If you're looking for how to create your own informative
speech outline, you've come to the right place. If you want
speech outline sample, go here instead. You're getting
that and so much more - check out my 8 step process for
creating an informative speech below.
This is my 8 step process for creating an informative
speech. So far, we've gone through the first 4 steps. You might
want to go back and start with an earlier page. I'll wait here
for you. :-)
- A list of example informative
- How to get
an idea informative speech topic.
- Brainstorming (fleshing out) a good
informative speech topic
including a beautifully messy scanned copy of my own brainstorming
- An informative
speech outline sample
- (THIS PAGE)
Creating your own informative speech outline
to write a informative speech
- The text
of my free informative speech, and then finally...
- The audio mp3 of this example
of informative speech along with full notes on why
I performed it the way I did.
Creating your Outline
Well, if you've viewed my informative speech outline sample,
and you've seen how that evolved from my original brainstorming
session, and you know why I chose my informative speech topic,
you've probably already gotten your own good idea, your own brainstorming
done, and you're ready to create a spiffy, logical, methodical,
superduper informative speech outline. We're going to do that
by using your brainstorming page.
If you aren't there yet- if you've just been
reading along for more info-
choose your topic and
do a brainstorm page
Go do it! :-)
I'm serious. Stop and go do it right now!
Ok. I'll assume you're ready.
Did you notice on my sample
brainstorming page - besides my awesome handwriting -
that I divided the page up with lines? Remember, the red parts
weren't there originally- I just wrote out a bunch of stuff, then
I went back and drew boxes/trapezoids/triangles around the disparate
sections of content. This is the beginning of the informative
speech outline. The essence of outlining is separating and organizing.
The other thing you may have noticed is that I circled some
- Practical, tool, lens, yin and yang
- Practical was a heading for the section of content.
- Tool and lens were circled because that was a metaphor
I planned to use.
- Under the red 'Part I' section you can also see that I drew
some arrows- these will turn into headers and subheaders in
- Finally, about halfway through the process, I had some ideas
about the biggest topics within the speech- so I wrote the rough
overview outline that's under the red 'Outline'.
- The outline is in order:
- I. Who cares what yin and yang are until we know
that it's relevant to us? and who doesn't want more options
for how to see reality, if that gives us more insight? (always
answer the audience's silent 'who care?' question - they
won't fully listen to the rest if you don't)
- II. But what the heck are yin and yang? (don't
assume they know)
- III. Another slightly more advanced idea (don't
want to get too complicated, but don't want them to think
it was watered down or too simple)
- IV. Practical applications (another answer to 'who
cares' to try to inject it into their daily life, so the
speech will live on, so their lives will be better for it)
A common mistake of new speakers is having too much to
say and thus going over their allotted time. Sometimes this comes
from being nervous about speaking and overpreparing to compensates.
It's mcuh more important that your audience get it
(the most important part of your message) than that they remember
every little detail. Because they won't anyway. They'll remember
the part that makes the biggest impression. That's why I think
my yin yang glasses were a divine spark of genius. It's visual,
it's funny, and hopefully they remembered it. In fact, I'll go
back and ask them what they remember and let you know...
Next, boil your big informative speech outline down to a simple
one- not too unlike my original simple one on the brainstorming
sheet. The process of doing the whole big outline helps you know
what to say, and the little informatve speech outline helps you
stay on track while you're up there speaking.
This little outline should definitely be less than a page-
no more than 5 sections to it, and no more than 3 things under
each- remember, don't try to say too much! How many boring college
professors have you had? Too many!
The most common speaking mistake of the academic type
is to rely exclusively on their expert knowledge. It's the rare
but more effective speaker that translates expert knowledge into
fun, everyday language. I do this in my medical terminology classes,
too, because that could be such a boring subject!
The next step is how
to write a informative speech.
- If you're nervous about giving your talk, or want to know
- Getting the audience into it
- Getting your points across
- Not putting them to sleep, and
- Feeling good about it after you're done giving it
- ... then you need to listen to the audio
example of informative speech and read my notes on the