I.
II.
Outlining . . .
creating a
formal
III.
A.
B.
A.
B.
A.
B.
outline
This lecturette will cover:
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What an outline is
Standard formatting requirements
Unique requirements for ME!
What is an outline?
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An abbreviated “picture”
Identifies the parts of your
paper/project
Specifies the order in which
they will come
Types of outlines
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Working
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Final
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Speaking
Informative Speech:
Outlining
Purpose: To inform my audience
about outlining.
Intro: Jeffery Deaver was
quoted by brainyquotes.com as
saying that the outline is 95% of
the book.
Preview: I’m going to tell you
what an outline is, the elements
of a formal outline, and what
Prof. Jenkinson requires.
I. What is an outline
A. Types of outlines
1. Working
2. Final
3. Speaking
“95% -- writing easy”
What, Elements, Prof J’s req.
I. What
Working/Final/Speaking
Sub/Coord
When used
Outlining is based upon the
principles of:
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Subordination
Coordination
I. Superordinate point
A. Subordinate point
B. Subordinate point
1. Subordinate point
2. Subordinate point
I. Coordinate Main point
A. Coordinate subpoint
B. Coordinate subpoint
II. Coordinate Main point
III. Coordinate Main point
When are you likely to use an
outline… formally or informally?
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Preparing a speech
Drafting a paper
Writing an email message
Organizing a To Do list
Studying a chapter
Creating a PowerPoint presentation
Anytime you need to organize or remember
something, you outline!
What should a
formal outline look like?
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General
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Consistency
Balance
NO single subpoints
Nuts & Bolts
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Numbering scheme
Margins (hanging indents)
Capitalization
Generally…
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The outline should be as
detailed as the need (or the
professor) requires
It should be reasonably
balanced in detail
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No single subpoints
Be consistent in numbering,
capitalization, spacing
Use full sentence, phrase, or
topic style
And, of course, proofread!
I. Main point
A. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
B. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
II. Main point
A. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
B. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
III. Main point
A. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
B. Subpoint
1. Subpoint
2. Subpoint
3. Subpoint
First and foremost:
Get the numbering scheme right!
1st level Upper case
Roman numerals.
2nd level Capital letters.
3rd level Arabic numbers.
4th level Lower case letters.
5th level Arabic numbers ()
6th level Lower case letters ()
I. First Level
A. Second Level
1. Third Level
2. Third Level
a. Fourth Level
b. Fourth Level
(1) Fifth Level
(2) Fifth Level
(a) Sixth Level
(b) Sixth Level
B. Second Level
II. First Level
Margins: Use hanging indents
I. Knitting has a very interesting history, although it is difficult to pinpoint
where and when it began.
A. Some believe people were knitting before the birth of Christ, or what
some people call Before Common Era (BCE), but others dispute that
fact (Rutt 1987).
B. Most agree, however, that the first knitted item was probably a sock.
1. Probably invented in Egypt, in the 11th century.
2. Knitted socks appeared in Europe in the 14th century.
a. Why socks? Because cloth didn’t fit around the foot very well.
b. Purling wasn’t invented until the 16th century, so they had to
knit everything “in the round,” then cut it open.
C. In the Elizabethan era, socks played an even more important role.
1. Knitting schools were organized as a way for the poor to learn
an occupation that would bring in an income.
2. Men were the first knitters.
3. Trade resulted, helping Britain’s economy.
Capitalization: Begin with an
Uppercase letter
II. K
Knitting today
A. Change in equipment
1. Yarns have changed
a. Less expensive to produce silk
b. More animal fibers (alpaca, angora, merino)
2. Larger needles—create “instant gratification”
B. Change in knitters
1. Celebrities (Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Wynona Rider)
2. Men have been seen knitting (even attorneys!)
C. Knitting Olympics (Yarn Harlot: The 2006 Knitting Olympics)
1. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (Yarn Harlot) challenged people to knit
during the 2006 Winter Olympics
2. Had to cast on a challenging project during the opening
ceremonies AND finish it by the time the Olympic flame was
extinguished (16 days later)
3. 4,000 knitters joined the challenge
4. Slogan: “16 days, many knitters, one dream. The Knitting
Olympics”
What does Professor Jenkinson
want in your speech outlines?
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At top:
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Word for word:
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Outline to at least 3rd level
At least 2 pages
References:
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Introduction & Conclusion
Preview & Summary
Detail
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Speech Type & Topic (or title)
Purpose statement
Oral footnotes (prefer them highlighted)
Bibliography (last page)
Transitions are optional
Sample
Outline
Informative Speech
How to Outline
Purpose: To inform my audience about the purpose and correct usage
of outlines for Professor Jenkinson’s Public Speaking class.
Introduction: Novelists use them extensively. Multi-taskers swear by
them. Teachers couldn’t survive without them. The same can be said for
business people, sports coaches and, of course, students—particularly
those in Professor Jenkinson’s public speaking classes.
What am I talking about? Outlines, of course.
An outline is what you use to help you prepare and organize what you
want to say. If you do it properly, actually writing your paper, speech, or
book is easy. In fact, as well-known author Jeffery Deaver noted, “The
outline is 95% of the book. Then I sit down and write, and that’s the
easy part.” (http://www.brainyquote.com).
Preview: If you want to improve your chances of success in your college
classes—as well as life in general—get organized! It is important for you
to know what an outline is, the elements of a formal outline, and then
how to prepare an outline that will get you an A in Professor Jenkinson’s
class.
Transition: But first, what is an outline and when might you use one?
I. What is an Outline?
A. Types of outlines (Los Angeles Valley College Library, 2007)
1. Working – prep outline
2. Final – what you turn in
3. Speaking – what you use when you are giving a speech
a. Can be just words
b. Could use pictures
B. Principles
1. Subordination
2. Coordination
C. When used
Continue for points II
1. Preparing a speech
(What a formal outline
2. Drafting a paper
looks like) and III
3. Writing email message
(Professor Jenkinson’s
4. Studying a chapter
requirements)
5. Creating a PowerPoint presentation
Summary: Looking back, you now know more about what an outline is,
the elements of a formal outline, and what Professor Jenkinson will look
for when she grades your outlines for speeches.
Conclusion: If you follow the words of advice offered by many
successful people and start organizing your life, you’ll be subordinating
and coordinating like a pro. You may not become a best-selling novelist
like Jeffery Deavers, Mercedes Lackey or George Stephen, but you’ll
probably become a better student and—at the very least—earn an A
from Professor Jenkinson on your next Speech Outline assignment.
Start your bibliography on the next page.
Label it Works Consulted (for MLA) or References (for APA)
Remember to use correct referencing form, for both in-text citations
(your oral footnotes shown in the outline) and bibliographic citations.
How to get Microsoft Word to let
you outline the way you want to
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http://www.huffenglish.com/handouts/
formaloutline.rtf