speech outline maker

Speech Outline Generator

How to use speech outline generator, what is a speech outline generator.

A speech outline generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help individuals structure and organize their speeches or presentations, ensuring a clear flow of ideas and a coherent narrative.

How does it work?

The AI speech outline generator analyzes your speech topic, key points, and supporting details to generate an outline that guides you through the introduction, main content, and conclusion of your speech.

Can an AI-generated speech outline improve presentation effectiveness?

Yes, a well-organized outline can help you deliver a more structured and engaging speech, keeping your audience attentive and informed.

Can I customize the AI-generated speech outlines?

Certainly, you can modify the AI-generated content to match your speaking style, add anecdotes, and incorporate additional examples that resonate with your audience.

Is an AI speech outline generator suitable for different types of speeches?

Yes, whether it's informative, persuasive, or entertaining speeches, an AI speech outline generator can assist in crafting effective outlines for various occasions.

AI Cover Letter Generator

Job description generator, ai company name generator, career coach, paragraph generator, spanish grammar checker, copy editor, chatgpt plagiarism checker, essay title generator, ai summarizer, sentence expander.

Arvin is the AI browser extension powered by GPT-4. Chat with Arvin from anywhere online for instant research, reading and creativity.

ATLANTA, MAY 23-24 PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS IS ALMOST FULL! RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

• Public Speaking Classes
• Corporate Presentation Training
• Online Public Speaking Course
• Northeast Region
• Midwest Region
• Southeast Region
• Central Region
• Western Region
• Presentation Skills
• 101 Public Speaking Tips
• Fear of Public Speaking

Online Speech Creator

Use this Online Speech Creator to Help You Quickly Create a Good Speech Outline!

Before You Start…

This presentation creator is designed to help you organize your thoughts. It won’t actually do all the work for you. Just follow the step-by-step instructions. If you answer every question , you will receive a simple, easy to deliver presentation guide. Before you start, we suggest that you glance at the following two blog posts:

• How to Design a Presentation Quickly (In 15 Minutes or Less.)

The summary of this post is to not try to write a speech word-for-word. Instead, come up with an outline of your presentation containing just a few key points. It is better to cover just a few points really well than to cover a bunch of confusing content. (Your speech is easier to deliver as well.) The Speech Creator will ask you to determine just three major points to cover in the presentation. This works for most speeches.

• Storytelling Techniques that Reduce Nervousness and Stage Fright

Most people who use this presentation creation tool for the first time really fight this advice. The examples and stories that you insert are what make your speech interesting and easy to deliver to your audience. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! If you skip this step, you will end up with a lousy presentation outline.

• Presentation Enhancers that Make Speeches More Interesting

This post identifies seven additional pieces of content that you can add to each bullet point to make them come alive. These will make good speeches great speeches.

Fill in Answers Below About the Presentation You Are Creating.

The system will send you a speech outline via email.

Who is the specific audience for your speech?  The more specific that you make the audience, the easier it is to design a compelling speech.

What example, illustration, or incident (story) can you think of that best explains the point above? Think of a time you witnessed the above point in real life or give an example of how it could happen. If it is a conclusion, tell about how you came to the conclusion.   (Just a few words to remind you. Don't write out the whole story.)

To add some impact or clarity, come up with an analogy, quote, visual aid, or other type of proof that point #1 is true. (Just a few words to remind you. Don't write out the whole item.) 

Now, let's assume the audience really understands your first point.  What would be the second thing that the audience needs to know about your topic? (Assume they know nothing about the topic.)

Come up with an example or story (explanation) of point two now, and then add impact with an analogy, quote, visual aid, etc.

Go through the same process with point three (and point four or five if needed). Determine what the next most important thing is to the audience, come up with a story or example, and add one impact item.

Just hit "Submit" and we'll email an outline to you... 

For additional details, see Persuasive Speech Outlines .

presentation skills

View More Posts By Category: Free Public Speaking Tips | leadership tips | Online Courses | Past Fearless Presentations ® Classes | Podcasts | presentation skills | Uncategorized

Speech Outline Generator

How do you structure your speech to captivate your listeners? This speech outline generator is the best solution! Just add your assignment details and enjoy the result!

Need an outline for your speech? This automatic speech outline generator will save you time and nerves! Follow these 3 steps:

• ⭐ Tool Benefits
• 🗣️ Types of Speech
• 📚 Outline Types

✍️ How to Write a Speech Outline

• 📝 Outline Example

🔗 References

⭐ speech outline generator: benefits.

Many benefits make our AI speech outline generator stand out among similar tools. Check them out!

🗣️ What Are the Three Types of Speech?

High school and college students often find themselves tasked with delivering various speeches as part of their coursework. Luckily, our generator can help with three different speech genres, including:

• Informative speech. It aims to educate others about a specific topic, idea, or concept. The speech outline generator can assist in structuring the content, organizing key points, and ensuring a logical flow of information for an effective informative speech.
• Persuasive speech. It is designed to influence the audience’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors by presenting a compelling argument or viewpoint. Our tool can aid in crafting a persuasive speech by helping to outline strong arguments, supporting evidence, and a call to action.
• Entertaining speech. An entertaining speech, also known as a humorous speech, is intended to engage and amuse the audience through storytelling , humor, or lighthearted content. The entertainment speech generator can be beneficial in organizing anecdotes, jokes, and engaging content to create a well-structured and entertaining speech outline.

📚 Outline Generator for Speech — Types

Two main types of outlines help prepare an excellent speech: the preparation outline and the speaking outline . Here’s everything you need to know about each type.

A preparation outline is a detailed, comprehensive plan serving as the blueprint for the entire speech. It includes all the major components of the speech, such as main points, subpoints, and supporting evidence, written in complete sentences. This type is used when preparing the speech but not when delivering it.

A speaking outline , also known as a delivery outline or keyword outline, is a condensed version of the preparation outline. Unlike the preparation outline, it doesn’t use full sentences. Instead, it contains keywords, phrases, and brief notes to jog the speaker’s memory while delivering the speech.

Our tool is designed to generate speaking outlines, which are concise and easy-to-reference guides for delivering speeches. It allows users to add their own examples, making the presentation more personal and engaging for their audience.

No matter the genre of speech you are preparing, the outline is an essential tool to organize your thoughts and ensure an impactful delivery. The process of creating an outline is similar for all speeches.

But before diving into how to write an outline, you should select a compelling topic that resonates with you and your audience. If you’re struggling to come up with a topic, consider using our Speech Topic Generator to spark your inspiration.

1. Define Your Specific Purpose

The first step in creating a speech outline is to decide on the purpose of the speech : to inform, persuade, or entertain. Once the general purpose is determined, it’s essential to narrow it down and connect it with the specific topic of the speech.

Consider the following examples:

2. Develop a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a concise, one-sentence summary of the central idea you want to communicate to the audience. It serves as a roadmap for the speech, providing a clear focus and guiding the audience’s perception of the central message.

To craft a thesis for an informative speech, put your topic into a declarative sentence. This sentence should express the main idea or focus of your informative speech.

Consider an example of how to turn your topic into an informative thesis statement:

To write a thesis statement for a persuasive speech, add your argument, viewpoint, or opinion. Your thesis statement should not only state the topic but also be arguable .

Here’s an example:

3. Determine Your Main Points

When developing your main points for a speech, it’s essential to keep a few principles in mind:

• Each point should center on a single idea. Including several ideas within a single key point can confuse the audience.
• A topic is not equivalent to a main point. It’s crucial to articulate the specific point rather than just the general topic. For example, “healthcare in remote areas” is a topic, while “telemedicine offers innovative solutions for improving healthcare access in underserved communities” is a main point.
• The main points are not announcements. Announcements are statements like “I’m going to tell you about climate change.” Such sentences don’t give your audience a clear idea of what point you will make, so they cannot be main points.

4. Add Supporting Points

When developing supporting points for your speech outline, you can include a variety of evidence and information to bolster your main points. You can use facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes, expert opinions, and research findings.

Remember to use supporting points based only on the sources that follow these principles:

• Accuracy. The information presented is true and free from errors or distortions.
• Authority. Information comes from credible experts or reputable organizations.
• Currency. The data reflects the current state of knowledge on the topic.
• Objectivity. The information is presented in a fair and unbiased manner, without undue influence from personal bias or agenda.

5. Format Your Speech Outline

To format your speech outline, you can use a standard structure with an introduction, main points, supporting points, and a conclusion.

Here’s an example of how to format your speech outline:

• Introduction.
• Subpoint 1.
• Subpoint 2.
• Conclusion.

A carefully formatted outline can ensure that the speech flows logically and effectively conveys your message.

📝 Persuasive Speech Outline Example

Wanna see how our persuasive speech outline generator works? Here’s an excellent example of the speech outline the tool developed in three seconds.

Persuasive Speech Outline Example on Texting while Driving

• Attention-getter: A shocking statistic or real-life example of the dangers of texting while driving.
• Thesis statement: Since texting while driving has become widespread and led to countless accidents and fatalities, it should be banned to protect the safety of all individuals on the road.
• Statistics on accidents and fatalities caused by texting while driving.
• Cognitive distractions and delayed reaction times.
• The impact on other drivers and pedestrians.
• Current laws and penalties for texting while driving
• The difficulty of enforcing these laws and the need for a more comprehensive solution.
• The success of other bans on dangerous driving behaviors (e.g., seatbelt laws, DUI laws).
• The potential to save lives and prevent injuries.
• The responsibility of the government to protect its citizens.
• Summary of the main points .
• Call to action for the audience.

📌 Speech Outline Generator: FAQ

📌 what should you include in an outline for a persuasive speech.

An outline for a persuasive speech should include:

• Introduction with a hook.
• Thesis statement.
• At least three main points.
• Subpoints (evidence and examples) for each main point.

📌 What is a sub point in a speech outline?

A subpoint in a speech outline is a supporting detail under a main point. It provides specific information, evidence, or examples to bolster the main point’s argument. Subpoints expand on the main points, helping to organize and structure the speech while adding depth and supporting the overall message.

📌 What is the last step in developing a speech outline?

The last step in developing a speech outline is to create transitions and structure the conclusion. Transitions help connect different ideas or sections of a speech smoothly. The role of the conclusion is to reinforce the main message, summarize the main points, and leave the audience with a lasting impression.

Updated: Apr 19th, 2024

• How to Outline a Speech – Hamilton
• Outlining Your Speech – Lumen
• Outlining Your Speech – University of Arkansas
• Outlining Your Speech – Introduction to Speech Communication
• Outlining a Speech – University of Colorado

Speech Generator

Start generating speech for free below.

If you need help with generating speech from content, refer below for your step-by-step guide.

Write about

Generate speech in these simple steps.

Enter speech content

Select language and tone

Click on the Generate button

Introducing the AI Speech Generator by WriteCream: Instantly Transform Your Thoughts into Engaging Speeches

Whether you’re a student preparing for presentations, a professional aiming to deliver a persuasive pitch, or someone seeking to leave a lasting impression with an impactful speech, the Writecream Speech Generator is your ultimate companion. No more struggling to find the right words or spending hours pondering over the arrangement of ideas.

How It Works:

WriteCream’s Instant speech generator harnesses the power of advanced AI technology to generate well-structured and coherent speeches effortlessly. Whether you’re a student facing a tight deadline or a professional seeking to articulate your thoughts eloquently, this tool is your ultimate solution. The process is remarkably user-friendly:

1. Input Your Topic: Paste or type your text into the provided input box.

2. Click to Generate: Once you’ve entered your topic, s elect your preferred voice and adjust settings if desired – like speed, accent, language and so on. Click the “Generate Speech” button.

3. Review and Refine: You can edit and modify the output as per your needs by changing texts, voice, language or speed.

Key Features:

– Tone Selection: Users can choose from a variety of tones such as friendly, formal, casual, professional, persuasive, humorous, empathetic, authoritative, and more. Each selected tone will guide the AI in generating content that aligns with the chosen style.

– Style Customization: Users can further customize the selected tone by adjusting parameters like sentence structure, vocabulary richness, sentence length, and use of specific language elements (metaphors, idioms, etc.).

– Multilingual Support: WriteCream supports a wide range of languages, allowing users to generate content in languages other than English. Users can switch between languages seamlessly without losing the desired tone.

– Content Length Control: Users can specify the desired length of the content, whether it’s a short paragraph, a full article, or something in between. WriteCream will adjust the generated text accordingly.

– Cost Savings: Avoid expenses associated with hiring voice actors or recording studios, especially for projects with budget constraints.

With our speech generation tool, you can effortlessly transform your written text into captivating voiceovers. Simply generate and download the speech in a seamless process. Login now at https://app.writecream.com/voiceover for advanced features and experience a whole new level of content creation.

Experience the future of content consumption with the Writecream Speech Generator. With its simplicity, versatility, and accessibility, this tool is poised to redefine how we interact with written information. Your ideas deserve to be showcased in the best possible light – let WriteCream help you achieve that effortlessly.

Create content in minutes, not weeks.

© Copyright 2024 Writecream | All Rights Reserved

Wait! Before you go...

Sign up to get 10,000 words per month for free, please enter your name and email below:.

How to Write an Effective Speech Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide

• The Speaker Lab
• March 8, 2024

Table of Contents

Mastering the art of speaking starts with crafting a stellar speech outline. A well-structured outline not only clarifies your message but also keeps your audience locked in.

In this article, you’ll learn how to mold outlines for various speech types, weaving in research that resonates and transitions that keep listeners on track. We’ll also show you ways to spotlight crucial points and manage the clock so every second counts. When it’s time for final prep, we’ve got smart tips for fine-tuning your work before stepping into the spotlight.

Understanding the Structure of a Speech Outline

An effective speech outline is like a map for your journey as a speaker, guiding you from start to finish. Think of it as the blueprint that gives shape to your message and ensures you hit all the right notes along the way.

Tailoring Your Outline for Different Speech Types

Different speeches have different goals: some aim to persuade, others inform or celebrate. Each type demands its own structure in an outline. For instance, a persuasive speech might highlight compelling evidence while an informative one focuses on clear explanations. Crafting your outline with precision means adapting it to fit these distinct objectives.

Incorporating Research and Supporting Data

Your credibility hinges on solid research and data that back up your claims. When writing your outline, mark the places where you’ll incorporate certain pieces of research or data. Every stat you choose should serve a purpose in supporting your narrative arc. And remember to balance others’ research with your own unique insights. After all, you want your work to stand out, not sound like someone else’s.

The Role of Transitions in Speech Flow

Slick transitions are what turn choppy ideas into smooth storytelling—think about how bridges connect disparate land masses seamlessly. They’re not just filler; they carry listeners from one thought to another while maintaining momentum.

Incorporate transitions that feel natural yet keep people hooked. To keep things smooth, outline these transitions ahead of time so nothing feels left up to chance during delivery.

Techniques for Emphasizing Key Points in Your Outline

To make certain points pop off the page—and stage—you’ll need strategies beyond bolding text or speaking louder. Use repetition wisely or pause strategically after delivering something significant. Rather than go impromptu, plan out what points you want to emphasize before you hit the stage.

Timing Your Speech Through Your Outline

A watchful eye on timing ensures you don’t overstay—or undercut—your moment under the spotlight. The rhythm set by pacing can be pre-determined through practice runs timed against sections marked clearly in outlines. Practice will help ensure that your grand finale isn’t cut short by surprise.

Free Download: 6 Proven Steps to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs in 2024​

Download our 18-page guide and start booking more paid speaking gigs today!

Depending on the type of speech you’re giving, your speech outline will vary. The key ingredients—introduction, body, and conclusion—are always there, but nuances like tone or message will change with each speaking occasion.

Persuasive Speeches: Convincing With Clarity

When outlining a persuasive speech, arrange your arguments from strong to strongest. The primacy effect works wonders here, so make sure to start off with a strong point. And just when they think they’ve heard it all, hit them with an emotional story that clinches the deal.

You might start by sharing startling statistics about plastic pollution before pivoting to how individuals can make a difference. Back this up with data on successful recycling programs which demonstrate tangible impact, a technique that turns facts into fuel for action.

Informative Speeches: Educating Without Overwhelming

An informative speech shouldn’t feel like drinking from a fire hose of facts and figures. Instead, lay out clear subtopics in your outline and tie them together with succinct explanations—not unlike stepping stones across a stream of knowledge.

If you’re talking about breakthroughs in renewable energy technology, use bullet points to highlight different innovations then expand upon their potential implications one at a time so the audience can follow along without getting lost in technical jargon or complexity.

Ceremonial Speeches: Creating Moments That Matter

In a ceremonial speech you want to capture emotion. Accordingly, your outline should feature personal anecdotes and quotes that resonate on an emotional level. However, make sure to maintain brevity because sometimes less really is more when celebrating milestones or honoring achievements.

Instead of just going through a hero’s whole life story, share the powerful tales of how they stepped up in tough times. This approach hits home for listeners, letting them feel the impact these heroes have had on their communities and sparking an emotional bond.

Incorporating Research in Your Speech Outline

When you’re crafting a speech, the backbone of your credibility lies in solid research and data. But remember, it’s not just about piling on the facts. It’s how you weave them into your narrative that makes listeners sit up and take notice.

Selecting Credible Sources

Finding trustworthy sources is like going on a treasure hunt where not all that glitters is gold. To strike real gold, aim for academic journals or publications known for their rigorous standards. Google Scholar or industry-specific databases are great places to start your search. Be picky. Your audience can tell when you’ve done your homework versus when you’ve settled for less-than-stellar intel.

You want to arm yourself with evidence so compelling that even skeptics start nodding along. A well-chosen statistic from a reputable study does more than decorate your point—it gives it an ironclad suit of armor.

Organizing Information Effectively

Your outline isn’t just a roadmap; think of it as scaffolding that holds up your argument piece by piece. Start strong with an eye-opening factoid to hook your audience right off the bat because first impressions matter—even in speeches.

To keep things digestible, group related ideas together under clear subheadings within your outline. Stick to presenting data that backs up each key idea without wandering down tangential paths. That way, everyone stays on track.

Making Data Relatable

Sure, numbers don’t lie but they can be hard to connect to. If you plan on using stats in your speech, make them meaningful by connecting them to relatable scenarios or outcomes people care about deeply. For instance, if you’re talking health statistics, relate them back to someone’s loved ones or local hospitals. By making the personal connection for your audience, you’ll get their attention.

The trick is using these nuggets strategically throughout your talk, not dumping them all at once but rather placing each one carefully where its impact will be greatest.

Imagine your speech as a road trip. Without smooth roads and clear signs, the journey gets bumpy, and passengers might miss the scenery along the way. That’s where transitions come in. They’re like your speech’s traffic signals guiding listeners from one point to another.

Crafting Seamless Bridges Between Ideas

Transitions are more than just linguistic filler. They’re strategic connectors that carry an audience smoothly through your narrative. Start by using phrases like “on top of this” or “let’s consider,” which help you pivot naturally between points without losing momentum.

To weave these seamlessly into your outline, map out each major turn beforehand to ensure no idea is left stranded on a tangent.

Making Use of Transitional Phrases Wisely

Be cautious: overusing transitional phrases can clutter up your speech faster than rush hour traffic. Striking a balance is key—think about how often you’d want to see signposts on a highway. Enough to keep you confident but not so many that it feels overwhelming.

Pick pivotal moments for transitions when shifting gears from one major topic to another or introducing contrasting information. A little direction at critical junctures keeps everyone onboard and attentive.

Leveraging Pauses as Transition Tools

Sometimes silence speaks louder than words, and pauses are powerful tools for transitioning thoughts. A well-timed pause lets ideas resonate and gives audiences time to digest complex information before moving forward again.

This approach also allows speakers some breathing room themselves—the chance to regroup mentally before diving into their next point with renewed vigor.

Connecting Emotional Threads Throughout Your Speech

Last but not least, don’t forget emotional continuity, that intangible thread pulling heartstrings from start-to-finish. Even if topics shift drastically, maintaining an underlying emotional connection ensures everything flows together cohesively within the larger tapestry of your message.

Techniques for Emphasizing Key Points in Your Speech Outline

When you’re crafting your speech outline, shine a spotlight on what matters most so that your audience doesn’t miss your key points.

Bold and Italicize for Impact

You wouldn’t whisper your punchline in a crowded room. Similarly, why let your main ideas get lost in a sea of text? Use bold or italics to give those lines extra weight. This visual cue signals importance, so when you glance at your notes during delivery, you’ll know to emphasize those main ideas.

Analogies That Stick

A good analogy is like super glue—it makes anything stick. Weave them into your outline and watch as complex concepts become crystal clear. But remember: choose analogies that resonate with your target audience’s experiences or interests. The closer home it hits, the longer it lingers.

The Power of Repetition

If something’s important say it again. And maybe even once more after that—with flair. Repetition can feel redundant on paper, but audiences often need to hear critical messages several times before they take root.

Keep these strategies in mind when you’re ready to dive into your outline. You’ll transform those core ideas into memorable insights before you know it.

Picture this: you’re delivering a speech, and just as you’re about to reach the end, your time’s up. Ouch! Let’s make sure that never happens. Crafting an outline is not only about what to say but also how long to say it.

Finding Balance in Section Lengths

An outline isn’t just bullet points; it’s a roadmap for pacing. When outlining your speech, make sure to decide how much time you’d like to give each of your main points. You might even consider setting specific timers during rehearsals to get a real feel for each part’s duration. Generally speaking, you should allot a fairly equal amount of time for each to keep things balanced.

The Magic of Mini Milestones

To stay on track, a savvy speaker will mark time stamps or “mini milestones” on their outline. These time stamps give the speaker an idea of where should be in their speech by the time, say, 15 minutes has passed. If by checkpoint three you should be 15 minutes deep and instead you’re hitting 20 minutes, it’s time to pick up the pace or trim some fat from earlier sections. This approach helps you stay on track without having to glance at the clock after every sentence.

Utilizing Visual Aids and Multimedia in Your Outline

Pictures speak louder than words, especially when you’re on stage. Think about it: How many times have you sat through a presentation that felt like an eternity of endless bullet points? Now imagine if instead, there was a vibrant image or a short video clip to break up the monotony—it’s game-changing. That’s why integrating visual aids and multimedia into your speech outline isn’t just smart. It’s crucial for keeping your audience locked in.

Choosing Effective Visuals

Selecting the right visuals is not about flooding your slides with random images but finding those that truly amplify your message. Say you’re talking about climate change. In this case, a graph showing rising global temperatures can hit hard and illustrate your chosen statistic clearly. Remember, simplicity reigns supreme; one powerful image will always trump a cluttered collage.

Multimedia Magic

Videos are another ace up your sleeve. They can deliver testimonials more powerfully than quotes or transport viewers to places mere descriptions cannot reach. But be warned—timing is everything. Keep clips short and sweet because no one came to watch a movie—they came to hear you . You might highlight innovations using short video snippets, ensuring these moments serve as compelling punctuations rather than pauses in your narrative.

The Power of Sound

We often forget audio when we think multimedia, yet sound can evoke emotions and set tones subtly yet effectively. Think striking chords for dramatic effect or nature sounds for storytelling depth during environmental talks.

Audiences crave experiences they’ll remember long after they leave their seats. With well-chosen visuals and gripping multimedia elements woven thoughtfully into every section of your speech outline, you’ll give them exactly that.

Rehearsing with Your Speech Outline

When you’re gearing up to take the stage, your speech outline is a great tool to practice with. With a little preparation, you’ll give a performance that feels both natural and engaging.

Familiarizing Yourself with Content

To start off strong, get cozy with your outline’s content. Read through your outline aloud multiple times until the flow of words feels smooth. This will help make sure that when showtime comes around, you can deliver those lines without tripping over tough transitions or complex concepts.

Beyond mere memorization, understanding the heart behind each point allows you to speak from a place of confidence. You know this stuff—you wrote it. Now let’s bring that knowledge front and center in an authentic way.

Mimicking Presentation Conditions

Rehearsing under conditions similar to those expected during the actual presentation pays off big time. Are you going to stand or roam about? Will there be a podium? Think about these details and simulate them during rehearsal because comfort breeds confidence—and we’re all about boosting confidence.

If technology plays its part in your talk, don’t leave them out of rehearsals either. The last thing anyone needs is tech trouble during their talk.

Perfecting Pace Through Practice

Pacing matters big time when speaking. Use timed rehearsals to nail down timing. Adjust speed as needed but remember: clarity trumps velocity every single time.

You want people hanging onto every word, which is hard to do if you’re talking so fast they can barely make out what you’re saying. During rehearsals, find balance between pacing and comprehension; they should go hand-in-hand.

Finalizing Your Speech Outline for Presentation

You’ve poured hours into crafting your speech, shaping each word and idea with precision. Now, it’s time to tighten the nuts and bolts. Finalizing your outline isn’t just about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. It’s about making sure your message sticks like a perfectly thrown dart.

Reviewing Your Content for Clarity

Your first task is to strip away any fluff that might cloud your core message. Read through every point in your outline with a critical eye. Think of yourself as an editor on a mission to cut out anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you can explain each concept clearly without needing extra words or complex jargon. If not, simplify.

Strengthening Your Argument

The meat of any good presentation lies in its argument, the why behind what you’re saying. Strengthen yours by ensuring every claim has iron-clad backing—a stat here, an expert quote there. Let this be more than just facts tossed at an audience; weave them into stories they’ll remember long after they leave their seats.

Crafting Memorable Takeaways

Audiences may forget details but never how you made them feel—or think. Embed memorable takeaways throughout your outline so when folks step out into fresh air post-talk, they carry bits of wisdom with them.

This could mean distilling complex ideas down to pithy phrases or ending sections with punchy lines that resonate. It’s these golden nuggets people will mine for later reflection.

FAQs on Speech Outlines

How do you write a speech outline.

To craft an outline, jot down your main ideas, arrange them logically, and add supporting points beneath each.

What are the 3 main parts of a speech outline?

An effective speech has three core parts: an engaging introduction, a content-rich body, and a memorable conclusion.

What are the three features of a good speech outline?

A strong outline is clear, concise, and structured in logical sequence to maximize impact on listeners.

What is a working outline for a speech?

A working outline serves as your blueprint while preparing. It’s detailed but flexible enough to adjust as needed.

Crafting a speech outline is like drawing your map before the journey. It starts with structure and flows into customization for different types of talks. Remember, research and evidence are your compass—they guide you to credibility. Transitions act as bridges, connecting one idea to another smoothly. Key points? They’re landmarks so make them shine.

When delivering your speech, keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself so that every word counts.

Multimedia turns a good talk into a great show. Rehearsing polishes that gem of a presentation until it sparkles.

Last up: fine-tuning your speech outline means you step out confident, ready to deliver something memorable because this isn’t just any roadmap—it’s yours.

• Last Updated: March 5, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

Speech Outline Tool

Speech Generator

Ai-powered speech creation tool.

• Keynote Speeches: Generate a compelling and memorable keynote speech for conferences or events.
• Persuasive Speeches: Craft a persuasive speech that effectively communicates your point of view and convinces your audience.
• Informative Speeches: Create an engaging and informative speech that helps your audience understand complex topics.
• Special Occasions: Develop a heartfelt and inspiring speech for weddings, graduations, or other special occasions.

New & Trending Tools

Brand architecture and portfolio management tutor, brand identity and positioning tutor, introduction to brand management tutor.

Free Persuasive Speech Generator

• ✅ 6 Benefits of the Tool

💬 What Is Persuasive Speech?

📍 how to write a persuasive speech, 💡 top 20 persuasive speech topics, 📝 4 world-famous persuasive speech examples, 🔗 references.

Do you have a pending persuasive speech assignment but need some push to help you do it perfectly? No worries; you can use our persuasive speech generator to create informative speeches quickly.

The free automatic AI generator is one of the best to boost your speech writing on any topic.

✅ 6 Benefits of This Persuasive Speech Generator

How can this instant generator benefit your speech-writing efforts?

Our tool has many benefits, but we focus on the 6 most important ones:

As the name suggests, a persuasive speech influences listeners’ behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and values.

In this speech, a speaker seeks a favorable response that aligns with their convictions or position on a matter.

An orator uses arguments to convince their audience to see a particular issue from their preferred perspective. Convincing arguments incorporate different elements to urge listeners to favor a speaker’s stand.

They follow a three-prong strategy incorporating:

A claim is a statement requiring support through evidence. Your speech should also include a thesis statement, your speech’s overarching idea from which other smaller ideas spring.

Informative vs. Persuasive Speech

An informative speech differs from a persuasive one in many ways.

So, how do you write a great persuasive speech that makes listeners adopt your preferred position on a matter?

Below are steps to drafting a great convincing speech.

Know Your Audience

Start by familiarizing yourself with your listeners before moving by knowing their needs, tastes, and ability to understand your desired topic.

This way, you will be better positioned to customize your speech to suit their needs and not parade your vast knowledge.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Topic

Get to know your topic to ensure it suits your audience’s needs. If you aren’t familiar with the topic, research it thoroughly to present your readers with facts.

This way, you will be better positioned to present your listeners with sufficient facts to persuade them.

Determine Your Speech’s Goal

A speech is not only about organizing facts in a logical manner; it is usually meant to persuade the audience and deliver a specific message across .

You, as a speaker, should focus on that message and find appropriate means to get it across.

Select the Best Persuasive Approach

Determine the best approach to persuade your listeners. You may lean on either ethos, logos, or pathos to achieve your desired goal. You can also use all of these approaches.

The final selection will depend on your audience.

Outline Your Key Ideas

You need to outline your best points before presenting them to your audience.

This way, you are better placed to know which argument to present first and last.

Start on a Strong Footing

You must begin your speech with a strong, attractive hook to capture your audience’s attention.

Your opening needs a catchy title that whets your audience’s appetite to listen to your speech.

Give Convincing Evidence

Your speech’s main body should include the points you want to use to convince listeners to side with your position.

Give your audience convincing examples and reasons to buy into your perspective.

Address Counter-arguments

Don’t forget to address opposing arguments because others have a right to hold contrary views and not accept your point right away.

While this may not be necessary, you can bolster your case by anticipating and discussing opposing views.

Finish with a Call to Action

Since you defined your speech’s goal, don’t forget to make a relevant call to action .

Remember, this part is like your landing pad.

Below are carefully selected persuasive speech topics to inspire you.

• Martial arts benefit the mind.
• Competitive sports have many mental benefits.
• Games have many positive social benefits.
• Make community service mandatory for college graduation.
• Traits that make up real heroes.
• Letter grades should be replaced with pass or fail .
• The real secret to success.
• Public libraries should filter internet pornography .
• Video games promote violence.
• Should abortions be illegal as a form of homicide ?
• Dirty music promotes immorality.
• Beauty pageants for children should be banned .
• Parents should spend more time with their children.
• Why junk food should cost more than healthy food .
• Tablets are better than laptops.
• Why should there be a four-day workweek ?
• Ban school uniforms.
• The internet should remain open source .
• Security cameras violate privacy.
• Vote by mail: should it be allowed ?

Below are the top four world-famous persuasive speeches to get inspiration from.

I Have a Dream by MLK

This speech embodies the black community’s search for equality. Martin Luther King voiced his opposition to the segregation against Africans when white supremacists sought to keep Africans in inferior positions using the backdoor. The leader envisioned a society where equality would replace racial discrimination.

Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

This speech by an African woman embodied the quest for equal human rights during the season when oppression and slavery were at their peak. Truth was one of the leading advocates who fought for women’s rights in the 19th century. She delivered this speech at an 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

I Am Prepared to Die by Nelson Mandela

This Nelson Mandela speech echoes the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. Mandela risked his life to fight state-sponsored discrimination against Africans. Mandela was prepared to die for this just cause.

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

This famous speech by the son of a Kenyan student who made it to become a US President shows the power of transformational hope. The speech is based on Obama’s focus on patriotic optimism and determination as change catalysts. This speech catapulted him into the limelight and led to his popular election as America’s first black and youngest president.

❓ Persuasive Speech Generator FAQ

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

• What Is Persuasive Speech? (Plus 10 Tips for Creating One)
• Persuasive Speaking
• 100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students
• How to Write a Persuasive Speech: 13 Steps (with Pictures)
• Persuasive Speech Types & Features
• Persuasive Speaking – Speak Out, Call In
• Free Essays
• Writing Tools
• Lit. Guides
• Donate a Paper
• Referencing Guides
• Free Textbooks
• Tongue Twisters
• Job Openings
• Expert Application
• Video Contest
• Writing Scholarship
• Discount Codes
• IvyPanda Shop
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Copyright Principles
• DMCA Request
• Service Notice

This free AI-powered persuasive speech generator will quickly create a sample speech for you. All you need to do is add the necessary details so that the result matches your requirements. Moreover, on this page, you’ll learn what a persuasive speech is and how to write one quickly.

Speech Writer

Create compelling speeches with our AI speech writer — a tool to craft messages that resonate, from informative and persuasive to motivational and entertaining.

Instructions

• Type in what you need to write a speech about.
• Press "Generate" and Typli will write a speech for you.

Ready for Unlimited Inspiration?

Unlock premium features for content that stands out .

Try more AI writing tools

There's 112 to choose from.

AI Text Generator

Unleash the power of AI to generate creative and engaging text with Typli's Free AI Text Generator.

AI Paraphrasing Tool

Looking for a reliable paraphrasing tool? Check out our AI-powered solution.

AI Summarizer Tool

Get to the point with our efficient AI summarizer tool.

AI Acronym Generator

Get personalized and original acronyms in seconds with our user-friendly generator tool that's perfect for all your needs.

AI Letter Generator & Writer

Quickly create professional or informal letters using our AI letter generator tool.

Passive to Active Voice Converter

Easily convert passive voice to active voice for a more impactful and engaging writing style.

Bullet Point Generator

Turn your ideas into clear, concise bullet points. Perfect for presentations, lists, and summaries.

AI Image Generator

Generate unique high quality AI images quickly.

AI Speech Writer

ChatGPT Rewriter

Transform your text with ChatGPT Rewriter - the ultimate tool for rephrasing and paraphrasing content.

Quote Generator

Generate compelling and impactful quotes with the help of our AI quote generator. Save time and stay inspired.

Sentence Rewriter

Transform your content with our AI sentence rewriter and create fresh, unique text.

AI Writing Generator

Unleash the power of artificial intelligence to generate high-quality, engaging content with Typli's Free AI Writing Generator. Ideal for bloggers, marketers, and content creators.

AI Content Generator

Generate compelling, unique content instantly with Typli's Free AI Content Generator. Perfect for blogs, social media, and marketing material.

AI Headline Generator

Instantly generate eye-catching headlines with Typli's Free AI Headline Generator. Perfect for articles, blogs, and marketing campaigns.

Project Name Generator

Generate a creative and unique name for your project. Get name ideas that capture the essence and goals of your project.

Paragraph Rewriter

Produce authentic and captivating content by rewording paragraphs with our rewriter tool.

Paragraph Generator

Typli’s AI paragraph generator crafts sentences that flow like a river, delivering smooth, relevant, and surprisingly human paragraphs that get better with each use.

AI Word Expander

Add depth and creativity to your writing with our AI word expander tool for a more sophisticated language experience.

Hook Generator

Uncover the art of writing hooks, headlines, and intros that demand attention from your readers.

The Art of Oratory: Exploring the Different Types of Speeches

Public speaking has the power to inform, persuade, entertain, and inspire audiences. It’s a critical tool for leaders, educators, advocates, and anyone looking to make an impact through their words. In the world of oratory, there are several different types of speeches, each serving a unique purpose and requiring a distinct approach. In this article, we’ll explore the primary categories of speeches to help you understand their objectives and master the nuances of delivering each one effectively.

Informative Speeches: Educating Your Audience

An informative speech does exactly what its name implies: it informs. The primary goal of an informative speech is to educate the audience about a particular topic. The subject matter can range immensely, from explaining a complex scientific theory to demonstrating how to bake a cake.

Characteristics of an Informative Speech

Clarity : Your speech must be clear and easy to follow. Use language that your audience understands.

Facts and Data : Cite accurate information and statistics to establish credibility and support your points.

Engagement : Despite being informative, you still need to engage your audience. Use anecdotes, visual aids, or rhetorical questions to keep them interested.

Examples of Informative Speeches

A lecture on the impacts of climate change.

A presentation about the history of the internet.

A seminar on improving personal finance skills.

Persuasive Speeches: Swinging Opinions and Driving Action

While informative speeches focus on providing information, persuasive speeches aim to convince the audience to accept a particular viewpoint or take specific action. Politicians trying to garner votes, salespeople persuading customers to purchase a product, or activists encouraging societal change are all examples of persuasive speaking.

Characteristics of a Persuasive Speech

Appeal to Emotions : Persuasive speeches often appeal to the audience’s emotions, making them feel something that aligns with your message.

Logical Argumentation : Use logical reasoning to build your case. This includes citing evidence and crafting well-thought-out arguments.

Credibility : Establish yourself as a trustworthy and knowledgeable source on the topic.

Examples of Persuasive Speeches

A campaign speech by a political candidate.

A charity fundraiser appeal for donations.

An environmentalist’s talk aimed at reducing plastic use.

Demonstrative Speeches: Showing How It’s Done

Demonstrative speeches are a subset of informative speeches but with a focus on instruction. The goal of a demonstrative speech is to teach the audience how to do something through a step-by-step process. It is critical that these types of speeches are well-organized and that each step is clearly illustrated.

Characteristics of a Demonstrative Speech

Practicality : The task should be feasible and practical for the audience to perform.

Visibility : If you’re demonstrating something physical, every member of the audience needs to see what you’re doing.

Simplicity : Break down complex tasks into simple steps to avoid confusing your audience.

Examples of Demonstrative Speeches

A cooking show host teaching a recipe.

A tech guru explaining how to set up a home network.

A fitness expert demonstrating a workout routine.

Motivational Speeches: Inspiring Change and Achievement

When you think of a motivational speech, you might picture a coach rousing a team before a big game or a business leader inspiring employees towards higher performance. The key to a motivational speech is to inspire and energize your audience to take action or overcome challenges.

Characteristics of a Motivational Speech

Inspirational Stories : Use narratives about overcoming adversity, achievements, or success stories.

Passion : Your enthusiasm and belief in the message should be evident in your delivery.

Actionable Advice : Provide clear steps or methods that the audience can use to achieve their goals.

Examples of Motivational Speeches

A graduation speech encouraging students to pursue their dreams.

A TED Talk sharing a personal story of success.

A corporate leader spurring a team to exceed goals.

Entertaining Speeches: The Fun Side of Speaking

Entertaining speeches are delivered to amuse, delight, and captivate an audience. Humor, storytelling, and charisma are the cornerstones of an entertaining speech. Although the primary intent is to entertain, these speeches can also convey a meaningful message or moral.

Characteristics of an Entertaining Speech

Humor : Utilize jokes, puns, and comedic timing to lighten the mood.

Engaging Delivery : Your delivery should be lively and dynamic to hold the audience’s attention.

Substance : Even funny speeches can have depth. Blend entertainment with substance for a more impactful speech.

Examples of Entertaining Speeches

A best man’s toast at a wedding.

A stand-up comedian’s set.

An after-dinner speech at a corporate event.

Special Occasion Speeches: Marking the Moments That Matter

Special occasion speeches are delivered during significant events, and their content is tailored to the event’s purpose, honorees, or theme. These speeches can be informative, persuasive, motivational, or entertaining, but they should always be relevant to the event and audience.

Characteristics of a Special Occasion Speech

Relevance : The speech must be appropriate for the occasion and audience.

Personalization : Tailor your message to the specific event or honorees.

Brevity : Many special occasion speeches are shorter, so convey your message concisely.

Examples of Special Occasion Speeches

A eulogy at a funeral.

A speech commemorating the anniversary of an organization.

An acceptance speech at an awards ceremony.

Becoming a skilled orator means understanding the different types of speeches and mastering the art of adapting your content and style to the occasion. Whether your aim is to inform, persuade, demonstrate, motivate, entertain, or honor a special occasion, remember that the most effective speeches connect with the audience on a personal level and leave a lasting impression. With practice and attention to these distinct speech purposes and characteristics, anyone can become an effective public speaker.

Step into effortless content creation with Typli and elevate your writing today. Experience AI content writing made simple.

Use this Online Speech Generator to Help You Quickly Create a Good Speech

How to use this tool.

• Select what you would like. To generate free speech topics or free speech content.
• Select the type of speech e.g. "Explanatory", "Motivational".
• Enter your speech topic.
• Enter the additional instructions for better results.
• Click "Generate Speech" and wait 1 minute to get the speech.
• You can generate again when you are not satisfied with the speech or the topics.

Are your assignments troubling you?

Get your troublesome papers finished by our competent writers now!

Special offer! Get 20% discount on your first order. Promo code: SAVE20

How Does Our Speech Creator Work?

You can use our tool to find a good topic and generate a good speech. To find a good speech topic, you need to enter the keyword, and the tool will generate the necessary topics related to your keywords.

To generate speech essays, enter your prompt, and the tool will generate a speech essay. After the tool has generated the speech, you don't have to download the speech; you copy and paste it into the documents and make the necessary edits to suit what you were looking for.

You can also hire our speech homework helpers to help you craft a great speech that will move your audience.

Benefits of Using Our Speech Maker

Our online speech generator has several advantages. They include:

• Quick document turnaround. Unlike handwritten speech, which takes much time to complete, our speech generator provides you with a speech within a short period.
• Guarantee speech quality . Our speech maker guarantees accuracy and quality in the generated text content. Our tool examines many human speeches to understand the meaning of words and human communication to determine the correct response.
• Increased Scalability and Flexibility . Our speech generator is versatile and caters for multiple uses. Whether you want a business presentation or a graduation speech, you can get a customized speech from our speech creator.
• Eradicate workflow inefficiencies . Speech-making is labor-intensive and time-consuming. You can use our speech maker to simplify and streamline your workflow, including brainstorming ideas for your research project.
• It is 100% free . You don't have to register or subscribe to any plan to use our speech generator.

What Makes a Good Speech

The following are the major components of a good speech:

• It should be concise . You should not take much time with lengthy introductions and irrelevant details.
• It should be clear . Your speech should be easy for the audience to comprehend and understand. So, avoid complex terms and pick the right delivery style.
• Avoid bias. Your speech should be objective. Avoid being over-emotional, base your opinions on facts, and avoid biased opinions.
• It should be relevant. Your speech topic should be perfectly relevant and interesting to your audience. Avoid much information that does not relate to the main topic.

Good Speech Examples

• Organ Donation Persuasive Speech
• Informative Speech about Stress Management
• Informative Speech about Stress Management among Students
• Speech on the Importance of Reading

How to Choose a Good Speech Topic

• Specify Your Goals. Establish the occasion and the message you want to convey to your audience.
• Assess Your Audience. Research your audience's knowledge, interests, needs, and background.
• Think of What You Can Offer Your Audience . Avoid shortlisted topics which you are not passionate about. And then ensure you have enough resources and knowledge on the topic you have chosen.

Random Speech Topics

Informative speech topics.

• Evolution of the human species
• Are male victims of domestic violence as well?
• Should gay couples be allowed to adopt?
• A guide for creating a strong profile on LinkedIn
• The drawbacks of vegan diets

Persuasive Speech Topics

• Foreign labor slows down the economy
• Voting rights should not be universal
• Google is the death of libraries
• Government should regulate internet usage
• Fashion is an important part of society

Informative vs Persuasive Speeches

An informative speech is a speech where the speaker is a professional and intends to transfer their knowledge or inform the audience about a specific topic. In a persuasive speech, the speaker aims to persuade the listeners to change their point of view.,

• An informative speech aims to deliver new information, while a persuasive speech aims to convince the audience to believe or do something specific.
• The informative speech presents facts and information to the audience, while the persuasive speech is based on logic and emotions.
• Informative speech does not rely on emotions to motivate the audience, but emotions are highly applicable in persuasive speeches.
• In an informative speech, the speaker acts as a teacher, while in persuasive speeches, the speaker is the leader.

No matter the type of speech you are writing, you must identify the purpose and maintain the focus. For informative speeches, you should remain objective and unbiased and present facts only. In a persuasive speech , you aim to persuade the audience to agree with your opinion. Use our speech generator to craft speech in any category.

Our words to time tool will help you estimate the time it will take to deliver your speech.

Other Popular Tools

• Free Essay Generator (Powered by AI)
• Free Plagiarism Checker
• Free Thesis Generator Tool
• Free Paraphrasing Tool
• Free Essay Title Generator
• Free Speech Generator
• Free Summarizer Tool
• Words To Page
• Words To Time
• Random Debate Topic Generator

Speech Maker

Write better presentations in minutes.

Stop Agonizing. Now You Can Quickly Organize Your Thoughts

And Write A Great Presentation In Minutes!

No More Procrastinating!

Communicate with clarity and confidence, your online, 24/7 speech writing coach, a message from the creator of speech maker:.

VIEW MESSAGE

What is Speech Maker™ ?

Speech Maker™ is the online tool designed specifically for business professionals and business owners. With Speech Maker, you will learn how to write a good speech easily and quickly.

Speech Maker gives you access to an Informative Presentation outline or use the template to write a Persuasive Presentation. You can organize your content in 20 minutes or less!

Copyright 2010, DiResta Communications Inc. All rights reserved.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking
• Speechwriting

How to Write a Speech Outline

Last Updated: January 3, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 505,745 times.

A speech outline can increase your confidence and help you keep your place so you sound authoritative and in control. As you write your speech outline, focus on how you'll introduce yourself and your topic, the points you'll cover, and the interests of your audience.

Sample Outline and Writing Help

Crafting Your Introduction

• Keep in mind you may be nervous when you start your speech. Include this in your outline so you won't forget.
• If there's anything about you that relates you to your audience, or to the group that organized the event, you want to include that in your brief greeting as well – especially if you didn't have the benefit of an introduction from someone else.
• For example, you might say "Good afternoon. I'm Sally Sunshine, and I've been a volunteer with the Springfield Animal Society for five years. I'm honored they've invited me to speak here today about the importance of spaying or neutering your pets."

• When choosing your attention-getter, keep your audience in mind. Think about what would grab their attention – not necessarily what you personally find interesting or humorous.
• If you're not sure whether your attention-getter will work, try practicing it in front of friends or family members who are similar in age and interests to the people who will be in the audience when you give your speech.
• For example, if you're giving a speech on spaying and neutering pets to a group of suburban families, you might open with a humorous reference to the Disney movie "101 Dalmatians."

• Briefly explain the importance of the topic or issue you'll be discussing in your speech.
• If your speech is an informative one, explain why the information is important or relevant to your audience.
• For argumentative speeches, explain what might happen if action isn't taken on the issue.
• For example, you might say "Every year, our local animal shelter has to put down 500 unwanted cats and dogs. If all pets were spayed and neutered, it's estimated this number would decrease to under 100."

• If you're giving an argumentative speech, your thesis statement will be a statement of the ultimate point you hope to prove through the information and evidence you lay out in your speech.
• For example, the thesis statement for a speech arguing that all pet owners should spay or neuter their pets might be "Our entire community would benefit if all pets were spayed or neutered."
• The thesis statement for a more informative speech will simply summarize the type of information you're going to provide the audience through your speech.
• For a more scientific speech, your thesis statement will reflect the hypothesis of the scientific study you're presenting in your speech.

• If you're giving a speech for a class in school, your "credibility" may be as simple as the fact that you took the class and researched the topic.
• However, if you have a more personalized interest in the topic of your speech, this is a good time to mention that.
• For an argumentative speech, a personal connection to the subject matter can enhance your credibility. For example, maybe you're giving a speech about local urban housing policy and you became interested in the topic when you learned your family was facing eviction. A personal connection often can mean more to members of your audience than extensive professional experience in the area.

• There's no hard and fast rule, but speeches typically have three main points. You should list them in your introduction in the order you plan to present them in your speech. The order in which you discuss your points depends on the type of speech you're giving.
• For example, your speech on spaying or neutering pets might address the benefits to the pet first, then the benefit to the pet's family, then the benefit to the community at large. This starts small and moves outward.
• For an argumentative speech, you typically want to lead with your strongest argument and work down in order of strength.
• If you're giving an informative speech based on a historical event, you may want to provide your points chronologically. Other informative speeches may be better served by starting with the broadest point and moving to more narrow points.
• Ultimately, you want to order your points in a way that feels natural to you and will enable you to easily transition from one point to another.

Building the Body of Your Speech

• Your first point will be a top-level entry on your outline, typically noted by a Roman numeral.
• Beneath that top-level, you will have a number of sub-points which are comments, statistics, or other evidence supporting that point. Depending on how your outline is formatted, these typically will be letters or bullet points.

• As with the points themselves, with your evidence you typically want to start with the strongest or most important sub-point or piece of evidence and move down. This way, if you start running short on time, you can easily cut the last points without worrying that you're leaving out something important.
• The type of evidence or sub-points you'll want to include will depend on the type of speech you're giving.
• Try to avoid pounding your audience with long series of numbers or statistics – they typically won't retain the information. If you have a significant amount of numerical data or statistics, creating an infographic you can project during your presentation may be more useful.
• Keep in mind that additional personal stories or anecdotes can be particularly effective to get your point across in a speech.
• For example, if your first point in your speech about spaying or neutering pets is that the procedure benefits the pets themselves, you might point out that pets that are spayed or neutered live longer, are at a decreased risk for certain types of cancer, and are generally more healthy than pets who aren't spayed or neutered.

• Avoid over-thinking your transition. It really doesn't need to be incredibly sophisticated. If you can't come up with anything specific, using a simple transitional phrase will work fine.
• For example, you might say "Now that I've discussed how spaying and neutering has a positive effect on your pet's health, I want to move to the effect that spaying and neutering has on your family."
• Some of the most effective transitions turn on a particular word or phrase, such as the word "effect" in the example above.

• When choosing your sub-points or the facts that you want to emphasize in your speech, keep your audience in mind as well as the overall point. Think about what's important to them, or what they potentially would find most surprising or most interesting.

Creating Your Closing

• This transition doesn't need to be fancy – it doesn't even have to be a whole sentence. You can simply say "In conclusion," and then launch into your summary.

• You don't need to go into detail here – you're just reinforcing what you've already told your audience.
• Make sure you don't introduce any new information in your closing summary.
• For example, you might say "As you've seen, spaying or neutering your pet has substantial benefits not only for you and your pet, but also for the community at large."

• If your speech went well, you have fully proven your thesis and demonstrated its importance. This statement should relate back to the summary of your points and present a strong statement.
• Particularly for brief speeches, you can even combine your summary of points with your thesis statement in a single sentence that wraps up your speech.
• For example, you might say "Given the benefits to your pet's health, to your family, and to the overall well-being of your community, it is clear that spaying or neutering pets should be a top priority for all pet owners."

• You may want to think of a way to bring the entire speech back around to that story you initially told to grab your audience's attention.
• If you have an argumentative or similar speech, your closing lines typically will include a call to action. Give your audience an example of how important the subject of your speech is, and implore them to act on the information you gave them in a specific way.
• When making a call to action, make sure you include specific details, such as where to go, who to contact, and when to act.
• For example, you might say "For the next week, the Springfield Animal Society will be spaying and neutering pets for free at their clinic on 123 Main Street. Call 555-555-5555 to make an appointment for your furry friend today!"

• Particularly if your speech was longer or if you went over the time allotted, be sure to tell them that you appreciate their time.
• As with your initial greeting, including this in your outline ensures you won't forget it in the moment. That doesn't mean you should try to write something verbatim. Rather, you should focus on your thanks being more off-the-cuff and sincere.

• If you want to establish parameters for the questions, be sure to list these in your outline so you can mention them when you announce that you're open for questions.
• Anticipate questions that may be asked dependent on your speech topic. Preemptively answer those questions and include them in your outline.
• You also should note if you only have a specified period of time for questions, or if you're only taking a set number of questions.

Community Q&A

• Outlines can vary in how formal or informal you make them. You could either make it a full script or use shorthand with highlighted main points. Use the outline that works best for you. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
• Use a large font that you can easily read by glancing down. Print your outline and place it on a desk, then stand and look down at the paper. If it's too small or you find yourself leaning over to read it, increase the font size. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 3
• If you're giving the speech for a class, you may need to turn in an outline of your speech that follows particular content or format requirements. Review your assignment carefully and turn in an outline that follows your instructor's requirements, even if you decide to use a slightly different outline when you give your speech. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-introductions
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html
• ↑ https://lewisu.edu/writingcenter/pdf/final-developing-a-speech-outline.pdf
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-evidence
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/10-2-keeping-your-speech-moving/

About This Article

The best way to write a speech outline is to write the main points of your greeting and introduction in the first section, including your name and what you’ll be talking about. Then, make a second section with bullet points of all the important details you want to mention in the body of your speech. Make sure to include facts and evidence to back your argument up. Finish your outline with a section that summarizes your points concisely. To learn how to keep your audience's attention throughout your speech, keep reading below! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Ren Solomon

Oct 1, 2018

Did this article help you?

Erick Villegas

Sep 21, 2017

Fernando Patino

Nov 19, 2018

Tristan Doell

Oct 12, 2017

Nov 23, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

• Personal Development
• Sales Training
• Business Training
• Time Management
• Leadership Training
• Book Writing
• Public Speaking
• Live Speaker Training With Brian
• See Brian Speak
• Coaching Programs
• Become a Coach
• Personal Success
• Sales Success
• Business Success
• Leadership Success

How To Write A Speech Outline

Do you have a speech coming up soon, but don’t know where to start when it comes to writing it? 

Don’t worry. 

The best way to start writing your speech is to first write an outline.

While to some, an outline may seem like an unnecessary extra step — after giving hundreds of speeches in my own career, I can assure you that first creating a speech outline is truly the best way to design a strong presentation that your audience will remember.

Should I Write A Speech Outline?

You might be wondering if you should really bother with a preparation outline. Is a speaking outline worth your time, or can you get through by just keeping your supporting points in mind?

Again, I highly recommend that all speakers create an outline as part of their speechwriting process. This step is an extremely important way to organize your main ideas and all the various elements of your speech in a way that will command your audience’s attention.

Good public speaking teachers will agree that an outline—even if it’s a rough outline—is the easiest way to propel you forward to a final draft of an organized speech that audience members will love.

Here are a few of the biggest benefits of creating an outline before diving straight into your speech.

Gain More Focus

By writing an outline, you’ll be able to center the focus of your speech where it belongs—on your thesis statement and main idea.

Remember, every illustration, example, or piece of information you share in your speech should be relevant to the key message you’re trying to deliver. And by creating an outline, you can ensure that everything relates back to your main point.

Keep Things Organized

Your speech should have an overall organizational pattern so that listeners will be able to follow your thoughts. You want your ideas to be laid out in a logical order that’s easy to track, and for all of the speech elements to correspond.

An outline serves as a structure or foundation for your speech, allowing you to see all of your main points laid out so you can easily rearrange them into an order that makes sense for easy listening.

Create Smoother Transitions

A speaking outline helps you create smoother transitions between the different parts of your speech.

When you know what’s happening before and after a certain section, it will be easy to accurately deliver transitional statements that make sense in context. Instead of seeming like several disjointed ideas, the parts of your speech will naturally flow into each other.

Save Yourself Time

An outline is an organization tool that will save you time and effort when you get ready to write the final draft of your speech. When you’re working off of an outline to write your draft, you can overcome “blank page syndrome.”

It will be much easier to finish the entire speech because the main points and sub-points are already clearly laid out for you.

Your only job is to finish filling everything in.

Preparing to Write A Speech Outline

Now that you know how helpful even the most basic of speech outlines can be in helping you write the best speech, here’s how to write the best outline for your next public speaking project.

How Long Should A Speech Outline Be?

The length of your speech outline will depend on the length of your speech. Are you giving a quick two-minute talk or a longer thirty-minute presentation? The length of your outline will reflect the length of your final speech.

Another factor that will determine the length of your outline is how much information you actually want to include in the outline. For some speakers, bullet points of your main points might be enough. In other cases, you may feel more comfortable with a full-sentence outline that offers a more comprehensive view of your speech topic.

The length of your outline will also depend on the type of outline you’re using at any given moment.

Types of Outlines

Did you know there are several outline types? Each type of outline is intended for a different stage of the speechwriting process. Here, we’re going to walk through:

• Working outlines
• Full-sentence outlines
• Speaking outlines

Working Outline

Think of your working outline as the bare bones of your speech—the scaffolding you’re using as you just start to build your presentation. To create a working outline, you will need:

• A speech topic
• An idea for the “hook” in your introduction
• A thesis statement
• 3-5 main points (each one should make a primary claim that you support with references)
• A conclusion

Each of your main points will also have sub-points, but we’ll get to those in a later step.

The benefit of a working outline is that it’s easy to move things around. If you think your main points don’t make sense in a certain order—or that one point needs to be scrapped entirely—it’s no problem to make the needed changes. You won’t be deleting any of your prior hard work because you haven’t really done any work yet.

Once you are confident in this “skeleton outline,” you can move on to the next, where you’ll start filling in more detailed information.

Full-sentence outline

As the name implies, your full-sentence outline contains full sentences. No bullet points or scribbled, “talk about x, y, z here.” Instead, research everything you want to include and write out the information in full sentences.

Why is this important? A full-sentence outline helps ensure that you are:

• Including all of the information your audience needs to know
• Organizing the material well
• Staying within any time constraints you’ve been given

Don’t skip this important step as you plan your speech.

Speaking outline

The final type of outline you’ll need is a speaking outline. When it comes to the level of detail, this outline is somewhere in between your working outline and a full-sentence outline. 

You’ll include the main parts of your speech—the introduction, main points, and conclusion. But you’ll add a little extra detail about each one, too. This might be a quote that you don’t want to misremember or just a few words to jog your memory of an anecdote to share.

When you actually give your speech, this is the outline you will use. It might seem like it makes more sense to use your detailed full-sentence outline up on stage. However, if you use this outline, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of reading your speech—which is not what you want to do. You’ll likely sound much more natural if you use your speaking outline.

How to Write A Speech Outline

We’ve covered the types of outlines you’ll work through as you write your speech. Now, let’s talk more about how you’ll come up with the information to add to each outline type.

Pick A Topic

Before you can begin writing an outline, you have to know what you’re going to be speaking about. In some situations, you may have a topic given to you—especially if you are in a public speaking class and must follow the instructor’s requirements. But in many cases, speakers must come up with their own topic for a speech.

Consider your audience and what kind of educational, humorous, or otherwise valuable information they need to hear. Your topic and message should of course be highly relevant to them. If you don’t know your audience well enough to choose a topic, that’s a problem.

Your audience is your first priority. If possible, however, it’s also helpful to choose a topic that appeals to you. What’s something you’re interested in and/or knowledgeable about? 

It will be much easier to write a speech on a topic you care about rather than one you don’t. If you can come up with a speech topic that appeals to your audience and is interesting to you, that’s the sweet spot for writing and delivering an unforgettable speech.

Write A Thesis Statement

The next step is to ask yourself two important questions:

• What do you want your audience to take away from your speech?
• How will you communicate this main message?

The key message of your speech can also be called your “thesis statement.”

Essentially, this is your main point—the most important thing you hope to get across.

You’ll most likely actually say your thesis statement verbatim during your speech. It should come at the end of your introduction. Then, you’ll spend the rest of your talk expanding on this statement, sharing more information that will prove the statement is true.

Consider writing your thesis statement right now—before you begin researching or outlining your speech. If you can refer back to this statement as you get to work, it will be much easier to make sure all of the elements correspond with each other throughout your speech.

An example of a good thesis statement might read like this:

• Going for a run every day is good for your health.
• It’s important to start saving for retirement early.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on many small businesses.

The second part of this step is to know how you will communicate your main message . For example, if your key point is that running improves physical health, you might get this across by:

• Citing scientific studies that proved running is good for your health
• Sharing your personal experience of going for a run every day

Your goal is for all of your sub-points and supporting material to reflect and support your main point. At the end of the speech, your audience should be appropriately motivated, educated, or convinced that your thesis statement is true.

Once you have a topic for your presentation and a good thesis statement, you can move on to the bulk of the outline.

The first part of your speech is the introduction, which should include a strong “hook” to grab the attention of your audience. There are endless directions you can go to create this hook. Don’t be afraid to get creative! You might try:

• Telling a joke
• Sharing an anecdote
• Using a prop or visual aid
• Asking a question (rhetorical or otherwise)

These are just a few examples of hooks that can make your audience sit up and take notice.

The rest of your introduction shouldn’t be too long—as a general rule of thumb, you want your introduction to take up about 10% of your entire speech. But there are a few other things you need to say.

Briefly introduce yourself and who you are to communicate why the audience should trust you. Mention why you’re giving this speech. 

Explain that you’re going to cover X main points—you can quickly list them—and include your thesis statement. 

You could also mention how long your speech will be and say what your audience will take away from it (“At the end of our 15 minutes together today, you’ll understand how to write a resume”).

Then smoothly transition into the body of your speech.

Next, you’ll write the body of your speech. This is the bulk of your presentation. It will include your main points and their sub-points. Here’s how this should look:

Your subpoints might be anecdotes, visual aids, or studies. However you decide to support your main points, make them memorable and engaging. Nobody wants to sit and listen to you recite a dry list of facts.

Remember, the amount of detail you include right now will depend on which outline you’re on. Your first outline, or working outline, doesn’t have to include every last little detail. Your goal is to briefly encapsulate all of the most important elements in your speech. 

But beyond that, you don’t need to write down every last detail or example right now. You don’t even have to write full sentences at this point. That will come in your second outline and other future drafts.

Your conclusion should concisely summarize the main points of your speech. You could do this by saying, “To recap as I finish up, today we learned…” and reiterate those primary points.

It’s also good to leave the audience with something to think about and/or discuss. Consider asking them a question that expands on your speech—something they can turn over in their minds the rest of the day. 

Or share one final story or quote that will leave them with lasting inspiration. Bonus points if your conclusion circles back around to your introduction or hook.

In other cases, you may want to end with a call to action. Are you promoting something? Make sure your audience knows what it is, how it will benefit them, and where they can find it. Or, your CTA might be as simple as plugging your Twitter handle and asking listeners to follow you.

Finally, don’t forget to say thank you to your audience for taking the time to listen.

Additional Helpful Speechwriting Tips

Your speech outline is important, but it’s not the only thing that goes into preparing to give a presentation. Take a look at these additional tips I recommend to help your speech succeed.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids are a good way to make sure your audience stays engaged—that they listen closely, and remember what you said. Visual aids serve as an attention-getter for people who may not be listening closely. These aids also ensure that your points are sufficiently supported.

You might choose to incorporate any of the following in your talk:

• A PowerPoint presentation
• A chart or graph
• A whiteboard or blackboard
• A flip chart
• A prop that you hold or interact with

Don’t overdo it. Remember, your speech is the main thing you’re presenting. Any visual aids are just that—aids. They’re a side dish, not the main entrée. Select one primary type of aid for your speech.

If you decide to include visual aids, use your speaking outline to make a note of which items you will incorporate where. You may want to place these items on your working outline. They should definitely be on your full-sentence outline.

Keep Your Audience Engaged

As you write and practice your speech, make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your audience engaged the entire time. We’ve already talked about including stories and jokes, using visual aids, or asking questions to vary your talk and make it more interesting.

Your body language is another important component of audience engagement. Your posture should be straight yet relaxed, with shoulders back and feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your body open to the audience.

Make eye contact with different people in the audience. Incorporate hand gestures that emphasize certain points or draw attention to your visual aids.

Don’t be afraid to move around whatever space you have. Movement is especially helpful to indicate a clearer transition from one part of your speech to another. And smile! A simple smile goes a long way to help your audience relax.

Practice Your Speech

When you’re done with speechwriting, it’s time to get in front of the mirror and practice. Pay attention to your body language, gestures, and eye contact. 

Practice working with any visual aids or props you will be using. It’s also helpful to make a plan B—for instance, what will you do if the projector isn’t working and you can’t use your slides?

Ask a friend or family member if you can rehearse your speech for them. When you’re through, ask them questions about which parts held their attention and which ones didn’t.

You should also use your speaking outline and whatever other notes you’ll be using in your speech itself. Get used to referring to this outline as you go. But remember, don’t read anything verbatim (except maybe a quote). Your speaking outline is simply a guide to remind you where you’re going.

Learn to Speak Like A Leader

There’s a lot of work that goes into writing a speech outline. That’s undeniable. But an outline is the best way to organize and plan your presentation. When your speech outline is ready, it will be a breeze to write and then present your actual speech.

If you’re looking for more help learning how to become a strong public speaker, I recommend my free 5 Minute Speech Formula . This will help you start writing your speech and turn any idea into a powerful message.

« Previous Post Productivity Tips – Be More Productive With Less Effort Next Post » How To Communicate Effectively In Any Situation

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

• Most Recent
• The Art of Business Success: A Blueprint for Entrepreneurs
• How to Develop a Habit That Will Last
• How to Write an Author Bio (Examples Included)
• Personal Development Plan Templates for Success
• How to Sell and Become a Master Salesperson
• Free Webinar: How To Write a Book and Become a Published Author
• Free Video Series: 3-Part Sales Mastery Training Series
• Free Assessment: The Confidence Factor
• Free Assessment: Discovering Your Talents

Browse Categories

• Financial Success

Follow Brian & Join the Discussion

• Free Resources
• Best Sellers
• Knowledge Base
• Shipping & Returns
• Privacy Policy
• About Brian
• Brian Recommends

Your Privacy is Guaranteed. We will never give, lease or sell your personal information. Period!

© Copyright 2001-2024 Brian Tracy International. All Rights Reserved.

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery

How to make cue cards

• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• About me/contact
• Speech delivery

Cue cards for public speaking 

How to make cue cards & use them effectively.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Making good cue cards from standard office supply index or note cards to help you confidently deliver an extemporaneous  speech is relatively easy.  And using them well will lift the quality of your presentation immeasurably. (Truly! I promise you that's not hyperbole. ☺)

What's on this page

Step-by-step guidelines on how to make cue cards and use them well:

• what are cue cards ?
• the benefits of using cue cards
• the materials required to make cue cards
• the 10 features of an effective cue card
• how to write up cue cards - the 3-step process to get from a speech outline to cue cards that work the way you want them to  
• how to rehearse with cue cards
• the difference between cue cards and flash cards

What are cue cards?

Cue * or note cards, used by speakers when making an extemporaneous speech * , are typically handheld. They are about 4 inches by 6 inches in size, with carefully selected and ordered words and phrases written on them. These act as prompt to help speakers remember what they have to say.

* A  cue is a signal or a prompt to say or do something. * extemporaneous speech -a well-prepared speech that relies on research, clear organization, and practiced delivery, but is neither read nor completely memorized.

The benefits of using cue cards

People who do not use cue cards to help them deliver a prepared speech either read it from a word-for-word printout or rely entirely on their memory.

However, both these delivery methods have potential traps for the unwary.

• Reading a speech well is a skill and like any skill it needs work to become proficient at it. Someone who hasn't practiced reading aloud is very likely to be difficult to listen to and to watch.
• Opting to deliver a speech entirely from memory is only effective if you've done enough practice. A blank-out and trying to chase down lost words in front of an audience can be hard to recover from. (There is no safety-net!)

Enter cue cards!

The benefits of using cue cards well are:

• Not being anchored to a podium reading the entire text of your speech. This enables you to freely interact with your audience: -to make eye contact, -to observe and readily respond, for instance to clarify a   point you can see has not been understood, to leave out   bits you can tell are not wanted or needed..., -to gesture and move easily.
• Not being left stranded and floundering because you have forgotten important details, or the sequence of your material. Cue cards are reassuring.  

A well-prepared set of cue cards will give you confidence. You will sound, look and feel more present, and your entire delivery will have more life, more energy! 

For those of you who are nervous about making the transition from the safety of a complete sentence by sentence script to note cards, don't be. Take it slowly. Give yourself time to thoroughly prepare and rehearse with them, and you'll be delighted with the result.

The materials needed

You'll need a packet of standard index cards, similar to the one in the illustration below, a selection of highlighters, (for example, yellow, pink, blue and green), and an easily-read pen. I suggest using one with either blue or black ink.

The 10 features of good cue cards 

The information you put on your cards and how you lay it out is critically important. You need to be able to read and understand them at a glance. (See the illustration below)

The most user-friendly cue cards:

• have ONE main subject heading or idea per card
• have a heading showing which part of the speech the card belongs to  
• are written or printed clearly using larger than usual font   - so you can read them easily
• have plenty of white space around each word or phrase to help them stand out
• use bullet points or numbers to itemize the supporting ideas under the main heading
• are written on ONE side of the card only
• are clearly numbered so that you know the order they come in and it can be a good idea to tie them together .   Use a hole punch to make a hole through the left corner of your cards and tie with a loop of string long enough to allow them to be flipped. The advantage of that is if you drop or somehow get them out of sequence, you're not scrabbling around trying to get them back into the right order and find where you'd got up to while being watched. That can be tough with dozens of pairs of eyes on you!  
• are color-coded to show your main idea, supporting ideas, examples and transitions or links.
• have where props are to be shown . For example: Main Idea One - Supporting Idea - Example - Show slide 1
• have approximate timings marked so you can track yourself through your allotted time. If you find you're going over you can adjust by leaving out an extra example or conversely if you're under time, you can add one in.

Preparing your speech for cue cards

Before starting the cue cards you need to make sure your speech is fully prepared.

The next 3 steps are an essential part of the preparation process.

1. Reviewing your speech outline

Using your speech outline go through from the beginning checking the sequence of ideas, supporting material and  transitions to ensure all your information is in an effective and logical sequence.  (And if you haven't made an outline yet  download and use the blank one available from the link below.)

Have you outlined your speech?

If you haven't got a speech outline already prepared ...

Use the printable blank speech outline template you'll find on this page: sample speech outline . It will make preparing your cue cards a breeze. 

2. Try your speech out loud

Use your outline to try your speech out loud. Say it through as if you were actually giving it and time yourself.

Remember to allow for pausing, waiting for the audience to finish laughing before you begin talking again, and so on.

You may need to edit if it's too long and it's a lot easier to do that at this stage. 

3. Feedback

Once you have the length right for your time allowance, ask a few people whose judgment you trust to listen to you give your speech. Have them give you feedback on its content, structure and delivery, paying particular attention to the introduction and the close.

(For more information see speech evaluation| giving and receiving meaningful feedback .) 

Use the feedback you've been given to rework your speech if you need to.

When you're satisfied you have it the best it can possibly be, you're ready to prepare it for cue cards.

Getting from outline to writing up your cue cards

Identifying good keywords and phrases.

Each segment or part of your speech, from its introduction to conclusion, should be reducible to a key word or phrase.  The phrase or keyword will act as a prompt, or trigger, making you immediately remember what it was you wanted to say.

Before you can write your cue cards you need to go through your speech outline and choose a word or phrase that best represents what each part is about.  

Once you've finished, you're ready to write up your cards using the  1-10 guidelines  above.

Test your cards as you make them

Double check the effectiveness of each card as you write them to make sure you are using keywords or phrases that actually do trigger your memory.

This is also particularly important for links or transitions. Forgetting how you got from one piece of information to the next not only leaves you stranded but your audience as well.

NB.  Be sure to note the names of important people, facts or processes too.

A word of warning

Do not be tempted to print or write the whole of your speech out, then cut it into bits and stick those bits onto cue card sized pieces of cardboard. * It will defeat your purpose entirely.

You'll finish with ridiculously cramped notes that, as well as being difficult to read, stop you from freely interacting with your audience. You'll be head down trying to decipher what you wrote!

* (I've seen it in action! Occasionally one of my student's would try it and the result was never, ever good.)

Rehearsing with your cue cards

You'll find a full page here on ' how to rehearse ' .

It includes notes specifically on rehearsing using your cue cards as well as other valuable tips for delivering your speech successfully.

Now that you've completed your set of cards, please don't shortchange yourself by assuming you are fully prepared and ready for delivery.

To use them well you really do need to practice with them. Before you give your speech aim for at least three concentrated rehearsal sessions and do more if possible.

Cue cards and flash cards. What's the difference? 

The principal difference between them is their purpose.

Flash cards are used to help memorize information for example, vocabulary lists for a new language you're learning, the sequence of events leading to the outbreak of WW2, or the names and placement of all the bones in the human body.

They frequently have diagrams and pictures as well as words on them to make the information easier to remember. 

The goal or purpose of them is instant recall. They are extensively used by students, particularly as part of their exam preparation.

In comparison, cue cards are generally larger than flash cards and have less information on them - just an ordered sequence of a speech's key words and phrases.

Whereas flash cards are used prior to an examination or test, cue cards are used during a presentation. Their purpose is to prompt or remind the speaker to say what they wanted to.

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Blogging Aloud
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

Free Outline Generator

Why use the free outline generator, generate complete blog post outlines in minutes.

Our free outline generator eliminates writer's block by walking you through the outline creation process. Simply enter your topic and let our AI technology suggest an outline containing an introduction, 3-5 main points, and a conclusion. In just a few minutes, you'll have a structured outline ready to turn into a complete blog post draft. The tool is designed for busy bloggers and marketers who need well-organized content fast.

A Structured Roadmap for Your Writing

Our outline generator gives you a complete roadmap to follow before you start writing. Simply enter your topic and let our AI technology suggest an intuitive outline with key points to cover. This provides a logical flow for your post and ensures you hit on the most important information. With your outline in hand, you'll breeze through writing confidently knowing your content will be organized and thorough.

Get Your Ideas Flowing

Our free outline generator helps you overcome writer's block and get your creative juices flowing. Simply enter your topic and our AI will generate a detailed outline with key points to expand on. With an outline in hand, you can start writing with confidence knowing the structure is already in place. The tool takes you from a blank page to an organized draft in minutes, saving you time and frustration. Now you can stop staring at a blank screen and start turning your ideas into a completed draft with an automatically generated outline.

Who's it for?

Content marketer.

Content marketers can use the Free Outline Generator to quickly generate blog post outlines, saving time on ideation and allowing them to produce more high-quality content faster.

Content Manager

The Free Outline Generator is an invaluable tool for the content manager, allowing them to quickly brainstorm and organize blog post ideas and outlines to assign to writers, ensuring a constant stream of high-quality content.

Content Writer

The content writer is tasked with creating engaging blog posts and articles but often struggles with organizing thoughts and deciding on an outline. The free outline generator will help the content writer quickly map out detailed blog post outlines so they can spend less time staring at a blank page and more time writing polished drafts.

Try our other AI tools

Reliable uptime, guaranteed.

At Copy.ai, we're committed to keeping our platform up and running. That's why we offer a uptime commitment to our Enterprise customers, so you can trust that our platform will be available when you need it.

This free AI powered Instagram caption generator will create the perfect caption for your photo and help you get more likes, followers and comments.

Email is a powerful marketing tool. Copy.ai’s marketing email generator helps you write more effective marketing emails in minutes.

This free Sentence Rewriter tool will re-write an entire sentence according to the instructions provided by you, so that you can get a unique version of the sentence.

Try this free Product Description Generator that enables you to create beautiful and effective product descriptions that sell.

This free AI Paragraph Generator will generate complete paragraphs according to the instructions provided by you.

This free Paragraph Rewriter tool will re-write your paragraphs according to the instructions provided by you, so that you can get a unique version of your content.

Try this free cold email generator to create unique personalized cold emails from any LinkedIn URL. Enter any LinkedIn URL and a few details about your company, and you'll have a personalized email ready to send in seconds.

Create high converting CTA's with this call to action generator. Not only will it help you create great CTAs, but also helps you improve your conversion rate and increase sales.

This free email subject line generator will help you craft the perfect subject line for your emails, newsletters, and more!

Free Content Idea Generator - Use our exclusive content idea generator to come up with your next blog or social media post!

Need a slogan for your company? Our free slogan generator will help you create a slogan that your customers won't be able to forget!

Need help writing meta descriptions? Use our free SEO meta description generator for your website and get higher rankings and click through rates. Absolutely free!

Create a social media bio in seconds. No more trying to be clever and witty. We do the hard work for you so that every time you update your social media page, you have an awesome new bio!

Want to start a blog but have no ideas what to write? Use our blog post idea generator you can get free blog post ideas for all types of blogs including health, fitness, travel, food, relationships and more…

Our free paraphrasing tool will help you rephrase any sentence quickly and easily!

Have to come up with a business name? Our free AI powered business name generator can help you find your perfect business name in seconds!

“Copy.ai has enabled me to free up time to focus more on where we want to be in say three months from now, six months from now, instead of just deep in the weeds.”

Meet Workflows

Ecommerce workflows.

Social media workflows

SEO workflows

Sales workflows

Built to make you efficient

Long-form articles.

Beat the blank page and create high-quality, SEO-friendly blog posts in a fraction of the time it currently takes. Then, use your expertise to polish the draft to create articles that truly resonate with your target audience.

Social media

Leave your mark on social media by improving your brand’s presence and engaging with your audience directly. For any product, any business, and any social media channel, Copy.ai has the words you need to grow at scale.

Product descriptions

Generate high-converting and SEO-friendly product descriptions for your online store in seconds. Finally, your brand can break free from generic product pages and write personalized copy that sells!

Content briefs

Build rank-worthy content that matches your keyword’s search intent with Copy.ai. Set your writers up for success with every brief you create.

Increase conversions with short-form copy at the click of a button. Then, optimize all of your paid campaigns through targeted A/B testing. With Copy.ai, you have access to an unlimited well of copy to tap into!

Generate high-converting sales copy that’s on-brand, at scale. You can generate copy that follows specific frameworks, like Pain-Agitate-Solution, or create content by channel, like LinkedIn InMail.

“By partnering with Copy.ai , we're able to leverage Generative AI to offer personalized outreach emails at scale. This results in increased engagement and conversions for our customers, at a fraction of the effort.”

Discover new possibilities with Chat to Workflow

For enterprise.

Chat to Workflow is the ideal solution for enterprise businesses looking to streamline content creation and break executional barriers. Whether you're generating warm leads, winning deals, or nurturing customers into lifelong ambassadors, Copy.ai has the content or workflow you need. And it’s all just a click away.

For marketers

Whether you're creating social media posts, blog content, or email campaigns, we can help you generate high-quality content in no time. Every part of your marketing team, from bloggers to copywriters, can leverage Chat → Workflow to experience content production at scale. With our tech at your fingertips, your imagination becomes the only limit. 

For Ecommerce

Automate compelling product descriptions, ad copy, and more in 25+ languages. Save editorial guidelines and company information in Infobase, and standardize your brand voice across all your product pages. Then, with Workflows, generate everything in bulk, saving you time and money while creating high-impact product descriptions.

For sales teams

Chat to Workflow is the perfect enterprise solution for sales teams that want to optimize their pipeline and win more customers. Generate high-quality sales emails, proposals, and presentations in a fraction of the time it would take to create them manually. This allows your teams to focus on what they do best - building relationships and winning opportunities.

SOC 2 Type II Compliance

We take data security seriously, and that's exactly why we're SOC 2 Type II compliant. With Copy.ai, you can rest easy knowing that your information is always safe and protected. No ifs, ands, or hacks about it.

Store and access frequently used content directly in your dashboard, such as product descriptions, brand messaging, and more. This allows you to standardize your brand’s voice and tone across multiple writers, so messaging stays consistent across your entire organization.

Ready to supercharge your workflow? Copy.ai's open APIs make it easy to integrate your output into the tech stack you’re currently working with. No more jumping between platforms or wasting time on manual tasks. Just seamless integrations with more time to focus on the things that matter most.

AI Translations

Got a global audience? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Generate high-quality translations for a variety of languages so you can speak to your audience in their native language. That way, you can build deeper relationships with your customers and give them a more enjoyable experience with your brand.

Get Started For Free

Ready to level-up.

Write 10x faster, engage your audience, & never struggle with the blank page again.

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

Social Media

Facebook twitter.