SPCH 1315
Informative Speech: Formal Outline and Works Cited Bibliography

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Perhaps the best way to assure proper completion of any speech is to carefully prepare a formal outline. Outlines allow you to test the relevance and scope of your information. Outlines allow you to check the balance of your points.

Learning more about your topic than you already know will not only add to your confidence when you deliver the speech, it also adds to your credibility as a speaker. Therefore you are to use a minimum of three research sources to develop this speech.

The formal outline and documentation of research count as 5% of your course grade.

WHAT IS A FORMAL OUTLINE?
A formal outline is discussed and modeled on pages 147-148 of your text. There are five standard outline format principles that need to be followed to create it (discussed on pages 143-145). This is what you are required to make and turn-in for this assignment.

Please do not confuse the formal outline with a working outline (pages 146-147) or speaking outline (148-149).

BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE OUTLINE
Your outline must have four sections: o Your name and a speech purpose statement o Introduction o Demonstrate how the five key functions of the speech introduction will be fulfilled o Body o Using the five standard outline principles that are explained on pages 143-145 your text, state all of the points and specific information that you will be including in your speech. o Try to develop each point so that it is balanced with others o Reference your research (footnote) as you include that information in the outline o Conclusion o Demonstrate how the three key functions of the speech conclusion will be fulfilled

SKELETON OF THE FORMAL SENTENCE OUTLINE
Please follow this as a guide:

SPCH 1315 Informative Speech Formal Outline

Name:____________________
Specific Purpose Statement: ______________________

Introduction: I. Attention: Write what you will do or say in the speech to secure attention II. Topic: Write what you plan to say to state your main purpose for speaking III. Importance: Write what you plan to say to establish the importance of the topic for the audience IV. Speaker Credibility: Write what you plan to say to convey your interest and/or experience in the topic V. Preview: Write what you will say to clearly preview the key ideas that you will cover
(Please note: The above information can be a word-for word written text of what you plan to say. The principles of outlining do NOT apply to the introduction part of your outline.)

Body:
As the body of the outline begins, so do the principles of outlining, detailed on pages 143-145 in your text. As much as possible to try to develop the body of you speech so that each point is balanced with others. In the perfect world, a balanced outline will be like this.

I. Main point A. Sub-point (Cite research source) 1. Sub-sub point 2. Sub-sub point B. Sub-point (Cite research source) 1. Sub-sub point 2. Sub-sub point

Transition: (Write the exact complementary, chronological, causal, or contrasting transitional statement that you plan to make)

II. Main point A. Sub-point (Cite research source) 1. Sub-sub point 2. Sub-sub point B. Sub-point (Cite research source) 1. Sub-sub point 2. Sub-sub point

Remember that you can have up to four main points in the speech. You are advised not to have more than three sub points under any main point nor to get into highly detailed sub-sub points (a,.b. c.). Your speech goal is for the audience to remember basic information. You will NOT be successful if you get too detailed with sub points and/or sub-sub points. You cannot tell us everything that you may want to about your topic. Choose the most essential information, keep it basic, keep it simple, and make it memorable.

Conclusion I. Summarize: Write what you plan to say to summarize the key points that you made in your speech II. Activate Desired Response: Write what you plan to say that will trigger the desired response that you are seeking from your audience III. Closure: The last thing you do or say should bring it all together. Write what you plan to say or do to accomplish this.

(Please note: The above information can be a word-for word written text of what you plan to say. The principles of outlining do NOT apply to the conclusion part of your outline.)

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT
For this assignment you are to reference a minimum of three (3) quality research sources. Highest scores will be awarded to those who go beyond the 3 source minimum. Please note: Failure to meet the minimum source requirement for this speech will result in a failing grade on this assignment

Google, Yahoo, and Wikepedia might be good starting points to begin your general review on the topic, but the type of information that I encourage you to find is best found through academic search engines. So please focus your research effort using the resources available to you through the ACC Library system. You will need your student ID number and password to be able to use some of the on-line data bases. Here is the link that takes you into the central database page: • http://library.austincc.edu/

“I can’t find anything on my topic”, is really something that we can’t say anymore in today’s information society. Information is there. It may however exist under headings and labels that aren’t easily accessible. So please also ask an ACC Reference Librarian for help finding information on your topic. Reference librarians have a lot of knowledge about how information gets archived and the labels to use for topic searches. They know many backdoors that are worth finding.

MAKING YOUR APA/MLA WORKS CITED PAGE
You are required to submit a typed, scholarly works cited bibliography of your research sources, using either APA or MLA form. This should be attached to your formal speech outline. Here are two links that will show you how to complete a proper works cited bibliography using these formats: • http://library.austincc.edu/help/MLA/ • http://library.austincc.edu/help/APA/

Please note: Failure to use proper MLA or APA works cited bibliography form will result in a failing grade on this assignment

• Please also be advised that if you choose to use a “we’ll do it for you” bibliography source to make your works cited page, such as “Easy Bib”, you assume the responsibility for any errors that may occur.

DUE DATE:
Your formal outline and works cited page is due at the beginning of the class period on the day that you are assigned to give your informative speech. Any submissions received after this time will be considered late and scored as such. See your syllabus for the late written work policy.

EVALUATION

The main bulk of the grade for the outline rests upon your ability to follow the principles of outlining for a formal outline, and to include the information specified for the introduction and conclusion. Your works cited page must be done using proper form, and the degree to which you meet or exceed the minimum research source requirement, using quality research sources. The specific evaluation forms that I will be using are posted on the course Blackboard web page for your referral.