferred Logical Systems vary by culture
Linear Organization:
- Explicit thesis
- Preview
- Points explored 1 by 1
- Transitions
- Signposts
- Summary

17. Outlining your
Presentation

18. Jarrod Wayne Rufus
Informative Speech Outline
Speech 1003 / Section # __
September 15, 2003
Ask Not: A Critical Analysis of Kennedy’s Inaugural
Specific Purpose: To inform my class about John F. Kennedy’s early public speaking endeavors and his
eventual acquirement of renowned public speaking skills.
Thesis: Although he was a poor public speaker in his early days, John F. Kennedy delivered one of the
most powerful Inaugural Addresses in our nations history. His effective use of style makes him one of
the great public speakers of our time.
Introduction:
Attention Getter: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country.” I’ve always feared giving public speeches and yet I’ve always admired those who
could inspire a crowd merely with the words they say. One of my favorite presidential speakers
was JFK—John Fitzgerald Kennedy. To my surprise I found out he didn’t enjoy public speaking
either when he first began—and from what I hear, he wasn’t very good at it either.
Preview: Today I would like to relate to you John F. Kennedy’s early public speaking
endeavors, his acquirement of public speaking skills, his rise to power, and lastly to attempt a
brief analysis of the style he presents in his Inaugural Address.
Body:
Sample Presentation outline
Full Sentence Outline - Available on Blackboard
Credibility statement

19. either when he first began—and from what I hear, he wasn’t very good at it either.
Preview: Today I would like to relate to you John F. Kennedy’s early public speaking
endeavors, his acquirement of public speaking skills, his rise to power, and lastly to attempt a
brief analysis of the style he presents in his Inaugural Address.
Body:
I. John F. Kennedy was not a great speaker when he began his political career, but over time his
ethos as a public speaker became a strong asset in his bid for the presidency.
A. Early on reporters noted his lack of skill at public speaking.
B. As his career progressed throughout the 1960’s his speaking got better.
1. (In his 1965 book, Kennedy, Theodore Sorensen) states that Kennedy’s early
“public speeches were rarely inspired or inspiring,” but that he later “became the
candidate and President whose addresses stirred the hearts of the world.”
2. He won a seat in the House of Representatives for three consecutive elections.
3. He defeated popular Senator Henry Cabot Lodge to become only the third
Democrat elected to the Senate from Massachusetts.
C. Although reporters were often critical of Kennedy’s delivery, he possessed
a strong ethos that his audiences respected.
1. (Time magazine’s 1960 election edition) summed up Kennedy’s appeal: “alert,
incisive, speaking in short, terse, sentences, in a chowderish New England accent
that he somehow makes attractive.”
Continued
Sample Presentation outline

20. [Transition: This speech might not have had the effect it did. Only a few months earlier JFK had lost his
voice from the vigorous campaigning and his own poor speaking habits. With the help of a vocal coach
he built his voice up and perfected his delivery—In the end, we are, thankfully, left with the powerful
legacy of JFK’s well crafted and skillfully delivered words.]
III. Conclusion
A. Review: John F. Kennedy was an intelligent, responsible, effective speaker who, January
20 1961, gave a memorable speech which is still considered one of the best inaugural
speeches ever given. We should realize, however, that this speech was created and
delivered by a man who began his public career as a poor public speaker, who did not
like the speaking experience, but who not only learned how to deliver a memorable
speech, but even to enjoy doing so.
B. Attention Getter: Therefore, ask what speech class can do for you…? Well, I doubt any
of us here will be giving a speech of this magnitude anytime soon but it is encouraging
that with determination and practice we can learn to be better speakers.
Works Cited
Bostrom, Robert N. “’I Give You a Man’—Kennedy’s Speech for Adlai Stevenson,”
Speech Monographs. June 1968, p. 129.
Linkugal, Allen and Johannesen. Contemporary American Speeches, 2nd
Ed. Belmont,
California: Wadsworth Publishing, 1969.
Sorensen, Theodore C. Kennedy. New York: Harper and Row, 1965.

21. Title, Specific Purpose, Thesis
Introduction
Attention-getter
Credibility Statement
Preview
Body
I. Mainpoint 1
A. Subpoint
B. Subpoint
1. Sub-subpoint
2. Sub-subpoint
II. Mainpoint 2
III. Mainpoint 3
Conclusion
Summary
Closing Statement
References
Use APA of MLA format
Elements
of
a
presentation
outline

22. Keyword
Outline
I. JFK not a great speaker - became one over time
A. Lack of public speaking skills
B. 1960’s Got better
1. Sorensen quote “rarely inspired”
2. Three terms in House
3. Third MA Dem elected to Senate
C. Reporters critical - Strong ethos
1. Time on Kennedy’s appeal
2. Nomination for Adlai Stevenson
3. Dem leaders opposed to JFK
a. Three years speaking at meetings
b. Cultivated support

23. Work from a
formal outline
Speak from a
keyword outline