Real Communication An Introduction

Chapter 13  Organizing, Writing, and Outlining Presentations 393

You may find a sentence outline works well when working on your prepara-
tion outline; as you move toward a final speaking outline, it’s best to switch from
a sentence format to a phrase or key-word approach (or a combination of the
two). To do this, look at your full sentences, and pull out key words, phrases, or
headers that will jog your memory and serve as guideposts as you speak. Sample
Speech Outline 13.1 shows the full progression from preparation outline to
speaking outline.
Your speaking outline should also include delivery cues, brief reminders
about important information related to the delivery of your speech that are for
your eyes alone. You’ll likely want to include reminders to show a presentation
aid or speak slowly at the beginning of the speech, when you are the most ner-
vous. We’ll discuss more about delivery in Chapter 14. Table 13.3 offers a variety
of delivery cues that may be helpful to you.
Another important aspect of your speaking outline is that it should contain
notes for your oral citations, the references to source materials that you men-
tion in the narrative of your speech. After a sentence or phrase in your outline,
you might simply place the source in parentheses so that you remember to give
credit. For example, the key words “SD-financial costs (Skerritt, HBR)” should

TABLE 13.3

USEFUL DELIVERY CUES

Delivery Cue Purpose Example That May Appear in Your Outline

Transition A segue from one topic or idea to an-

other; might be a simple reminder that

you’re changing tone here or a specific

example or story that takes the speech

from one topic to another

• [TRANSITION]


• [TRANSITION: Use dog story!]

Timing and speaking rate A reminder to use a specific speaking

rate, either for emphasis or to quell

anxiety

• [Slow down here]


• [Speed up here]


• [Repeat for emphasis]
  Volume and nonverbal
  behavior

A reminder to raise or lower your voice

at particular points in your speech or to

use particular gestures or body move-

ments for emphasis

• [Louder]


• [Softly]


• [Thump on podium]


• [Count out on fingers]
  Sources Sources for cited material • [Dowd, M. (2007, May 23). Pass the clam
  dip. The New York Times.]
  Statistics Statistics for reference, with source • [U.S. Census Bureau: 64% of voting-age
  citizens voted in 2004, 60% in 2000]
  Quotations Exact wording of a quotation you plan
  to use


• [Dwight D. Eisenhower:
  “I’ve always found that plans are useless,
  but planning is indispensable.”]

Pronunciations Phonetic reminders for difficult-to-

pronounce names or words

• [Hermione (her-MY-uh-nee)]


• [Kiribati (kee-ree-BAHSS)]

Visual aids Reminder when to incorporate particu-

lar visual aids

• [Census chart]


• [Show model]

Source: O’Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein (2012), tab. 13.2, p. 211. Adapted with permission.