Organizing Your Speech
Your guide to writing an INFORMATIVE speech
You will learn how to:
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Organize a speech
Outline a speech
Write a speech
Rehearse a speech
Deliver a speech
Aristotle’s Pathos, Ethos, &
Logos
Logical Appeal (Logos)
 The speaker offers an organized, clearly defined speech
containing solid reasoning and valid evidence.
 Use facts, statistics, quotations, and expert opinion.
Be a speaker who people want to listen to.
Aristotle’s Pathos, Ethos, &
Logos
Emotional Appeal (Pathos)
 The speaker’s words arouse feelings in the audience, like
anger, disgust, and compassion.
 Use stories, vivid descriptions, empathy, and sympathy.
Be a speaker who people want to listen to.
Aristotle’s Pathos, Ethos, &
Logos
Personal Appeal (Ethos)
 The speaker wins the audience’s trust through honesty,
competency, and credibility.
 Use credibility, education, poise, confidence, and appearance.
Be a speaker who people want to listen to.
Writing an Outline
An outline is:
 The speaker’s map
 A logical, organized framework for your
speech.
 A guide for how your speech will progress.
What does speech need?
The Three Musts For All Speeches:
①An introduction
②A Body
③A Conclusion
Find this checklist on your worksheet:
Step 1: Determine what type of speech you will be preparing
Step2: Choose a topic
Step 3: Create a purpose statement
Step 4: Create an introduction
Step 5: Create a body
Step 6: Create a conclusion
Step 7: Practice and time your speech
Step 8: Present your speech
You will be doing these steps in order as you continue
through this process. This will help you prepare. After
all, PREPARATION is the key to SUCCESS!
Step 1: The Tribute Speech
Type of Speech: Informative
Goal: To inform your audience about someone who has been
important in your life
Step 2: Choose a topic
 On your worksheet, take 2-3 minutes to brainstorm ideas for
this speech. (You may use your phones to time yourselves.
Set a timer or use the stopwatch. REMEMBER: Manage
your time wisely.)
 Who will you be speaking about in your speech?
Step 3: The Purpose Statement
 The purpose statement states your selected speech topic
and your specific purpose of speaking.
 Example: The purpose of this speech is to inform the
audience about my grandfather and the positive impact he
had on my life.
Step 3: The Purpose Statement
Take 2-3 minutes to develop and write your
purpose statement on your outline.
(REMINDER: As you come to the Stop Signs, you may use your
phones to time yourselves in order to manage your time wisely.
Set a timer or use the stopwatch. )
Step 4: The Introduction
The Introduction includes:
 The Attention-Getter
 A link
 The Thesis Statement (also called a Purpose Statemen
 The Preview Statement
Step 4: The Introduction
Attention-Getter
 You MUST grab the attention of your audience with the
attention-getter.
 THIS IS THE FIRST THING YOU SAY IN A SPEECH!
 There are four types of attention-getters:
1. Startling Statement or Statistic
2. Quote
3. Story
4. Asking questions
Example: Someone once said, “Grandpas may be old on the
outside, but they are still young on the inside.”
Step 4: The Introduction
Take 2-3 minutes to develop and write your
attention-getter for your speech. Write the
attention getter on Roman numeral “I” on your
outline.
Step 4: The Introduction
Link
 The link logically connects the attention-getter to the thesis
statement.
 It also develops a bridge between the audience and the
topic.
Example: This is true about my grandfather. He is young on
the inside, even though he may seem old on the outside.
Step 4: The Introduction
Take 2-3 minutes to develop and write your link
for your speech. Write the link on “A” below your
attention-getter on your outline.
Step 4: The Introduction
Thesis Statement
 The thesis statement, or statement of purpose, is a positive
statement about your topic.
 It tells the audience exactly what you will be speaking about.
Example 1: I would like to discuss my grandfather and the
positive impact he has had on my life.
Example 2: Today I will tell you about my grandfather and how
he has impacted my life.
Example 3: My grandfather has made a positive impact on my
life.
Step 4: The Introduction
Take 2-3 minutes to develop and write your
thesis/purpose statement. Write it on “II” below
your link on your outline.
Step 4: The Introduction
Preview Statement
 The preview statement is usually one sentence at the end of
the introduction that gives the audience an overview of the
major areas that will be discussed in the body of the speech.
 We will break this down into three main points for this
speech.
Example:
A. My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren.
B. He has shown us the value of education.
C. He has helped his grandchildren with many things.
Step 4: The Introduction
Take 4-5 minutes to develop and write your preview
statement. Write it on “A, B, and C” below your thesis
statement on your outline.
Step 5: The Body
The Body includes:
Main points/headings
Supporting Material
Details
Step 5: The Body
Main points/Headings
 The main headings represent the main ideas you
wish to present.
Example:
I. My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren.
II. He has shown us the value of education.
III. He has helped his grandchildren with many
things.
Step 5: The Body
Take 2 minutes to copy your main points from your introduction
into the body of your outline. You will write them behind Roman
numerals I, II & III.
Step 5: The Body
Supporting Material
 Supporting material provides intensification and
reinforcement for the main headings.
Example:
I. My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren.
a) He is a hard worker.
b) He taught us the importance of hard work.
Step 5: The Body
Take 5-6 minutes to develop and write your supporting
material on your outline. You will write them on lines A &
B below each of the main points.
Step 5: The Body
Details
 Details narrow the outline even further, providing
information that breaks down the supporting material to
pinpoint accuracy.
Example:
I. My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren.
a) He is a hard worker.
1. My grandfather comes from a poor family and he
worked hard to become educated. He was in the
military when he was young, and this helped him get
his degree. This taught me to work hard, no matter
what circumstances life gives you.
Step 5: The Body
Take 5-6 minutes to develop and write some of your details on
your outline. You will write them on lines 1 & 2 below each of the
supporting materials.
Step 6: The Conclusion
 The Conclusion wraps up the speech in a neat
communication package.
The Conclusion includes:
 A summary of the main points
 Important details or supporting material
 Final clincher
Step 6: The Conclusion
Summary of the main points
 Repeat your three main points.
Example: My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren, he has shown us the value of education, and he
has helped his grandchildren with many things.
Step 6: The Conclusion
Take 2-3 minutes to write the summary of your main points in your
conclusion. of your details on your outline.
Step 6: The Conclusion
Important Details/Supporting Material
 Restate the details or supporting materials you
think is super important.
Example: My grandfather has been a good influence to his
grandchildren, he has shown us the value of education, and he
has helped his grandchildren with many things.
a) I have been taught many valuable lessons from my
grandfather.
b) I hope you have a grandpa like mine, and if you don’t, I
hope that someday you will be a grandfather line mine.
Step 6: The Conclusion
Take 3-4 minutes to write the important
details/supporting material in your conclusion. Don’t
restate what you have already said.
Try saying it in a different way.
Step 6: The Conclusion
Final Clincher
 The Final Statement ends your speech,
clinches your argument, and makes a
memorable final impression.
Example: So even though my grandfather looks old on
the outside, he is and will always be young
on the inside.
Step 6: The Conclusion
Take 3-4 minutes to develop and write the
final clincher in your conclusion.
Be creative! This will help you make a lasting
impression on your audience.
Before you move on to the final two
steps of the process:
Have you done the following
with your speech:
 Read for grammar, spelling, punctuation?
 Read for clarity of message? (will the
audience understand)
 Restated ideas in different words? (avoid
repeating yourself)
 Filled in your outline entirely?
Spend about 10 minutes cleaning up/finishing up
your speech. It is always good to go back and
proofread!
Step 7: Practice and Time
 Practice and time yourself!
 Fill out the practice log.
 Practice for your parents and have them sign your
speech handout.
 Your speech must be 2-4 minutes.
 REMEMBER: Preparation is the key to success!
Step 8: Present your speech
SPEECHES ARE DUE Next
Monday/Tuesday.
We will begin presenting them in class on
that day.
Come to class prepared to deliver your
speeches!
Have your speeches and completed practice
log.