INFORMATIVE SPEECH OUTLINE
Gudelia Lopez
Informative Outline
Topic: The City of Teotihuacan
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the importance and history one ancient city can
hold.
Thesis: From the discovery of an ancient city and the enormous pyramids built are factors that
make this city a historical place to Mexico.
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Teotihuacan is a city over 1600 years old that until this day a
mystery remains as to how and by who it was built. Many people believe
it was the Mayans that built the city yet this remains a mystery. About five
hundred years later the Aztecs re-discovered the city.
B. Reason to Listen: The city is visited by thousands of tourist each year; however, not
one single person has been able to answer the many secrets this city holds.
C. Thesis Statement: From the discovery of an ancient city and the enormous pyramids
built are factors that make this city a historical place to Mexico.
D. Credibility Statement: A few years ago I visited this city and I was fascinated by the
historical meaning it has for many people.
E. Preview of Main Points:
1. First, I will discuss the founding of the city.
2. Second, I will discuss the temples that were built in the city.
3. Finally, I will discuss why it has much importance to Mexico.
II. First Main Point
A. The city of Teotihuacan is believed to have been founded around 200 BC.
1. There is nothing in history to prove who the first people that populated the city were or
what its original name was
2. However, many years later the city became sacred and of great importance to the Aztecs
a. they incorporated the city to their own religion and beliefs and this is why they named
the city “Teotihuacan” meaning “Place where gods were born”
b. this was a place where they were able to worship the many gods that they believed in
c. the city implied organization yet it remained like many other cities with a high number
of population, trade and political independence
Transition: Not only did the Aztecs name the city they settled in, they also found meaning to the
pyramids that were located here.
B. Three of the largest pyramids in Mexico were built in this city.
1. The largest pyramid would be the pyramid of the sun. The reason for its name
is because it was calculated on the position of the Sun at its zenith; meaning the sun was at its
highest point when the pyramid was vertically aligned. Also it was in honor to the “god of the
rain” Tlaloc.
2. The second pyramid would then be the pyramid of the moon. Its creation was believed
serve as an honor to the “great goddess of Teotihuacan” Chalchihuitlicue .The pyramid is facing
the avenue of the dead which makes its position perpendicular to the pyramid of the moon.
3. The third pyramid would be the temple of Quetzacoalt. Quetzacoalt was also a god to
the Aztecs. This pyramid would complete their “cosmological” structure.
Transition: all of these factors contributed to its importance now days.
C. The city plays many roles at this time.
1. It serves as a well visited tourist attraction where people can visit a museum
located in the city as well.
2. It was one of the most powerful cities during the Aztec empire decade and this
fact attracts archeologist from all over the world to visit the place to keep doing more research
a. so far they have found tombs, bodies, stones, and many artifacts from the “ Mexicas”
3. It has been declared a city of “legacy” to the country because the “Hispanic” heritage
began in this city.
.
III. Conclusion
A. Review of Main Points:
1. Today I first discussed the origin of the city of Teotihuacan
2. Second, I discussed the temples that are located here and the reason for their names
3. Finally, I discussed why this city still remains important to Mexico.
B. Restate Thesis: From the discovery of an ancient city and the enormous pyramids built are
factors that make this city a historical place to Mexico.
C. Closure:
In conclusion, the founding of an ancient city and its temples located here for
people meant the beginning of a new era. Although some people believe the city
holds many secrets that are foretelling stories that are still unknown to our
generation.
Reference page:
(Aztec sun god, 2006)
(2013)
(unesco, 2013)
(Sugiyama, 2000-2013)
(National Geographic, 1996-2013)