Sample Outline for Informative Speech 2 Title: The Microbrewing World Speaker: Kyle Haugsness, University of Oklahoma public-speaking student Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the history and direction of the microbrewing industry Thesis Statement: Although the history of microbrewing in the United States has been less than ideal, its recent exponential growth has enabled local microbreweries to thrive, giving you a chance to become a part of this growth. Introduction 1. Attention-getter: Imagine, if you will, that you are sitting in your favorite chair this weekend, watching the NCAA basketball championships. You have pizza, potato chips, remote control, but you are missing something—a beer. 2. Establishment of ethos: The market for microbrewed beer in this country has grown into a $2-billion-a-year industry. The increasing population of beer drinkers has brought about a resurgence in the practice of microbrewing. In my hometown of Houston, I had the opportunity to brew a batch of my very own beer in a local brewery. It was an enriching experience. 3. Preview (each main point): First I would like to give a brief history of beer brewing, followed by a look at the explosion of the microbrewing industry and how you can participate. (Transition: Now, I will describe the history of microbrewed beer.) Body I. The microbrewing industry has had a unique history that has hurt its growth at times, but it is now experiencing a surge in popularity. A. The absence of spirits aboard the Mayflower may have led to its docking, as one passenger’s journal states: “We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer” (Johnson, 1996). 1. According to an article titled “A Short History of Brewing in America” (Johnson, 1996), several of our forefathers took the liberty of cultivating the hemp plant, and many of them enjoyed a cold beer on occasion. William Penn, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and even George Washington often drank their own homebrewed beverages. B. The number of microbreweries steadily declined until the era of Prohibition. With the repeal of Prohibition, the number of breweries grew until they were forced out by competition and the nationalization of larger firms. 71 (Internal summary: In effect, the microbrewing industry has been down a rocky road, but in recent years it has regained popularity.) (Transition: While the history of microbrewing has been dismal, the future looks very bright.) II. Bronikowski (1996) notes that in 1995 the craft of microbrewing grew to a $2-billion industry that increased 51 percent from the previous year. A. According to David Edgar (1995), who is the director of the Institute for Beer Studies, microbrew drinkers tend to have a slightly higher education and median income. B. Not only have sales figures been a testament to the industry’s growth, but advertising budgets also paint a vivid picture. For example, Pete’s Brewing Company became the f.

1. Sample Outline for Informative Speech 2
Title: The Microbrewing World
Speaker: Kyle Haugsness, University of Oklahoma public-
speaking student
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the history and
direction of the microbrewing
industry
Thesis Statement: Although the history of microbrewing in the
United States has been less
than ideal, its recent exponential growth has enabled local
microbreweries to thrive, giving
you a chance to become a part of this growth.
Introduction
1. Attention-getter: Imagine, if you will, that you are sitting in
your favorite chair this
weekend, watching the NCAA basketball championships. You
have pizza, potato chips,
remote control, but you are missing something—a beer.
2. Establishment of ethos: The market for microbrewed beer in
this country has grown
into a $2-billion-a-year industry. The increasing population of
beer drinkers has brought
about a resurgence in the practice of microbrewing. In my
hometown of Houston, I had
the opportunity to brew a batch of my very own beer in a local
brewery. It was an
enriching experience.
3. Preview (each main point): First I would like to give a brief
history of beer brewing,
followed by a look at the explosion of the microbrewing
industry and how you can
participate.
(Transition: Now, I will describe the history of microbrewed
beer.)

2. Body
I. The microbrewing industry has had a unique history that has
hurt its growth at times,
but it is now experiencing a surge in popularity.
A. The absence of spirits aboard the Mayflower may have led to
its docking, as one
passenger’s journal states: “We could not now take time for
further search or
consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our
beer” (Johnson, 1996).
1. According to an article titled “A Short History of Brewing in
America” (Johnson,
1996), several of our forefathers took the liberty of cultivating
the hemp plant, and
many of them enjoyed a cold beer on occasion. William Penn,
Samuel Adams,
Thomas Jefferson, and even George Washington often drank
their own
homebrewed beverages.
B. The number of microbreweries steadily declined until the era
of Prohibition. With the
repeal of Prohibition, the number of breweries grew until they
were forced out by
competition and the nationalization of larger firms.
71
(Internal summary: In effect, the microbrewing industry has
been down a rocky
road, but in recent years it has regained popularity.)
(Transition: While the history of microbrewing has been dismal,
the future looks
very bright.)
II. Bronikowski (1996) notes that in 1995 the craft of
microbrewing grew to a $2-billion
industry that increased 51 percent from the previous year.
A. According to David Edgar (1995), who is the director of the
Institute for Beer Studies,

3. microbrew drinkers tend to have a slightly higher education and
median income.
B. Not only have sales figures been a testament to the industry’s
growth, but
advertising budgets also paint a vivid picture. For example,
Pete’s Brewing
Company became the first specialty brewer to advertise
nationally (Edgar, 1995).
C. The demand for fresh, new variety in the beer industry has
given the small breweries
a niche in the market that continues to grow. Currently, there
seems to be no
indication that this trend will stop or slow down in the near
future.
(Internal summary: The die-hard beer drinkers of the nation are
speaking out and
demanding more microbreweries.)
(Transition: The result of this incredible growth is that
microbrewing has found a
place in states like Oklahoma as well.)
III. Establishments such as the Bricktown Brewery, the
Interurban Grille, and the Norman
Brewing Company are local businesses with a profitable stake
in the craft.
A. The lure of these restaurants’ beer often stems from their
descriptive and curious
names.
B. Although many microbreweries use various special
ingredients, the primary
components of beer are malt, hops, yeast, and water.
C. Changing each of the ingredients slightly gives each beer its
own weight, flavor,
color, and smell. With so many possibilities, it’s easy to see
why the microbrewing
industry is still growing.
D. Do-it-yourself kits that enable you to brew your own beer are

4. now available for
around $60. All you need are the appropriate ingredients, an
instruction book, and
the imagination to brew your very own award-winning beer!
(Internal summary: So, with the availability of local
microbreweries and do-ityourself
kits, an original handcrafted beer is within your reach.)
(Transition to conclusion: Allow me to cap this brief tour of the
microbrewing world
with a few final thoughts.)
72
Conclusion
1. Summarize (overall theme) and review (each main point): I
showed that the history of
brewing beer in the United States has been unique and
unpredictable. I then explained
the tremendous expansion of the current microbrewing industry.
And I briefly examined
the basics of brewing, in addition to some of the local
businesses that are making their
unique beers available to the general public.
2. Tie to the introduction: So next time you’re channel surfing
or watching your favorite
sporting event, don’t forget to wash down your pizza with your
favorite microbrewed beer!
3. Creative concluding thought (end with impact): Finally, if
you are of legal drinking age,
I encourage you to be adventurous and try some of the local
brews.
References
Anderson, J. (1996). Recipe exchange. Beermasters, 4, 10–15.
Anonymous (1996, March 25). Create your own recipe. Message
posted to
http://beermasters.com/byo/recipe.html.
Bronikowski, L. (1996, April 23).There’s no cap on
microbreweries. Rocky Mountain News,

5. p. B1.
Edgar, D. (1995, June). Craft brewing: Fastest growth in the
industry. New Brewer, 13.
Johnson, A. (1996). A short history of brewing in America. New
York, NY: American Press.
Joseph, D. (1996, March 25). Sales Assistant, Professional
Brewers, LLC. (405) 752–7380.