Name_______________________________
Speech Category______________________
Speech Topic_________________________
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Date: ___________
DUE THURSDAY
Speech Outline
Write your introduction and conclusion (you may find this easier to do after you have found all your
evidence and written your topic sentences for each body paragraph)
You should have a minimum of one supporting material (fact, statistic, quotation, etc.) for each
paragraph in your body (but two or more supporting materials per paragraph would make a stronger,
longer speech); write your supporting materials below the topic sentence
I.
Introduction (Attention getter, statement of purpose, statement of relevance, preview of body)
II.
Body paragraph 1: Topic sentence for first main point
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III.
Body paragraph 2: Topic sentence for second main point
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IV.
Body paragraph 3: Topic sentence for third main point
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V.
Conclusion (Review of main points, restatement of purpose, call audience to action, round off in
memorable way)
Example: Death penalty
I.
Introduction (Attention getter, statement of purpose, statement of relevance, preview of body)
John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, and Aileen Wuornos are some of the many who have been killed by
the death penalty. They all deserved to be because of their serial killings, but what gives us the
right to do so? Today, I’m going to tell you the issues involved with the death penalty and why it
needs to be abolished. I have researched both sides of this issue, and the need to abolish it is the
stronger argument. First I’m going to tell you the expenses of the death penalty, second I’ll tell you
the risks that come along with it, and last I’ll tell its ineffectiveness and the question of human
rights.
II.
Body paragraph 1: Topic sentence for first main point
Let me begin with the issues of the death penalty. The death penalty is expensive.
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1982-1997, counties spent 1.6 billion dollars on capital crime trials, according to Kathryn
Baker in her article, “The Budgetary Repercussions of the Death Penalty”
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According to Richard C. Dieter, executive director of Death Penalty Information Center,
almost all death penalty cases cannot afford their own lawyer.
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Costs included in the death penalty include legal costs, pre-trial costs, jury selection, trial,
incarceration, and appeal costs.
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III.
Examples of those who could afford good lawyers and got off: Casey Anthony, OJ Simpson
Body paragraph 2: Topic sentence for second main point
My next issues is the death penalty’s ineffectiveness as a deterrent to murder.
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Statistics-Current Issues article titled, “Capital Punishment” that 1990-1999, states with
death penalty have higher murder rates than states without it
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Troy Davis, put to death; 7/9 witnesses that originally said he killed officer recanted
testimony—still put to death
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IV.
V.
No matter what happens to killer, family of victim has to live with loss of family member
forever
Body paragraph 3: Topic sentence for third main point
Which brings me to my next point, which is the question of our rights. Does the government
actually have the right to take someone’s life?
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8th Amendment right: protection against cruel and unusual punishment for criminals
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Racial bias in sentencing is unconstitutional
Conclusion (Review of main points, restatement of purpose, call audience to action, round off in
memorable way)
In conclusion, first I told you the costliness of the death penalty, second I told you the risk that
comes with it, and last I told you the ineffectiveness and the question of our rights. So, now it is
time to vote! Vote to abolish the death penalty! Thirty-six states still have the death penalty,
including Texas. States without the death penalty have lower murder rates, so you decide which
makes more sense.