Sample Outline SAMPLE BROWN BAG OUTLINE Brooke H Clubbs SC 105: 100: T-Th 8 AM [email protected] General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: I would like for my students to get to know me better. Thesis: I would like to introduce myself to you so you can know who I am beyond just being your teacher. Introduction I. Walt Whitman wrote, "Do I contradict myself? Very well then. I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes." II. This is a good quote to describe my life. III. My interests and beliefs don't always coincide with popular stereotypes. IV. I am not quite a stay at home mom because I work; I am not quite a career woman because I spend so much time at home with my kids. V. My religious beliefs do guide the way I vote; people are surprised that I am Catholic and a Democrat. VI. I have my Master of Fine Arts in Acting and traveled all over the East Coast acting in a touring production, which some folks might think is kind of exotic; I scrapbooked it all which some people might think is the epitome of your typical "soccer mom." VII. I would like to introduce myself to you so you can know who I am beyond just being your teacher. VII. So to go along with these contradictions, instead of multitudes, I have brought in just three objects to represent my past, present and future. Body I. First, I have a seed packet. A, This represents something my mom always told me: "Bloom where you are planted." B. When I was younger, I thought I was missing out because I didn't live closer to the city. C. We lived in Kankakee, an hour south of Chicago. D. Our house was in "rural" Kankakee so I fell into the Herscher School District---surrounded by farm land. E. I wanted us to move to a suburb of Chicago or at least into Kankakee proper. F. I wanted to go to a big high school with a large fine arts program. G. My mom entertained the idea, but she ultimately decided that the schools were just fine where we were. H. She told me I would just have to bloom where I was planted---make the best of what I had. I. I discovered she was right.: I had an awesome time in high school and plenty of opportunities. J. I was offered a full ride to Southeast, a school I had never heard of. K. I had figured I would go to the University of Illinois like a lot of my other friends. L. But, I decided to see if I could bloom here...and I did. M. I met my husband, decided to go to grad school...and then moved back here to start our jobs and family! N. Sometimes I am tempted to look into moving to St. Louis, but I just remember my mom's advice and the fact that success is achieved through making the most of what you have where you are. II. Moving onto my second object, I have my day planner. A. This little book represents my love of organization and list making as well as my present. B. In some ways, I am very laid-back. C. For example, when it comes to house-keeping, I would rather play with the kids than have a clean kitchen floor. D. But I am bit of a perfectionist in oth.

1. Sample Outline
SAMPLE BROWN BAG OUTLINE
Brooke H Clubbs
SC 105: 100: T-Th 8 AM
[email protected]
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: I would like for my students to get to know
me better.
Thesis: I would like to introduce myself to you so you can know
who I am beyond just being your teacher.
Introduction
I. Walt Whitman wrote, "Do I contradict myself? Very well
then. I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes."
II. This is a good quote to describe my life.
III. My interests and beliefs don't always coincide with popular
stereotypes.
IV. I am not quite a stay at home mom because I work; I am not
quite a career woman because I spend so much time at home
with my kids.
V. My religious beliefs do guide the way I vote; people are
surprised that I am Catholic and a Democrat.
VI. I have my Master of Fine Arts in Acting and traveled all
over the East Coast acting in a touring production, which some
folks might think is kind of exotic; I scrapbooked it all which
some people might think is the epitome of your typical "soccer
mom."
VII. I would like to introduce myself to you so you can know
who I am beyond just being your teacher.
VII. So to go along with these contradictions, instead of
multitudes, I have brought in just three objects to represent my
past, present and future.
Body
I. First, I have a seed packet.

2. A, This represents something my mom always told me: "Bloom
where you are planted."
B. When I was younger, I thought I was missing out because I
didn't live closer to the city.
C. We lived in Kankakee, an hour south of Chicago.
D. Our house was in "rural" Kankakee so I fell into the
Herscher School District---surrounded by farm land.
E. I wanted us to move to a suburb of Chicago or at least into
Kankakee proper.
F. I wanted to go to a big high school with a large fine arts
program.
G. My mom entertained the idea, but she ultimately decided that
the schools were just fine where we were.
H. She told me I would just have to bloom where I was planted-
--make the best of what I had.
I. I discovered she was right.: I had an awesome time in high
school and plenty of opportunities.
J. I was offered a full ride to Southeast, a school I had never
heard of.
K. I had figured I would go to the University of Illinois like a
lot of my other friends.
L. But, I decided to see if I could bloom here...and I did.
M. I met my husband, decided to go to grad school...and then
moved back here to start our jobs and family!
N. Sometimes I am tempted to look into moving to St. Louis,
but I just remember my mom's advice and the fact that success
is achieved through making the most of what you have where
you are.
II. Moving onto my second object, I have my day planner.
A. This little book represents my love of organization and list
making as well as my present.
B. In some ways, I am very laid-back.
C. For example, when it comes to house-keeping, I would rather
play with the kids than have a clean kitchen floor.
D. But I am bit of a perfectionist in other ways.

3. E. For example, I reread my e-mail for typos before I send it.
F. My day planner shows some of the ways I am a perfectionist
because it is full of my lists and schedules.
G. I don't like to waste time; I want to be productive so I can
have more time to relax!
H. I have a lot to keep track of too---my classes, appointments,
meetings, church obligations. social events...and then my
husband's schedule, my oldest daughter and son's school
calendar and all that goes with it (like when I am supposed to
bring treats for a teacher appreciation day or turn in her
fundraising forms) and my youngest daughter’s day care
schedule.
I. It's a lot to keep up with three kids and a dog, but I love this
season of my life.
J. I have learned that you can have everything---just not all at
the same time!
III. Finishing up with my third object, I have an archival pen.
A. I mentioned in my introduction that I like to scrapbook.
B. I take photos, put them down on paper, add some
embellishments and then most important, use a pen like this to
write down the details.
C. This pen represents all I have yet to write.
D. I think my life story has been pretty fascinating so far and I
am excited to see what will come next.
E. After I graduated, got married, got a job, had a baby and
bought a house, I found myself at a loss.
F. I had reached most of the milestones or goals I had
envisioned for myself as a kid.
G. But now I realize there is still a lot more living and dreaming
to do.
H. And I will be recording it all.
Conclusion
I. So, I hope you have learned a little bit more about me, your
teacher, Mrs. Clubbs tonight.

4. II. By describing these objects---a seed packet, planner and pen-
-- that represent my past, present and future, I hope I have given
you a little insight into the multitudes that, like Walt Whitman,
I believe I contain.
III. Thank you.