Name: ______________________________
6B- _____
Date: ________________________
Speaking: Speech of Introduction: Sample Outline
Directions: Use this sample outline (based on the life of a fictional adult) to help you
write your own outline. The sample outline below is not complete; instead, it provides
enough information for you to see, in a general way, what a good outline looks and
sounds like. Most importantly, notice the connection between the hook and insight
statement (H.I.S.); the way the hook “teases” the focus without giving away the details of
the speech; the way the topics flow logically from one to the next; and the way the
transitions (“word bridges”) tie together the topics, making clear connections between the
topics. Even the details are logically sequenced (put in order) so that one bullet leads to
the next.
The focus, or most important topic of discussion, in this speech will be the following:
Fatherhood
Hook: (A catchy opener that grabs your audience’s attention on an important detail
from your speech; DON’T give away any speech details in the hook. Just “tease”
the details. Look at your notes on Hooks for guidance with this.)
There’s an old saying that “youth is wasted on the young.” The quote
suggests that youth is filled with all kinds of promises and possibilities,
with amazing opportunities for joy and for growth. But it also suggests a
bitter irony, that children  because they’re young  can’t appreciate
these rare rewards. It’s not until children grow to be adults, the quote
implies, that they can truly understand the rewards of childhood. But,
of course, by then it’s too late. Which is why I’m so happy to introduce
to you my partner, John Smith, a dad and a dentist who defies this irony,
who sees childhood quite differently.
(over)
1. Topic: Early Childhood / Family Life

9/17/81; Manhattan.

Mother Claire: loved to cook, watch movies together… (More
details…)

Father Bill: former chef in Bronxville; loved to go on vacations and
play tennis together, discuss books and movies, listen to music
together… (More details…)

Parents met in college at father’s tennis match. Took dentistry
classes together. Both raised in Brooklyn, NY. German and
English… (More details…)

Sister, Sarah: 7 yrs older; “2nd mother”; drove to sports practice /
games, cheered, helped with homework… (More details…)

Brother, Tom: 3 yrs older; fun; took drives in the car; advice on
friends, sports, and school… (More details…)

Enjoys youngest child role: Parents understanding; older siblings’
care, hand-me-downs… (More details…)

Dog (Artie), cat (Simone). Love of animals… (More details…)

Enjoyed picnics, bird-watching, walks in local nature preserves,
State Parks, Audubon Areas… (More details…)
(next)
2. Topic: Travel
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Transition from previous topic to current topic (in full sentence): As a young
boy, John and his family also traveled a bit farther than the local NY
parks when they went on family vacations, which gave John a lifelong
curiosity to see the world.

Childhood Local: Vt., Maine, Berkshires… (More details…)

Childhood Abroad: France, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain…
(More details…)

Adulthood: Central America, South America, Spain… (More
details…)
3. Topic: School
Transition from previous topic to current topic (in full sentence): While John
saw various parts of the world through his travels as a young boy and
as a grown man, his formal education occurred in school.

PS 11… (More details…)

Bronx Science HS… (More details…)

U Penn… (More details…)

NYU… (More details…)
(over)
4. Topic: Dentistry Career
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Transition from previous topic to current topic (in full sentence): After his
schooling, John made an important decision to apply his studies to a
career in dentistry.

UWS practice; own office in Bedford… (More details…)

Pediatric Dentist of Year… (More details…)
5. Topic: Marriage & Fatherhood
Transition from previous topic to current topic (in full sentence): As John’s
career took hold, he met his wife and started his family, which is
John’s main passion in life.

Wife… (More details…)

Daughter… (Many, many more details…)
Insight Statement: (A wise, clever, or thought-provoking ending statement that
relates back to your hook ( H > I S = H I S ). Make a partner-to-world
connection: What does your partner lead you to believe about people in general or
about life in general? What big ideas do you have that are based on your interview
with your partner?)
Ultimately, John’s roles as a pediatric dentist and, more importantly, as a
father have reminded him of a valuable point: Youth isn’t wasted on the
young. As he would put it, “Youth is ageless. It’s in all play, in every hug
and smile, and in every story read aloud.”
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