Public Speaking

Creating a Content Outline (^139)
your A and B headings to the right. Then space your third-level supporting points even
further right, and so on. This partial outline shows alternation and indentation:
I. US ideologies of beauty are affecting the world.^2
A. Many Asian women seek out a surgery called blepharoplasty.

1. Almost half of all eastern Asians are born with no eyelid crease.
   a. Many Asian women desire a crease.


2. They think it is more attractive.


3. A crease makes it easier to apply eye makeup.
   b. However, 25-year-old Tina Quak states, “I think it’s a Western idea” (Yee,
   2008).


4. A one-hour surgery can create a crease.
   B. Skin bleaching products are also common.
   II. One major cause is standardization of advertising across media....
   (Note: Some instructors prefer that you use Roman numerals to label your introduc-
   tion, body, and conclusion and then adjust the labeling of points accordingly.)

Coordination and Subordination

Coordination means that you give each major point the same basic value or weight, you

weigh second-level and third-level points similarly, and so on. The word subordination

has two Latin roots: sub (under) and ordinare (to place in order). All first-level points

go under the major points they support; all second-level points go under the first-level

points they support, and so on. The following outline shows two major points: prob-

lem and solution. Subordinated underneath them are the first-level points, causes and

effects, which are coordinated approximately equally. (For purposes of illustration, this

outline shows third-level points under the first cause only.)

I. Problem I. Individuals who are mentally ill don’t always get the

care they need.^3

A. Causes A. There are several causes for this.

1. First Cause 1. Psychiatric institutions have closed.


2. Second Cause 2. Other treatments lack funding.

coordination arranging

points into levels, giving the

points on a specific level the

same basic value or weight

subordination placement

of supporting points under

major points

An outline is like a skeleton

that provides a framework for

you to flesh out your ideas.

Credit © Tim Timmerman

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