SAMPLE OUTLINE
Topic: How to wrap a present
INTRODUCTION: GRABBER
I. It’s 7 pm the night before Ruby’s birthday party. You’ve got the gift, but shucks, you’ve got to wrap it… but you
don’t know how! Everyone gives presents to others in their lives: mom, dad, sibling, boyfriend, girlfriend or just a
friend. It’s important when one receives a gift, that the gift’s appearance is clean and neat, not a hot mess. Today
I will show you how to properly wrap a present that will impress Ruby and friends with your wrapping talent.
Transition: Like many projects, let’s start by gathering our materials.
BODY: CONTENT
II. The first step is to gather the materials, so that you have everything you need at your fingertips.
A. There are several supplies that are essential to complete the project
1. The first item is festive wrapping paper (depending on the event—birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc.)
2. The second item is a scissors.
3. The third item is Scotch tape.
4. The fourth item is the gift/present (remember to remove the price tag before you wrap the gift). You might need an
appropriately-sized box for your gift, as well.
5. The fifth item are ribbons and/or bows.
6. You’ll need a pen or pencil for marking your paper.
7. Last, you need a ruler or a yardstick.
 Transition: Now that we’ve collected all the materials, we can wrap our present.
III. The second step is to cut the paper to the proper size.
A.
Unroll enough paper to place the box onto. Leave the cut end of the paper on the left. Unroll the paper to your right.
B.
Next, place the box containing the gift in the center of that paper.
C. Bring the edge of the paper on the left side of the box to the top middle of the box. Hold the paper there with your finger or thumb
from your left hand.
D. With your other hand, bring the roll of paper from the right side to the top middle of the box. Allow two inches of paper from the roll
to overlap the left edge of paper you’re holding with your left hand.
E.
Now, make a small mark with a pen on the bottom edge of the paper where the two inch overlap ends.
F.
Unfold the paper so it lays flat on the table again. Use yard stick to draw a vertical line up the paper where you made the mark.
The paper roll should be to your right.
G. Cut along that line. You now will have a rectangular piece of paper with no roll attached to it.
H. Then, rotate the paper and box 90 degrees. Slide the box on the paper toward you until there is enough paper between you and
the box to just cover half of the box when you fold up that flap of paper laying on the table.
I.
Carefully rotate the box & paper 180 degrees without moving the box’s position on the paper. Use the same guide in step 11.
J.
Mark with a pen where there is enough paper to cover just over half of the side of the box. Let the paper fall flat onto the table.
K.
Finally, use the yardstick to draw a straight line along that mark. Cut along that mark with your scissors.. You now have a piece of
paper cut perfectly to fit your gift.
 Transition: We’re done with the cutting, now it’s time to actually wrap it.
IV. The third step is to wrap the present.
A.
First, make sure the paper is now laying flat on the table with the printed side down.
B.
Place the gift box upside down in the center of your now completely cut paper. Also place it so that it’s equidistant from the
top/bottom and sides.
C. Bring the left edge of the wrapping paper to the top center of the box and secure it in the middle of the gift/box with the Scotch tape.
Grab the right edge of the paper, still lying on the table, over the previously taped other half and tape that side down, in the middle.
D. If the gift is long, secure more tape along that seam above and below the center area where you just placed tape.
E.
Next, rotate the box 90 degrees. The box will be wrapped fully around with paper, but you’ll be able to see the box from this view,
now, through the sides.
F.
Push the two vertical sides of paper so they are flush up against the box. Make a crease flush against the bottom and top of each
side of paper along the box (you’ll make four total creases).
G. When you’re done, a triangle of paper will jut off the top of the box toward you, and a triangle of paper will jut toward you as it lays
on the table.
H. First fold the bottom triangle up and pull up tightly. Secure with a piece of tape.
I.
Next, fold the top triangle of paper down to meet the other you just taped down. Secure with tape.
J.
Repeat steps 19. – 22. with the other side of the box.
K.
Flip box right side up. You now have a wrapped present.
 Transition: Now that the present is properly wrapped it’s time to embellish it.
V. The last step is put the finishing touches on the wrapped gift.
A.
Cut a length of ribbon 3 times bigger than the longest length of the box.
B.
Lift the box up and place the ribbon, flat, underneath the box.
C. Next, bring both sides of ribbon to the top middle of the box.
D. Tie a knot, using your thumb if needed.
E.
Finish the bow.
F.
Tuck your card under the ribbon. Deliver the gift and spread joy!
 BRAKELIGHT: [Near the end of the speech, this signals the audience that you are about to review the
major steps in the process.] You now have a neatly wrapped gift! Let’s review the major steps in this process.
CONCLUSION: SUMMARY
VI. The four major steps in wrapping a present are:
A. Gather all materials.
B. Cut the paper to the proper dimensions.
C. Use the paper to wrap the gift, securing paper with Scotch tape.
C. Fasten a ribbon and card to the gift.
Last words: Now I’m off to Ruby’s party. Now she’ll see that I cared enough to make the outside of the gift
look just as good as what’s underneath the wrapping paper.
To complete your outline, use the outline template found on my website in This Week’s tab.
Open the document and type your outline right into it. You may choose to copy and paste the
template into Google Docs. Also, if you did your list of steps correctly, you may be able to cut
and paste sections of that document into your outline.