This document contains outlines for two sample informative speeches. The first speech outline is on the topic of culture, personality, and perception. It includes an introduction with an attention getter, credibility statement and thesis. The body has three main points about how culture and personality affect perception. The conclusion summarizes the main points. The second speech outline is on body image. It also includes an introduction with an attention getter and credibility statement. The body makes three main points about unhealthy eating habits, media influence, and societal standards of beauty. The conclusion encourages the audience to make healthy choices regardless of outside pressures.

1. Sample Informative Speech Outline
Title: Culture, Personality, and Perception
Specific Purpose: The culture identities and our personalities
and how they affect our perceptions
Thesis:
Introduction
I. Open with Impact:
A.
B.
C.
II. Connect with Audience:
III. Credibility Statement:
IV. Preview
Transition:
Body
I. Main Point:
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
B
(Signpost and transition:
II. Main Point:
A.
1.
2.
3.
B.
C.

2. (Signpost and transition:
III. Main Point:
Transition:
Conclusion
I. Summarize:
A.
B.
C.
D.
II. Close with impact:
References
Sample Informative Speech Outline
Title: Body Image
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about three issues of
body images
Thesis: According to WebMD over 30% of adults are considered
obese, and about 25% of adults are either anorexia or bulimic
and more than 76% of Americans have unhealthy eating habits.
Introduction
I. Open with Impact: “We don’t need Afghan-style burquas to
disappear as women. We disappear in reverse- by revamping
and revealing our bodies to meet externally imposed visions of
female beauty.” (Gerber, 2006, p. 3).
A. The affect of trying to be skinny has on young women.
B. How unhealthy eating has led to obesity.
C. What affect the media and society has on body images.
II. Connect with Audience: Do you care about your body image?
According to WebMD over 30% of adults are considered obese,
and about 25% of adults are either anorexia or bulimic and more
than 76% of Americans have unhealthy eating habits.
III. Credibility Statement: I have studied body images for the
past three months due to my own unhealthy eating habits and

3. have gained an understand of what this concept is all about.
IV. Preview: Today I will be talking about how unhealthy eating
leads to obesity, the affect the media and society has on body
images, and the affect on trying to be skinny has on young
women today.
Transition: Let’s begin with my first point -
Body
I. Main Point: How unhealthy eating, the media, and being
skinny affects our body images.
A. These are the facts (“Facts about Eating Disorders”, 2006)
1. Because young girls try to look like their idols more than
75% of young girls are on diets.
2. About 50% of 9-year-old girls have dieted.
3. At least 1 million Americans develop an eating disorder each
year.
4. A girl with anorexia usually has a distorted body image
which means she may actually be skinny but to herself she looks
fat.
5. And a girl with bulimia will first stuff herself with a lot of
food (binge) and then force herself to throw it up afterwards
(purge).
6. Ever since America Next Top Model, Baywatch and One Tree
Hill many young girls are trying to look like their idols, and it
is taking a toll on their bodies
B. These young girls do all this to their bodies just to be skinny.
(Signpost and transition: Now that you know how girls become
bulimic or anorexic I will be telling you how unhealthy eating
leads to obesity.)
II. Main Point: The reason for obesity is because Americans do
not eat the right food.
A. These are some of the facts (CNN.com, 2005)
1. Everyday, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat
fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per year
and increases the risk of obesity, a study of 6,212 youngsters
found.

4. 2. The highest levels of fast-food consumptions were found in
youngsters with higher household income levels, boys, older
children, blacks, and children living in the south.
3. Recent data suggest that nearly 15% of U.S. youngsters and
almost one-third of adults are obese.
B. The reason Americans gain weight is because there is a fast
food restaurant on every corner of the road.
C. Also fast food restraints are very accusable to Americans.
(Signpost and transition: The final aspect on body imaging that
I will be talking about is the affect media and society has on
body images.)
III. Main Point: The problem with the media and society is that
they are brainwashing young girls to looking a specific way and
it is affecting their body image.
A. Every time you turn on the T.V. you see really skinny
models and advertisements to take diet pills to get the body you
have always wanted.
B. B. The only time you see a heavy set person on T.V. is in a
negative or demeaning way. They put heavy set people on T.V.
to make fun of them.
C. C. Heavy set people do not get the respect that thinner
people get.
D. D. Watching T.V. distorts the beauty of the female body by
making it seem like you have to be skinny to get a boyfriend or
to be liked.
Transition: Let’s review what we learned today about body
images -
Conclusion
I. Summarize: If we all just try and eat healthy and exercise we
can get the body image that you want don’t let the media or
society impact your life. And when your hungry don’t stop at a
fast food place instead have a salad. And don’t judge others if
you don’t want to be judged.
A. We should not let the media take over our life.
B. Do you diet?

5. C. Do you make funny of people who are not as skinny as you?
D. Do you eat fast food?
II. Close with impact: No matter what we do everyday people
will judge the heavy and everyday people will believe what’s on
T.V. and everyday people will thrive to be perfect, don’t let that
be you?
References
CNN. (2004, January 5). Study: A third of kids eat fast food
daily. Retrieved September 24, 2007,
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/parenting/01/05/fast.food.a
p/index.html
Gerber, R. (2007). Beauty and body image in the media. Media
Awareness Web site. Retrieved September 24, 2007,
http://www.media-
awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/wom
en_beauty.cfm
Lightstone, J. (n.d.). Improving body image. Eating Disorder
Referral and Information Center. Retrieved September 24, 2007,
http://www.edreferral.com/body_image.htm#body%20image,%2
0your%20body,%20self
Livezone. (n.d.). Facts about eating disorders. Retrieved
September 24, 2007,
http://www.livezone.com/girltalk/firstaid.html
Personal MD. (1999). Skinny models impact girls’ body image.
Retrieved September 24, 2007,
http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1999030114.shtml
Organizing and Outlining the Informative Speech
Time: 4–5 minutes
All informative speeches have an identifiable introduction,
body, and conclusion. This speech should include at least three
verbal citations.
Introduction: The introduction should compel the audience to
listen (with an attention getter) and provide a preview. The

6. preview usually includes the thesis statement and an overview
of the main points.
Body: Most informative speeches should contain no more than
three main points, organized in a way that helps the audience
make sense of the message. Once the main points and
organizational pattern are set, identify what evidence supports
each main point and place these sub-points in the correct
location.
Conclusion: All informative speeches should include a brief
summary of the main points. No new information should be
given to the audience in the conclusion. An effective conclusion
leaves the audience thinking about the speaker’s message.
Outlining the Informative Speech: A detailed outline is
mandatory and should include the following sections: title,
statement of specific purpose, thesis statement, introduction,
body (including internal summaries and transitions), conclusion,
and references. The outline is the framework for the speech.
Part 2, p. 86 Copyright © 2019 Bedford/St. Martin's. All rights
reserved.