SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR INFORMATIVE SPEECH
(Dr. Steve Hunt, COM 110)-Illinois State
Tornadoes

Purpose: To inform the audience about tornadoes.

Thesis: In order to better understand tornadoes, it is important to explore what causes tornadoes to develop, how researchers classify types of tornadoes, and odd occurrences that may be associated with tornadoes.

Organizational Pattern: Topical

I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: What can hurdle automobiles through the air, rip ordinary homes to shreds, defeather chickens, and travel at speeds over 60 mph? B. Relevance: Illinois rests on the boundary of what tornado researchers call tornado alley. This is the area of the country that receives the most tornadoes every year.
According to a 1995 brochure distributed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Illinois averages 27 tornadoes a year. Also, nearly 5 people die every year in Illinois as a result of tornadoes [VISUAL AID]. In fact, according to
Tornado Project Online!, a website hosted by a company that gathers tornado information for tornado researchers, the deadliest tornado in U.S. recorded history occurred in Murphysboro, Illinois. In 1925 a violent tornado killed 234 people in this
Southern Illinois town. Your statement of relevancy doesn’t have to be quite so long.

C. Credibility: I grew up in the heart of tornado alley and have been interested in this weather phenomenon for a very long time. Also, I am a trained weather spotter for the
Bloomington/Normal civil defense agency.

D. Thesis/Central Idea: In order to better understand tornadoes, it is important to explore what causes tornadoes to develop, how researchers classify types of tornadoes, and odd occurrences that may be associated with tornadoes.

Transition: Initially, I'll crash through the causes of tornadoes.

II.