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How to Use Notes in a Speech: A Guide for Speakers

Only one of the following statements is true. Do you know which one?

You should never use notes because you will look unprepared.
You should always use notes because memorization weakens your delivery.
You should never use slide text as notes.

In this article, we identify scenarios where a full script is warranted or where memorization is advisable. For all your speaking scenarios in the middle, we discuss 21 tips for using notes effectively .

Full Script, Notes, or Nothing at all?

A previous Six Minutes article ( how to read a speech ) identified several speaking scenarios where reading a full script may be required or preferred :

You are speaking at a highly formal occasion (e.g. a commencement speech) You are delivering a particularly emotional speech (e.g. a wedding speech, a eulogy) You are forced to read word-for-word by lawyers or campaign managers (e.g. a corporate statement; a political speech) A speechwriter has written your speech. Life prevented you from preparing adequately. (Don’t let this happen often… your speech really would go better if you prepare.) You are a brand new speaker, and you haven’t developed the confidence yet to go without a script.

Likewise, there are speaking scenarios where it is highly desirable to avoid any notes and memorize your speech instead:

You are giving a TED talk (or speaking at a similar “ballroom” event) where you’ve got twenty minutes or less. These events set a high bar for preparation.
You are pitching to investors, potential customers, potential employers, or any type of career-shaping presentation . I would include many academic and industry conferences in this group, although some may have a less rigorous culture.
You are offering a short toast .
You are completing a course speech assignment, and you are not allowed to have notes.
Your speech is so short (~ six minutes or less) that you ought to be able to deliver without notes.

If we eliminate those two extremes (full script and no notes at all), we are left with a majority of speaking scenarios where using notes is perfectly acceptable . These include:

You are teaching a course, which is several hours or days in length.
You are delivering a keynote address or some other lengthy speech at a conference.
You are delivering a lunch-time seminar.
You are addressing a service club or community group.
You are delivering a webinar.
You are doing a routine presentation at your workplace.
Any other scenario where your speech is too long to memorize, but not formal enough to demand a full script .

If you are ever concerned about the culture and expectations for an event at which you are speaking, consult with the organizers. If this isn’t possible, err on the side of caution and be prepared to present either without notes or with absolute minimal notes.

Tips for Using Notes Effectively

If you decide to use notes for your presentation, you still have several choices to make. What medium do you choose? Can you use slide bullets for notes? Does it matter how your notes are formatted? What messages can you pass yourself within the notes? How do you deliver with notes in a way that doesn’t hamper your impact?

Choose the medium that suits your style.

“ The purpose of notes is to jog your memory, not provide lengthy passages to read. ”

Use a classic: index cards. Many speakers–from elementary school students to career professionals–swear by index cards. If this is what you like, invest in a good hole punch and link all the cards together with a metal ring. This prevents the disastrous “Oh my! My cards are out-of-order” phenomenon.
Go big (or at least letter-sized). Some people prefer using legal pads or standard letter-sized paper. The main advantage is that you can fit more on a page, so you won’t need to flip pages very often. For many presentations, a single one-sided page is all you’ll need. [This is my personal preference.]
Go little: sticky notes. I’ve seen a couple professional trainers work from a large cardboard “palette” covered with many little colored sticky notes, each with a word or phrase. As each topic was covered, the trainer adeptly moved the corresponding note to the “done” pile to keep track of what they had covered. This allows a highly adaptive presentation style where you can cover content in an audience-driven order or not-at-all.
Go digital with a tablet. There are countless note-taking or outline apps that can do the job for you. Some people love that it’s paper-less; others worry about the device staying charged long enough to be useful. Having to “swipe” your device back on from a black screen every time you need to consult your notes could be annoying, for you and your audience.
Use presentation software… but do it properly. If you are presenting visuals, then the notes feature of your presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint) can be used in two distinct ways. In the first method, you can print out a set of “notes pages” which combine the slide content with your notes content. In the second method, you can use “Presenter View” to display your slides for the audience and, simultaneously, your slides and notes for you. For a well-rehearsed speaker, this can work very well. (Don’t show up at the event expecting to learn it on the fly!) Finally, do not ever use text on slides themselves as your notes. Audiences universally hate this.

Design your notes for easy consumption.

“ Do not ever use text on slides themselves as your notes. Audiences universally hate this. ”

Minimize the words. Remember that the purpose of notes is to jog your memory, not provide lengthy passages to read. Don’t use sentences; use keywords or phrases instead. For example, you might distill an entire talk into short notes like “crutch metaphor”, “dentist story”, or “personnel strategy”. Verbose notes leads to two equally bad outcomes: [1] lots of reading, and [2] a high likelihood that you’ll get lost in your notes.
Maximize scan-ability. Regardless of which medium you choose, be sure to type or print as neatly as possible. The last thing you need to do during your presentation is to decipher a messy or handwritten notes page. Use the largest font you can, and plenty of white space.
Format wisely to provide clues. Used strategically, formatting such as bold, italics, underline, and color or size variations allows you to convey meaning to your future self.
Adjust with colored pens or highlighters. Let’s say you’ve got a nicely printed notes page, but while rehearsing you realize that it’s missing a few words or some emphasis. A little touch-up with a colored pen or highlighter will fix it. Avoid using light pencils as it can be hard to read and it is prone to smudge.
Use meaningful layout. Mirror your speech outline in the notes. Assuming you’ve distilled each point (paragraph), anecdote, or story down to a few words, these can still be displayed in a hierarchy that mirrors your speech outline.
Organize in whatever style works for you. Don’t be afraid to use any organization scheme that works for you. One of my speaking mentors sometimes uses a single-page mind map as her “notes” page. I don’t think this method would work for me, but it worked wonderfully for her. Experiment!

Use notes for strategic purposes.

Use notes for other people’s words. You can memorize quotations or a short excerpt of another work (e.g. a poem, story, or news article). However, there’s virtually no down side to reading it from your notes instead. An added bonus is that it signifies the respect you have for the other author.
Aim for precision. Similarly, facts, statistics, and definitions can be memorized (and definitely should be if they are used in your speech opening), but it’s often safer to just put them in your notes. Reading a statistic from a note (as opposed to memorizing it) signals that you value truth and precision over appearing polished and “smart”.
Remind yourself to interact with audience. In the past, I was prone to forgetting things like polling the audience, or doing a brainstorm exercise on a flip chart. (I think these items are easy to forget because they are always skipped during rehearsal.) So, I developed a habit of inserting clues like “[POLL AUDIENCE!!!]” or “[FLIP CHART]” in my notes to remind me.
Remind yourself about timing or logistics. When I teach courses that last several hours, my lesson plan includes a rough timing breakdown which tells me that I should complete the first section in twenty minutes, or complete the group exercise by the ninety minute mark, and so on. I insert these timing reminders right into my notes, and I do the same for other logistical reminders such as “[STRETCH BREAK]” or “[DISTRIBUTE 2nd HANDOUT]”.
Spell unfamiliar words phonetically to aid pronunciation. In a 1963 speech from Berlin, U.S. President John F. Kennedy uttered the famous phrase “ Ich bin ein Berliner ” (I am a Berliner). President Kennedy desired to pronounce this phrase correctly, so he wrote the words out phonetically: “ Ish bin ein Bearleener ” (his handwriting is shown in the photograph below). Though I don’t recommend handwriting today, I’ve often used this trick as a Master of Ceremonies to avoid pronunciation mistakes when introducing other speakers.

Handwriting of President John F. Kennedy to indicate the correct pronunciation of several speech phrases.

Deliver with confidence.

Don’t apologize for having notes. It’s okay to have notes. Really! I cringe whenever a speaker apologizes for “needing” notes… not because the apology is so tragic, but rather because it usually signifies a lack of confidence. Prepare and deliver to the best of your ability, and skip the apologies.
Practice with your notes, and revise as necessary. Just as with visuals, props, or anything else you intend on having with you during your presentation, rehearse with your notes. As you practice, add keywords to your notes if there’s a point, a story, a transition, or anything else you tend to forget. If you’ve never used “Presenter Mode” with slides before, then practice!! I’ve seen dozens of people launch into this mode without any prior preparation, and it usually kills a few minutes pointlessly.
Glance at your notes at natural breaks. When you are speaking, try to keep your eyes up on your audience. Take advantage of natural pauses to refer briefly to your notes. For example, when I teach courses, I tend to glance down just after I change the slide. At that moment, the audience will direct their attention to the new slide, so this is a perfect opportunity. Once you’ve finished, bring your head back up and begin speaking again.
Avoid glancing at your notes at critical moments. Your opening, closing, and any other “core moment” should be delivered with confidence, and glancing at your notes at this time will detract.
Put your notes down… if there’s a place to put them. If you carry your notes around, it can be a visual or auditory distraction. Also, if you’ve got anything in your hands for a long period of time, it tends to limit natural gestures. If there’s a lectern, table, or any convenient surface, that will work. But if there is literally no where to put the notes, then just hold your notes in your hand. (Don’t put them on the floor. Bending down repeatedly will lead to awkward moments that are best avoided.)

Put in into Practice

Think about the next presentation you are scheduled to deliver.

Are notes appropriate for this setting?
How can you improve the content of your notes?
Do you have quotations, facts, or other content that can go into notes to lessen your cognitive burden?
Is today the day you will learn how to use Presenter Mode in your presentation software?

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Public Speaking

How to Prepare Notes for Public Speaking

Last Updated: May 21, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Deb DiSandro . Deb DiSandro is the Owner of Speak Up On Purpose, an organization dedicated to improving and teaching public speaking. Deb has over 30 years of experience as a national speaker and has presented at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Conference and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She was awarded the National Speakers Association Member of the Year 2007 and has been published in Writer's Digest, Daily Herald, Women's Day, and Better Homes & Gardens. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 241,213 times.

You have to give a speech, and you wonder how you can give it without staring at a piece of paper. Rather than memorize the words, you can use notes. Notes are easy to make. First, write and refine your speech. Pick out keywords that represent the main ideas of your speech and write them on notecards. Finish filling out the notecards with important talking points. Good notes make you sound natural as a speaker while having a safety net in case you get lost.

Creating and Breaking Down Your Speech

This is a draft. Pay attention to word choice and sentence structure. Make it as good as possible, but remember that you'll be able to fix any mistakes before you make your notes.
Get all of your ideas on paper. It doesn't matter if they're crazy, inspiring, or weird. You have a chance to perfect what doesn't work later on. [2] X Research source

It's a good idea to time yourself while you do this. That way, you'll know when you need to cut down your speech's length.
Learn transitional phrases to help your speech flow naturally. [4] X Research source

Highlight things that worked from your first draft and areas that you want to keep that need to be reworded.

Record your own speech and listen to the phrases and pacing. Listen for any awkward phrases and try to smooth them out in the next draft.
If you know someone who's given a public speech before, ask them to listen. They will have more experience and will be less biased.

Step 5 Break down your speech into keywords.

Making Your Notes

For example, you are speaking about the life of a politician. You can use the word “Military” to show yourself when it's time to talk about their military experience.
Images can also help solidify the order of your speech. Visualize uniformed soldiers marching in unison and you won't forget you need to talk about military training.
Write out the first words of your transition sentences to help keep yourself on track.

Step 2 Mark your notes with timing details.

For example, if you need to introduce your second idea at the three minute mark, write three minutes on the card containing that idea.

Write the words in a pen that's legible to you. Black or blue ink works best.
If you have bad handwriting, you can type out your notes. Cut and glue them onto your notes or print them directly by using the “Size” option in the “Print Layout” tab.

Step 4 Include brief details under the keywords.

For example, write out “award” or “Purple Heart” to remind yourself to mention the awards someone earned in service.

Step 5 Write out information that needs to be exact.

For instance, write down “75% pass” if you need to inform your audience how many people pass a class.

Step 6 Color-code your notes with highlights.

Customize the color code to whatever works best for you.
This works best if you color code while you practice your speech, but it could be distracting or confusing by the time you give the speech.

You can also bind the cards together. Use a drill or hole punch on the upper left corner of the notes. Loop a string through them. They'll be easy to flip and can't be mixed up.
However, make sure the flipping of the notecards is not distracting to the audience.

Rehearsing Your Speech

Memorizing a speech word-for-word is unhelpful because the audience can tell that you're reciting a script. Only use memorization and scripted words if you're painting a picture with your words or you need to tell a joke with comedic timing.

Step 2 Practice the speech with your notes.

Because you are using a minimal outline, your speech will sound a little different every time. However, it'll also sound more natural.

You can time yourself again while giving the speech so you know exactly how long it is rather than making a guess. It can show you when you're going off-script too much. Keep in mind when you give the speech, you're bound to talk faster and the speech will be shorter.

Community Q&A

Research name pronunciations before writing your speech. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
Try to have 3 main points in the middle of your speech so the audience remembers it well. You can back these points up with further information or quotes. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
Look at your card quickly and smoothly. Keep your thumb next to the line on your note card so you don't lose your place. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

When using visual aids, make them sparse and with few words. Visual aids are supposed to be for the audience. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

Blue or black pen
Colored highlighters
Index cards

↑ https://pac.org/content/speechwriting-101-writing-effective-speech
↑ https://wrd.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/1-Shitty%20First%20Drafts.pdf
↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/speeches/
↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/10-2-keeping-your-speech-moving/
↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/editing-and-proofreading-techniques
↑ http://www.washington.edu/doit/presentation-tips-0
↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/keyword-outline-examples.html
↑ http://academics.umw.edu/speaking/resources/handouts/preparing-speaking-notes/
↑ https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/tedx-organizer-guide/speakers-program/prepare-your-speaker/rehearsals
↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/speaking-audience

About This Article

Public speaking can be scary, but using notes can increase your confidence and make it a little easier. To prepare notes for public speaking, begin by writing your speech. Once you’ve written the first draft, read the speech out loud and make any necessary changes so it sounds smooth. When you’re happy with your speech, translate it into notes by highlighting keywords to mark where each new idea begins. Then, write one keyword per notecard. Make sure your writing is clear so you can read it easily as you speak! If you need to remember specific details or statistics, include these on your notecards. For example, you could write ”75%” in your notes if you need to tell the audience how many people pass a class. When you’ve finished making your notes, number each one to avoid getting them mixed up. For more information from our Public Speaking co-author, like how to practice your speech, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Your Complete Guide to Making Public Speaking Notes Work for YOU

by Jezra on December 5, 2019

Whether you’re speaking for business or in a community setting, it helps to know the points you want to make in advance .

And once you’ve done that thinking, speaking notes will help you remember what you planned to say.

Lots of people have been sold on the idea that speaking without notes makes you look more professional. But when public speaking notes are “just right” — when they have the exact information you need — you can speak with calm assuredness.

And there’s nothing more professional than that!

What Are “Just Right” Public Speaking Notes?

IMHO, they’re a mix of four possibilities:

Exact words , for when you need to say something precisely
Bullet points, for when you need to include specific details
Prompts , for when you just need to remember what comes next
Images , if reading isn’t your strength or you prefer to “read” pictures

The key is to mix and match these categories when you’re creating speaking notes, so that you have the right level of notes (the right amount of information) for every point you’re making:

Use Exact Words for Things that Have to Be Said Precisely

Sometimes, every word counts. For example, if I’m speaking to women lawyers, I will make the following point using these exact words:

When the U.S. Supreme Court decided, in 1873, that women should not be allowed to practice law, the Chief Justice wrote: “The natural and proper timidity and delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life.”

Why would I say that exactly as I wrote it? Because I want this point to be clear, concise, but hard-hitting — and using pre-determined words (rather than searching for them in real time) let’s me focus on my delivery instead of on which words I’m going to say.

Use Bullets When You Just Need to Remember the Details

Then there are times when it doesn’t matter what words you use, but it’s important to not leave anything out. In this case, you probably need bullet points . If I want to tell you how to drive from Brooklyn, NY to my brother’s house in Brookline, MA, my speaking notes might look like this:

Whitestone to Hutch
95 to 91 to 84 (Rein’s)
90 to 9 to Chestnut Hill Ave.

Why are these notes so terse? Because — even if I end up telling you 15 things about how to drive this route, or go into a long discussion of what to have for lunch when you stop at Rein’s Deli — these notes contain everything I need to be sure I haven’t left out a crucial step. (And remember, these are my notes. Yours would look totally different, because making notes “just right” means making them just right for you !)

Use Prompts When You Only Need to Know What Comes Next

If you’ve read my public speaking workbook, Speak Like Yourself…No, Really! , you might remember a story about how I used the Instant Speech format to persuade my then-16-year-old daughter to never again come home alone on the New York City subways at midnight. (Yes, she was persuaded, at least for a few months.)

What notes do I need to tell this story as part of a keynote speech or workshop?

Well, since I can tell it in my sleep (I’ve told it often!), I don’t need bullets to remind me of what to include, and I definitely don’t need to write the whole thing out . All I need is a cue word or phrase to remind me of where the story goes in my talk, like this:

Use Images Instead of Speaking Notes if You’re Primarily Visual

You may be aware that there are many types of intelligence, and one of them is visual. If you prefer to get information from images, try creating a “storyboard” instead of a script.

A storyboard is very similar to a scaled-down graphic novel or comic book. A story told in pictures gives you all the benefits discussed above except how to say something word for word. (For the rare times you need to do that, write out your words in a VERY LARGE FONT. Then practice them out loud at least 10 times so you’re not actually reading when you give your talk, just using them as a reminder.)

If You Don’t Know How Much Information You Need, Start with Too Much and Then Cut Back

Often — and particularly when I’ll be presenting new ideas — I start by writing everything out. Then, as I practice (over and over again, out loud) , I gradually cut out the parts of my notes that I don’t need. I’ll probably need most of my speaking notes the first time I practice out loud. But pretty soon, as the ideas start to sink in (that’s called internalizing ), I’ll find that there are whole sections I don’t need to read, where I can just use bullets or a prompt.

Cutting back on excess words doesn’t have to be an elaborate or time-consuming process, because you don’t have to constantly rewrite your notes. For example:

If you’ve written a few paragraphs, but now just need a few bullets, take a yellow highlighter, and highlight the words you want to “bullet point.” (Now you can ignore all the other words around them.)
If there’s an idea that you want to be sure to deliver as written, put a big star in the left margin and you’ll remember to read it. (I use a purple felt-tip pen for this.)
If you wrote a paragraph of text but now only need to see a prompt, cross out the paragraph (literally put an X through it) and write your prompt in the left margin . (There’s my purple felt-tip pen again.)

See? Not hard! And for every minute you spend updating your speaking notes, you’ll get a big payoff in the comfort and confidence you feel while presenting.

There’s Only One Place Where Speaking Notes are “Just Wrong”

As you can see, I’m a big fan of using speaking notes — but there is one place that they just don’t belong, and that’s in your slides. So…

Never put your speaking notes on the screen!

Put them in a Word document ( here’s how to format it ).
Put them on 3 x 5″ cards.
Put them in a chart, diagram, or series of pictures.
You can even put them in PowerPoint’s presenter notes, although that’s an awkward solution that keeps you tethered to your computer.

But please don’t put notes that are only intended for you on slides that should benefit your audience .

Get rid of the words. Put up a great picture.

And let your speaking notes truly be “just right” for everyone!

You May Also Want to Read...

10 Simple Ways to Make Your Speech Easy to Read (for Presenting AND Practicing!)!
Public Speaking Tip 88: Three Questions to Ask BEFORE You Memorize Your Speech
Public Speaking Tip 51: If You're Reading from Notes When You Deliver a Speech, Read with Pride; Don't Hide!

How to Use Notes in a Speech: 14 valuable tips for a speaker

Filed under: Featured articles , Public speaking articles , Public speaking tips and tricks , Speech delivery , Speech preparation

While we’ve already explored the topic of speaking without notes here on my site, I’ve figured I should add a piece about speaking with notes. After all, there is nothing wrong with using notes in a speech, and it is the preferred method of many speakers. I know that there are a lot of times when I choose to use notes during a speech.

So, how do you use notes in a speech? Realize that notes are just notes, and shouldn’t be the full manuscript of your speech. Cue cards can be very effective when speaking in public. Make sure you are writing down keywords and phrases to remember. Try not to look down at your cards too much.

There are many benefits and also tricks to using notes during your speech. It’s okay if you aren’t experienced with this skill yet, because everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re really serious about learning to properly utilize this in your presentations, then I am going to show you some of my best tips. Read on!

Meanwhile, if you want to be a better public speaker, I have compiled a great list of the best public speaking books you definitely should read. Check out these books here

Table of Contents

How to Use Notes in a Speech

When you are using notes, remember that how you use them is more important than anything. Almost everyone does notes differently, so it can help you to ask for advice from a trusted friend or mentor. And you should always remember to let things flow and be natural. If you are awkward and acting less than natural onstage, your audience could feel uncomfortable.

And above all, if you are in the middle of your speech and something is not going as you planned in your notes? That is perfectly okay. Not everything can be planned for, and sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

#1 Identify if You Need Notes or Not

There may be times when it is more or less appropriate to use notes, or not. For the most part, it is your choice. However, there are some other factors you should consider:

Maybe it is required to use notes

Some places where you speak may explicitly require you not to use notes. This also includes certain formats such as TED talks or short toasts. Make sure to find out whether or not using notes or not using notes is preferable at your venue, and for your style of speech.

It is not allowed to use notes

If you are explicitly not allowed to use notes. This may be the case if you are giving a presentation at school, or a speech as part of a verbal essay.

How long is your speech?

Is your speech too short to warrant the need for notes? Most of the time, speakers don’t use notes if their presentation is less than six minutes or so.

Delivering a keynote speech at a major event, teaching an educational course that is multiple days long, or giving a speech that is too long to memorize are good times that it is appropriate for you to use notes.

When you assess whether or not you should use notes, you avoid a lot of confusion when you show up to give your speech. You also avoid a potentially awkward situation. This goes right along with something that I am always telling my colleagues and students: be prepared!

If you are somehow here because you need to know how to give a speech without notes, check out the article that I have done here about that subject. For the rest of this article, we will exclusively be talking about public speaking with the use of notes. It’s important to say, though, that there is nothing inherently wrong with either method.

Creating and Planning Your Speech is a Great Start

Now, let’s talk about creating and planning your speech with the use of cue cards. If you know anything about me, you know I’m a bit fan of planning your presentation out as much as you can. After all, planning and practice both make perfect!

Here are some steps you should take to plan your speech out with notes using cue cards:

Recommended books

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

Jeremy Donovan

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!

Josh Kaufman

#2 What is the purpose of your speech?

Knowing the purpose of your speech is always the first step. What is the reason you are speaking? What cause are you trying to further? Get out a piece of paper, and write the purpose of your speech at the very top in big letters.

This is something you need to keep in mind throughout the entire process so that you don’t lose sight.

#3 Draft and outline

Write a draft with an outline prepared. Make sure to underline or highlight key points of your speech.

#4 Tweak your draft

Go through your draft as many times as possible to add or subtract anything that you need to. Take this time to fix any mistakes you may have made.

#5 Let someone else take a look

Have a friend or mentor look over your draft for you, since they may be able to give you some proofreading tips. If you know someone who is good at writing or is an English major, they may be best able to help you.

#6 Prepare your cards

Then, take your cue cards and write down the key ideas of your outline onto the cards.

Try to select one main idea per card. If you cram too many ideas onto one card, this may end up getting confusing. It could even cause you to lose your place. Also, make sure you are writing legibly at all times.

#7 Prepare for the time limit

If your speech has a time limit, write on each card how much time you should spend on each particular idea.

#8 Number your cards

Number your cards if applicable so you know what order you are going in.

#9 Write Interaction Reminders or Important Facts

As I mentioned before, notes are a better choice than using a scripted speech if you want to maximize the connection with your audience members. That is why it is a good idea to include reminders to interact with your audience on your note cards.

Here are some interaction reminders you could write for yourself:

“Ask Poll Question”
“Change Slide”
“Flip Chart”
“Give Five Minute Break”
“Distribute Handout”

And if you have any exact information that you need to remember, such as percentages or names, you should write this down to remember.

When I give this piece of advice, many students have told me that they are worried that writing down interaction reminders with make them look too unnatural or scripted. But interacting with your audience is just as important as what you have to tell them.

With practice, your audience interaction won’t look unnatural even if you have to remind yourself when to do it.

#10 Are You Using PowerPoint Slides?

PowerPoint slides can be very helpful for a lot of things. And while they can be a great visual aid for your audience, you should not use them as a substitution for regular notes.

Why? Well, this will be too much material for your slides. And the PowerPoint is supposed to be used as a visual aid, not as the sole source of information. After all, what do you need to speak for if all of your information is available on your slides?

#11 Practice, practice, practice

When you are completely done writing out your notes, practice reading them during your rehearsal. This will help you identify any possible problems before the day of your presentation.

When you effectively plan out your speech and your note cards, you will be best prepared when the big day comes. And being prepared for your speech is one of the best things you can do.

Notes Aren’t a Manuscript for the Entire Speech

There are times when reading from a full script is appropriate, or required. But in general, notes are considered a better overall way to speak to an audience. Why? Well, that is because notes give you more of an opportunity to be yourself onstage.

Don’t allow your use of notes to reduce how you are able to connect with your audience. What if you are reading from a full script, and someone asks a question that interrupts that script? This is exactly why your notes should only represent a general outline and reminders, not an entire script.

#12 Use bullet points instead of a full script

Here are a few other reasons you should use notes or bullet points instead of a full script:

Full scripts require you to constantly be looking at a piece of paper, but this looks unnatural . You should be giving some attention to looking at your audience, and focusing on your hand gestures.
Writing out only specific key phrases can help you remember what you want to talk about , while also giving you some freedom to improvise when needed.
Not having to look at a full script will give you the freedom to move around the stage.
You have a guide with notes, but you are not fully committed to the full word-for-word script, which gives you flexibility.

While reading from a full script shouldn’t be completely thought of as bad, I often find that it is easier to talk more freely and connect with the audience better when I am not chained to a script. But the security of having notes or a set of bullet points on hand can help greatly when the time comes.

#13 Cue Cards Help Tremendously

Should you use regular paper, or note card stock?

A regular paper can be great for the planning stages, but you will definitely benefit in the long run from having your notes on smaller cue cards. Cue cards also look more graceful when you are handling them onstage.

Plus, what if you get nervous and your hands start to shake? A larger piece of paper will make the shaking more noticeable to your audience.

Heavy card stock is a good choice. This way, your notes are less likely to blow away if there is a fan, air conditioning, or it is windy and you are outside. However, you should also be prepared to bring a paperweight with you, just in case. You don’t want to end up chasing your notes around instead of giving your speech!

If you are used to giving speeches with a full script, and now you’re looking to switch to note cards, try to give yourself a smooth transition . It might take a little while to get used to doing things differently. This is why rehearsal, asking for help from a mentor and revising your notes many times before the actual speech is good ways to prepare.

#14 Don’t Constantly Look Down at the Notes

Giving eye contact to your audience members is a good way to connect with them during a speech . But constantly looking down at your note cards can have the opposite effect, and make you look more distant.

Throughout your speech, make sure you are putting forth an effort to look out into the audience, make eye contact, and smile. You should also make gestures with your hands, when appropriate. (If you need more tips on what to do with your hands, check this out ).

However, you shouldn’t constantly apologize when you glance down at your notes. Your audience members are forgiving, and they know that sometimes, speakers need to make good use of note cards. Remember, they won’t care that you are using notes , so don’t be self-conscious!

You should not be trying to hide your cards from the audience. If you’re making it look like you have something to hide, you are making yourself look suspicious. Try to treat your note cards like a natural extension of your own hand.

Try recording yourself doing a practice run of your speech. If you notice yourself looking down at the note cards too much, then try making an effort to look out into the audience a bit more.

Is it Professional to Use Notes in My Speech?

After we’ve made it this far, maybe you are still wondering whether or not it is professional for you to use notes when giving a speech. Believe it or not, but I get asked this question all the time from students, friends, and other speakers. It makes me baffled to think that people still believe that using note cards in a speech could be unprofessional.

Listen to me when I say that there is nothing unprofessional about using notes in your speech . In fact, until the rise of the note-less TED talk format, it used to be common for most speakers to use notes during their presentations.

When I speak to students, it seems that they are mostly afraid that using notes indicates a lack of self-confidence. Or worse, they are afraid that they appear uneducated or unprepared. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

What if you were in the middle of your presentation , and you forgot to talk about a key part? It was very important and forgetting it threw you off track for the rest of the speech.

In the end , your audience was confused about the purpose of your speech, and you came off looking very unprepared. Some people just give better speeches if they have notes. And if that describes you, then you absolutely should have notes.

After all, why put yourself at risk of forgetting something important? If you are worried about the opinions of someone else, don’t be. After all, they are not the ones giving your speech for you, and you have to do what will help you give your best speech.

To many, using notes indicates that you took the time to thoroughly prepare. And if you are new to a topic or inexperienced in the subject material, notes can be a lifesaver for you. So use notes without a worry , because it is absolutely not unprofessional.

Conclusion: How to Use Notes in a Speech?

Today, I hope you have learned something valuable about speaking with notes. Giving a speech with proper notes can be a great way to be prepared for an excellent presentation. As long as you are fully prepared, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. And if you have anything else to share about using notes during a speech, make sure to leave it in the comments section!

Are you looking for good tips to end a speech on a powerful note? Check out my article here , for several tips to properly end a speech. There are also many more articles on how to give a good speech on this website.

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How to Use Notes During a Speech

by Allison Shapira | Jun 16, 2016 | Speaking Tips , Writing Tips | 1 comment

Imagine you have a big presentation next week and you’re unsure what to bring with you on stage. You know your subject matter but are afraid of losing your place halfway through the speech. At the same time, you don’t want to write the speech out and memorize it because you’re afraid it will sound inauthentic.

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is: What type of notes should I bring to my presentation: bullet points, a script, or nothing at all?

First and foremost, I do not recommend memorizing your speech word-for-word; when you do that, you spend more time trying to recall the next phrase than you do connecting with your audience. For that same reason, I don’t recommend using a script of your speech: it’s difficult to make a connection with the audience if your eye contact, voice, and energy are focused on looking down at your words.

Most of the time, it’s perfectly fine to bring bullet points with you to a speech or presentation. Because many people fear forgetting their main messages, having the bullet points nearby can reduce speech anxiety. You are able to relax and focus on your message; then, if you need to remind yourself of the next point, you can glance down at the bullet points to find your place.

There are times when it is acceptable to bring the script of the entire speech with you to the presentation, such as during a formal occasion when you had limited time to prepare or a legal proceeding in which every word matters. However, most of the time, simply bring bullets.

Here are some tips for using bullet points:

1. Write brief phrases instead of full sentences: When you glance down at your notes, it’s easier to find your place if you look for a phrase rather than a full sentence. Phrases also help you speak conversationally instead of reading from a script. If the story in your speech is about an experience in Miami, write “MIAMI” instead of writing out, “Let me tell you about some work we’re doing in Miami, Florida.”

2. Use lots of white space: Don’t try to cram all of your bullets onto one page; include spaces in between every point so you can easily find your place.

3. Print single-sided pages: Using single-sided paper helps you easily move from one page to the next, while double-sided notes require you to flip the paper back and forth which can confuse you. Write page numbers at the top of each page in case they fall out of order before (or during!) the speech.

4. Use large font: Print or write your bullets in large font so you don’t have to squint at a piece of paper – it will be quicker and more seamless to glance down if you can easily read the words.

5. Practice the speech with the bullet points in front of you: Speaking from bullet points takes practice as you’ll need to add in transitions and descriptions on your own. Make time to practice giving the speech with the bullet points so you familiarize yourself with where the words fall on the paper.

6 . During the speech, rest the notes on a lectern or table: Try not to hold them in your hand, otherwise they may reveal your shaky hands or you may subconsciously start to play with the paper. Also, feel free to move around the stage, away from the lectern. It creates a better connection with your audience and you can always walk back to your notes when you need them.

7. Don’t apologize for looking down : It’s natural for us to look down and find our place; it’s not a fault or mistake. Simply pause, nod thoughtfully, look down, and keep going. The more comfortable you are, the more comfortable the audience will be.

Unless you’re giving a TED talk, it’s OK to use some form of bullet points – and bullets are always preferable to a script. It does take extra time to prepare, but it leads to a more authentic and more engaging speech for all involved.

There are two versions of every speech: the version you write and the version you deliver. They are rarely the same, and that’s OK as it keeps your speech fresh and authentic.

Take the time to create bullet points that remind you of your main points, practice using those notes, and then focus on your message and your motivation. The more comfortable you are with your message and the more prepared you are when you walk on stage, the more powerful your speech will be.

Wow, I ace my speech thanks to your useful note taking ideas! I will be sure to bookmark this page for next time!

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27 Speaking Notes

Learning Objectives

Public Speaking students will need to utilize effective speaking notes in order to deliver a proper extemporaneous speech.

Create speaking notes to assist with extemporaneous delivery.

Speaking Notes

You have successfully written your speech, now what? Writing and delivering a successful speech are not the same. You may have written the most brilliant of speeches but if you cannot deliver it effectively, your message will not reach your audience and you will have failed as a speaker. Remember that we are aiming for an extemporaneous delivery. This delivery method takes extensive preparation. This section explores how you can prepare your notes and practice for effective speech delivery.

Why Prepare Speaking Notes?

Your preparation outline and speaking notes are separate documents.

Your preparation outline helps you to get prepared for your speech by providing the opportunity to organize and write your ideas in a speech format. This is the “formal” outline you use to organize your ideas.
Your speaking notes help you achieve a conversational and natural speech delivery.

Your preparation outline is designed to help you prepare for the speech while your speaking notes are designed to help you deliver the speech. Using your preparation outline (a full manuscript) while delivering your speech is sure to set you up for failure. The temptation to read the entire speech directly from a manuscript, even if you’re only carrying it as a safety net, is nearly overwhelming. Reading your speech will cause your audience to lose faith in you as a speaker and bore them because of a lack of audience connection. Carefully prepared speaking notes, together with practice, will add credibility and confidence to your delivery.

Once you have created a preparation outline, you will be able to create your speaking notes. Common forms of speaking notes are note cards, paper, or electronic. You can use what has worked for you in the past or what you think will work for you. Practicing with different forms of speaking notes will help you to get comfortable with the best format for your speaking style.

Preparing Speaking Notes

While speaking notes are personal to each speaker, there are several things you should think about as you are preparing your speaking notes.

Keywords : Your cards should only include keywords and phrases, not full sentences. The only exception to the keyword guideline would be an extended or highly technical quotation from a source. If it is critically important to present an exact quotation, you may write out the quotation together with its citation word for word to ensure accuracy.

The “trick” to selecting the words to write on your cards is to identify the keywords that will trigger recall for your speech content.
The fewer words the better. This will help you to remain conversational during your delivery.
You should not have more than one note card for each minute of your speech. If you are using paper, you should have no more than one sheet of paper.

“Best man’s speech notes” by stacey shintani. CC-BY-NC-SA .

Organization: Your notes should help you deliver your content in the precise order that you have planned.

You can organize your notes by speech part (introduction, main point #1, main point #2, conclusion, etc.) to keep your thoughts organized.
If you are using cards, number your cards so you can keep them in order.

Easy to Read: You should be able to glance at the cards, get your bearings, and look back at the audience.

Color-coding is often done to easily distinguish the cards at a glance. Losing your place can be very stressful to you and distracting to the audience.
Use large print. You should be able to read something on your card by glancing, not peering at it. A few keywords and phrases, written in large, bold print with plenty of white space between them, will help you.

For additional tips on preparing speaking notes, visit this website: https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Notes-for-Public-Speaking

Using Speaking Notes

Now that you have created your speaking notes, how will you ensure you use them effectively?

Rehearse using your notes: You will not know if your speaking notes are effective (easy to read, have the “right” keywords, and help you to deliver effectively) if you do not rehearse with them. Just like your preparation outline, your speaking notes will go through several revisions. This process will make your speech delivery stronger.

Figure out how to hold your notes: Notes are a normal part of giving a presentation. You do not need to conceal them from the audience but you also need to make sure they are not distracting. Practice how you will use your notes while engaging in eye contact with the audience and using other nonverbal delivery strategies (such as movement and gestures).

Revise your notes while rehearsing : Your speaking notes may change as you practice your speech. Practicing will help you to know which keywords are working and which are not. You may need to add reminders (click to next slide, smile, breath, etc.) or markers to draw your attention quickly to certain parts of the speech. Revisions will help you to deliver a natural and conversational speech while not leaving out important content.

Extemporaneous speaking requires the ability to alternate one’s gaze between the audience and one’s notes. Practicing while using your notes will help you to develop the ability to maintain eye contact with your audience while referring to your notes. When you are giving a speech that is well prepared and well-rehearsed, you will only need to look at your notes occasionally. This is an ability that will develop even further with practice.

Key Takeaways

Effective notes keep you from reading to your audience.
Speaking notes are carefully based on keywords and phrases to promote recall.
Notes should be organized and easy to read.
Using notes well requires practice and revision.
Chapter 12 Preparation, Practice, and Delivery. Authored by : Victor Capecce, M.F.A.. Provided by : Millersville University, Millersville, PA. Located at : http://publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext.html . Project : The Public Speaking Project. License : CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives
best man’s speech notes. Authored by : stacey shintani. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketlass/5020282015/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Is it a bad sign when work starts handing these out?. Authored by : skittledog. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/55919472@N00/501307681/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Public Speaking Copyright © by Dr. Layne Goodman; Amber Green, M.A.; and Various is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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7.4: Outlining your Speech

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Learning Objectives

Explain the principles of outlining.
Create a formal outline.
Explain the importance of writing for speaking.
Create a speaking outline.

Think of your outline as the map of your speech. It is a living document that grows and takes form throughout your speech-making process. When you first draft your general purpose, specific purpose, and thesis statement, this is the start of your outline. Once you’ve chosen your organizational pattern, you will write out the main points of your speech and incorporate supporting material for those points from your research. You can include direct quotes from experts or paraphrase your sources, and be prepared to provide bibliographic information needed for your verbal citations in your outline document. By this point, you have a good working outline, and you can easily cut and paste information to move it around and see how it fits into the main points, subpoints, and sub-subpoints. As your outline continues to take shape, you will want to follow established principles of outlining to ensure a quality speech.

The Formal Outline

The formal outline is written in full-sentences to help you prepare for your speech because you will be speaking in full sentences. It includes the introduction and conclusion, the main content of the body, key supporting materials, citation information written into the sentences in the outline, and a references page for your speech. The formal outline also includes a title, the general purpose, specific purpose, and thesis statement. It’s important to note that an outline is not a script. While a script contains everything that will be said, an outline includes the main content. Therefore you shouldn’t include every word you’re going to say on your outline. This allows you more freedom as a speaker to adapt to your audience during your speech. Students sometimes complain about having to outline speeches or papers, but it is a skill that will help you in other contexts. Being able to break a topic down into logical divisions and then connect the information together is a valuable organizational skill which demonstrates that you can prepare for complicated tasks or that you’re prepared for meetings or interviews.

Principles of Outlining

There are principles of outlining you can follow to make your outlining process more efficient and effective. Four principles of outlining are consistency, unity, coherence, and emphasis (DuBois, 1929). In terms of consistency, you should follow standard outlining format. In standard outlining format, main points are indicated by capital roman numerals, subpoints are indicated by capital letters, and sub-subpoints are indicated by Arabic numerals. Further divisions are indicated by either lowercase letters or lowercase roman numerals.

The principle of unity means that each letter or number represents one idea. One concrete way to help reduce the amount of ideas you include per item is to limit each letter or number to one complete sentence. If you find that one subpoint has more than one idea, you can divide it into two subpoints. Limiting each component of your outline to one idea makes it easier to then plug in supporting material and helps ensure that your speech is coherent. In the following example from a speech arguing that downloading music from peer-to-peer sites should be legal, two ideas are presented as part of a main point.

Downloading music using peer-to-peer file-sharing programs helps market new music and doesn’t hurt record sales.

The main point could be broken up into two distinct ideas that can be more fully supported.

Downloading music using peer-to-peer file-sharing programs helps market new music.
Downloading music using peer-to-peer file-sharing programs doesn’t hurt record sales.

Following the principle of unity should help your outline adhere to the principle of coherence, which states that there should be a logical and natural flow of ideas, with main points, subpoints, and sub-subpoints connecting to each other (Winans, 1917). Shorter phrases and keywords can make up the speaking outline, but you should write complete sentences throughout your formal outline to ensure coherence. The principle of coherence can also be met by making sure that when dividing a main point or subpoint, you include at least two subdivisions. After all, it defies logic that you could divide anything into just one part. Therefore if you have an A , you must have a B , and if you have a 1 , you must have a 2 . If you can easily think of one subpoint but are having difficulty identifying another one, that subpoint may not be robust enough to stand on its own. Determining which ideas are coordinate with each other and which are subordinate to each other will help divide supporting information into the outline (Winans, 1917). Coordinate points are on the same level of importance in relation to the thesis of the speech or the central idea of a main point. In the following example, the two main points (I, II) are coordinate with each other. The two subpoints (A, B) are also coordinate with each other. Subordinate points provide evidence or support for a main idea or thesis. In the following example, subpoint A and subpoint B are subordinate to main point II. You can look for specific words to help you determine any errors in distinguishing coordinate and subordinate points. Your points/subpoints are likely coordinate when you would connect the two statements using any of the following: and , but , yet , or , or also . In the example, the word also appears in B, which connects it, as a coordinate point, to A. The points/subpoints are likely subordinate if you would connect them using the following: since , because , in order that , to explain , or to illustrate . In the example, 1 and 2 are subordinate to A because they support that sentence.

They conclude that the rapid increase in music downloading over the past few years does not significantly contribute to declining record sales.
Their research even suggests that the practice of downloading music may even have a “slight positive effect on the sales of the top albums.”
A 2010 Government Accountability Office Report also states that sampling “pirated” goods could lead consumers to buy the “legitimate” goods.

The principle of emphasis states that the material included in your outline should be engaging and balanced. As you place supporting material into your outline, choose the information that will have the most impact on your audience. Choose information that is proxemic and relevant, meaning that it can be easily related to the audience’s lives because it matches their interests or ties into current events or the local area. Remember primacy and recency discussed earlier and place the most engaging information first or last in a main point depending on what kind of effect you want to have. Also make sure your information is balanced. The outline serves as a useful visual representation of the proportions of your speech. You can tell by the amount of space a main point, subpoint, or sub-subpoint takes up in relation to other points of the same level whether or not your speech is balanced. If one subpoint is a half a page, but a main point is only a quarter of a page, then you may want to consider making the subpoint a main point. Each part of your speech doesn’t have to be equal. The first or last point may be more substantial than a middle point if you are following primacy or recency, but overall the speech should be relatively balanced.

Sample Informative Outline

Title: The Beautiful Game

General purpose: To inform

Specific purpose: By the end of my speech, the audience will understand the history and worldwide influence of soccer.

Thesis statement: Soccer is a game with a long history that is beloved by millions of fans all over the world.

Introduction

Attention getter: GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOOOOOOAL!

Introduction of topic: If you’ve ever heard this excited yell coming from your television, then you probably already know that my speech today is about soccer.

Credibility and relevance: Like many of you, I played soccer on and off as a kid, but I was never really exposed to the culture of the sport. It wasn’t until recently, when I started to watch some of the World Cup games with international classmates, that I realized what I’d been missing out on. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but I bet that, like most Americans, it only comes on your radar every few years during the World Cup or the Olympics. If, however, you lived anywhere else in the world, soccer (or football, as it is more often called) would likely be a much larger part of your life.

Preview: I am going to talk about the history of soccer, a few famous players and teams and the worldwide influence of the sport.

Main point 1: History

Subpoint: Over 2000 years again in 206 BC, Chinese soldiers of the Han Dynasty were play Tsu-chu, kicking the ball to supplement their training regimen.

Subpoint: In 1863, the official rules of the game were created in England, called the Football Association. In 1872, the first FA cup was played and by 1888 there were 128 teams in the Association. In 1902 the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), and the first FIFA World Cup was played in 1930.

Subpoints: The rules of football are fairly symbol, you have 11 players on each team, and only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball with hands. Each position has a name, but I won’t go into that here. The object of the game is to score a goal while keeping the opposing team from scoring a goal.

Main point 2: Famous Football Clubs

Subpoint: Manchester United based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England founded in 1878 is one of the oldest football clubs. Nickname: Man United or Man U.

Subpoint: Barcelona FC founded in 1899. Nickname: Barca.

Subpoint: Real Madrid CF of Spain founded in 1902

Main point 3: Famous players

Subpoint: Pele is a Brazilian legend of the game, whose career spanned the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and is considered “the greatest” by FIFA.

Subpoint: Neymar is another player from Brazil who is considered one of the best footballers in the world and currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain. He is known for this football skills and colorful and flamboyant hairstyles.

Subpoint: Cristiano Ronaldo has played for three of the top FC that I just mentioned, and he one of the highest paid athletes in the world. Now, in his late thirties, he nearing the end of his career, but he is still an exciting player to watch. And he happens to have the most Instagram followers.

Main point 4: Worldwide Influence

Subpoint: Almost every country has a national football team, and every four years countries are united to compete in the World Cup, similar to the Olympics which takes place every four years.

Subpoint: Football is almost nonstop action for two 45 minute halves. Some people might say how can you watch a game where no one might score. It’s because football is more than just kicking a ball. Players play with their whole body. It’s not unusual for a player to score a goal by punching the ball in with his head.

Subpoint: People all over the world unite behind their team. In many countries, there is the culture of football, which often includes whole families watching or going to games together to cheer for their team. You can play of fun game of learning country flags during the World Cup.

Transition to conclusion and summary of importance: In conclusion, soccer (or football) is an exciting sport that has a long history and global influence.

Review of main points: It’s a sport that is played all over the world. And there are several famous football clubs and star football players to follow.

Closing statement: Cristiano Ronaldo, said “football is unpredictable” (World Cup 2022, FOX) and that is what makes it exciting to watch. Players have to have the stamina and endurance to play for 45 minutes or longer without even a water break. You only need two feet and a ball. We need to stand up and appreciate the beautiful game.”

Sample Persuasive Outline (same topic as Informative Outline above)

The following outline shows the standards for formatting and content and can serve as an example as you construct your own outline. Check with your instructor to see if he or she has specific requirements for speech outlines that may differ from what is shown here.

Title: The USA’s Neglected Sport: Soccer

General purpose: To persuade

Specific purpose: By the end of my speech, the audience will believe that soccer should be more popular in the United States.

Thesis statement: Soccer isn’t as popular in the United States as it is in the rest of the world because people do not know enough about the game; however, there are actions we can take to increase its popularity.

Credibility and relevance: Like many of you, I played soccer on and off as a kid, but I was never really exposed to the culture of the sport. It wasn’t until recently, when I started to watch some of the World Cup games with international students in my dorm, that I realized what I’d been missing out on. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but I bet that, like most US Americans, it only comes on your radar every few years during the World Cup or the Olympics. If, however, you lived anywhere else in the world, soccer (or football, as it is more often called) would likely be a much larger part of your life.

Preview: In order to persuade you that soccer should be more popular in the United States, I’ll explain why soccer isn’t as popular in the United States and describe some of the actions we should take to change our beliefs and attitudes about the game.

Transition: Let us begin with the problem of soccer’s unpopularity in America.

A. Although soccer has a long history as a sport, it hasn’t taken hold in the United States to the extent that it has in other countries.

Soccer has been around in one form or another for thousands of years. The president of FIFA, which is the international governing body for soccer, was quoted in David Goldblatt’s 2008 book, The Ball is Round , as saying, “Football is as old as the world…People have always played some form of football, from its very basic form of kicking a ball around to the game it is today.”
Basil Kane, author of the book Soccer for American Spectators , reiterates this fact when he states, “Nearly every society at one time or another claimed its own form of kicking game.”

Transition: Although soccer has many problems that it would need to overcome to be more popular in the United States, I think there are actions we can take now to change our beliefs and attitudes about soccer in order to give it a better chance.

B. Sports fans in the United States already have lots of options when it comes to playing and watching sports.

Our own “national sports” such as football, basketball, and baseball take up much of our time and attention, which may prevent people from engaging in an additional sport.
Statistics unmistakably show that soccer viewership is low as indicated by the much-respected Pew Research group, which reported in 2006 that only 4 percent of adult US Americans they surveyed said that soccer was their favorite sport to watch.

a. Comparatively, 34 percent of those surveyed said that football was their favorite sport to watch.

b. In fact, soccer just barely beat out ice skating, with 3 percent of the adults surveyed indicating that as their favorite sport to watch.

C. The attitudes and expectations of sports fans in the United States also prevent soccer’s expansion into the national sports consciousness.

One reason Americans don’t enjoy soccer as much as other sports is due to our shortened attention span, which has been created by the increasingly fast pace of our more revered sports like football and basketball.

a. According to the 2009 article from BleacherReport.com, “An American Tragedy: Two Reasons Why We Don’t Like Soccer,” the average length of a play in the NFL is six seconds, and there is a scoring chance in the NBA every twenty-four seconds.

b. This stands in stark comparison to soccer matches, which are played in two forty-five-minute periods with only periodic breaks in play.

D. Our lack of attention span isn’t the only obstacle that limits our appreciation for soccer; we are also set in our expectations.

The BleacherReport article also points out that unlike with football, basketball, and baseball—all sports in which the United States has most if not all the best teams in the world—we know that the best soccer teams in the world aren’t based in the United States.
We also expect that sports will offer the same chances to compare player stats and obsess over data that we get from other sports, but as Chad Nielsen of ESPN.com states, “There is no quantitative method to compare players from different leagues and continents.”
Last, as legendary sports writer Frank Deford wrote in a 2012 article on Sports Illustrated ’s website, Americans don’t like ties in sports, and 30 percent of all soccer games end tied, as a draw, deadlocked, or nil-nil.

Transition: As US Americans, we can start to enjoy soccer more if we better understand why the rest of the world loves it so much.

E. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and there have to be some good reasons that account for this status.

As was mentioned earlier, Chad Nielsen of ESPN.com notes that American sports fans can’t have the same stats obsession with soccer that they do with baseball or football, but fans all over the world obsess about their favorite teams and players.

a. Fans argue every day, in bars and cafés from Baghdad to Bogotá, about statistics for goals and assists, but as Nielsen points out, with the game of soccer, such stats still fail to account for varieties of style and competition.

b. So even though the statistics may be different, bonding over or arguing about a favorite team or player creates communities of fans that are just as involved and invested as even the most loyal team fans in the United States.

2. Additionally, Americans can start to realize that some of the things we might initially find off putting about the sport of soccer are actually some of its strengths.

a. The fact that soccer statistics aren’t poured over and used to make predictions makes the game more interesting.

b. The fact that the segments of play in soccer are longer and the scoring lower allows for the game to have a longer arc, meaning that anticipation can build and that a game might be won or lost by only one goal after a long and even-matched game.

E. We can also begin to enjoy soccer more if we view it as an additional form of entertainment.

As Americans who like to be entertained, we can seek out soccer games in many different places.

a. There is most likely a minor or even a major league soccer stadium team within driving distance of where you live.

b. You can also go to soccer games at your local high school, college, or university.

2. We can also join the rest of the world in following some of the major soccer celebrities—David Beckham is just the tip of the iceberg.

3. Getting involved in soccer can also help make our society more fit and healthy.

F. Soccer can easily be the most athletic sport available to Americans.

In just one game, the popular soccer player Gennaro Gattuso was calculated to have run about 6.2 miles, says Carl Bialik, a numbers expert who writes for The Wall Street Journal .
With the growing trend of obesity in America, getting involved in soccer promotes more running and athletic ability than baseball, for instance, could ever provide.

a. A press release on FIFA’s official website notes that one hour of soccer three times a week has been shown in research to provide significant physical benefits.

b. If that’s not convincing enough, the website ScienceDaily.com reports that the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports published a whole special issue titled Football for Health that contained fourteen articles supporting the health benefits of soccer.

G. Last, soccer has been praised for its ability to transcend language, culture, class, and country.

The nongovernmental organization Soccer for Peace seeks to use the worldwide popularity of soccer as a peacemaking strategy to bridge the divides of race, religion, and socioeconomic class.
According to their official website, the organization just celebrated its ten-year anniversary in 2012.

a. Over those ten years the organization has focused on using soccer to bring together people of different religious faiths, particularly people who are Jewish and Muslim.

b. In 2012, three first-year college students, one Christian, one Jew, and one Muslim, dribbled soccer balls for 450 miles across the state of North Carolina to help raise money for Soccer for Peace.

3. A press release on the World Association of Nongovernmental Organizations’s official website states that from the dusty refugee camps of Lebanon to the upscale new neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, “soccer turns heads, stops conversations, causes breath to catch, and stirs hearts like virtually no other activity.”

Transition to conclusion and summary of importance: In conclusion, soccer is a sport that has a long history, can help you get healthy, and can bring people together.

Review of main points: Now that you know some of the obstacles that prevent soccer from becoming more popular in the United States and several actions we can take to change our beliefs and attitudes about soccer, I hope you agree with me that it’s time for the United States to join the rest of the world in welcoming soccer into our society.

Closing statement: The article from BleacherReport.com that I cited earlier closes with the following words that I would like you to take as you leave here today: “We need to learn that just because there is no scoring chance that doesn’t mean it is boring. We need to see that soccer is not for a select few, but for all. We only need two feet and a ball. We need to stand up and appreciate the beautiful game.”

Araos, C. (2009, December 10). An American tragedy: Two reasons why we don’t like soccer. Bleacher Report: World Football . Retrieved from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/306338-an-american-tragedy-the-two-reasons-why-we-dont-like-soccer

Bialik, C. (2007, May 23). Tracking how far soccer players run. WSJ Blogs: The Numbers Guy . Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/tracking-how-far-soccer-players-run-112

Deford, F. (2012, May 16). Americans don’t like ties in sports. SI.com : Viewpoint. Retrieved from sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201.ies/index.html

FIFA.com (2007, September 6). Study: Playing football provides health benefits for all. Retrieved from http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/medical/news/newsid=589317/index.html

Goldblatt, D. (2008). The ball is round: A global history of soccer . New York, NY: Penguin.

Kane, B. (1970). Soccer for American spectators: A fundamental guide to modern soccer . South Brunswick, NJ: A. S. Barnes.

Nielsen, C. (2009, May 27). “What I do is play soccer.” ESPN . Retrieved from http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4205057

Pew Research Center. (2006, June 14). Americans to rest of world: Soccer not really our thing. Pew Research Center . Retrieved from http://pewresearch.org/pubs/315/americans-to-rest-of-world-soccer-not-really-our-thing

ScienceDaily.com. (2010, April 7). Soccer improves health, fitness, and social abilities. ScienceDaily.com: Science news . Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406093524.htm

Selle, R. R. (n.d.). Soccer for peace. Wango.org: News . Retrieved from http://www.wango.org/news/news/psmp.htm

Soccer For Peace. (2012). Kicking across Carolina. SFP news . Retrieved from http://www.soccerforpeace.com/2012-10-03-17-18-08/sfp-news/44-kicking-across-carolina.html

Examples of APA Formatting for References

The citation style of the American Psychological Association (APA) is most often used in communication studies when formatting research papers and references. The following examples are formatted according to the sixth edition of the APA Style Manual. Links are included to the OWL Purdue website, which is one of the most credible online sources for APA format. Of course, to get the most accurate information, it is always best to consult the style manual directly, which can be found in your college or university’s library.

For more information on citing books in APA style on your references page, visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/08 .

Single Author

Two Authors

Warren, J. T., & Fassett, D. L. (2011). Communication: A critical/cultural introduction . Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Chapter from Edited Book

Mumby, D. K. (2011). Power and ethics. In G. Cheney, S. May, & D. Munshi (Eds.), The handbook of communication ethics (pp. 84–98). New York, NY: Routledge.

Periodicals

For more information on citing articles from periodicals in APA style on your references page, visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/07 .

Huang, L. (2011, August 1). The death of English (LOL). Newsweek, 152 (6), 8.

Kornblum, J. (2007, October 23). Privacy? That’s old-school: Internet generation views openness in a different way. USA Today , 1D–2D.

Journal Article

Bodie, G. D. (2012). A racing heart, rattling knees, and ruminative thoughts: Defining, explaining, and treating public speaking anxiety. Communication Education, 59 (1), 70–105.

Online Sources

For more information on citing articles from online sources in APA style on your references page, visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10 .

Online Newspaper Article

Perman, C. (2011, September 8). Bad economy? A good time for a steamy affair. USA Today . Retrieved from www.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2011-09-10/economy-affairs-divorce-marriage/50340948/1

Online News Website

Fraser, C. (2011, September 22). The women defying France’s full-face veil ban. BBC News . Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15023308

Online Magazine

Cullen, L. T. (2007, April 26). Employee diversity training doesn’t work. Time . Retrieved from www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1615183,00.html

Government Document or Report Retrieved Online

Pew Research Center. (2010, November 18). The decline of marriage and rise of new families. Retrieved from pewsocialtrends.org/files/201.0-families.pdf

Kwintessential. (n.d.). Cross cultural business blunders. Retrieved from www.kwintessential.co.uk/cult.-blunders.html

The Speaking Outline

The formal outline is a full-sentence outline that helps as you prepare for your speech, and the speaking outline is a keyword and phrase outline that helps you deliver your speech. While the formal outline is important to ensure that your content is coherent and your ideas are balanced and expressed clearly, the speaking outline helps you get that information out to the audience. Make sure you budget time in your speech preparation to work on the speaking outline. Skimping on the speaking outline will show in your delivery.

notecards, two pens, a stamp sitting on an ink pad

You may convert your formal outline into a speaking outline using a computer program. I often resave a file and then reformat the text so it’s more conducive to referencing while actually speaking to an audience. You may also choose, or be asked to, create a speaking outline on note cards. Note cards are a good option when you want to have more freedom to gesture or know you won’t have a lectern on which to place notes printed on full sheets of paper. In either case, this entails converting the full-sentence outline to a keyword or key-phrase outline. Speakers will need to find a balance between having too much or too little content on their speaking outlines. You want to have enough information to prevent fluency hiccups as you stop to mentally retrieve information, but you don’t want to have so much information that you read your speech, which lessens your eye contact and engagement with the audience. Budgeting sufficient time to work on your speaking outline will allow you to practice your speech with different amounts of notes to find what works best for you. Since the introduction and conclusion are so important, it may be useful to include notes to ensure that you remember to accomplish all the objectives of each.

Aside from including important content on your speaking outline, you may want to include speaking cues. Speaking cues are reminders designed to help your delivery. You may write “(PAUSE)” before and after your preview statement to help you remember that important nonverbal signpost. You might also write “(MAKE EYE CONTACT)” as a reminder not to read unnecessarily from your cards. Overall, my advice is to make your speaking outline work for you. It’s your last line of defense when you’re in front of an audience, so you want it to help you, not hurt you.

Writing for Speaking

As you compose your outlines, write in a way that is natural for you to speak but also appropriate for the expectations of the occasion. Since we naturally speak with contractions, write them into your formal and speaking outlines. You should begin to read your speech aloud as you are writing the formal outline. As you read each section aloud, take note of places where you had difficulty saying a word or phrase or had a fluency hiccup, then go back to those places and edit them to make them easier for you to say. This will make you more comfortable with the words in front of you while you are speaking, which will improve your verbal and nonverbal delivery.

Tips for Note Cards

The 4 × 6 inch index cards provide more space and are easier to hold and move than 3.5 × 5 inch cards.
Find a balance between having so much information on your cards that you are tempted to read from them and so little information that you have fluency hiccups and verbal fillers while trying to remember what to say.
Use bullet points on the left-hand side rather than writing in paragraph form, so your eye can easily catch where you need to pick back up after you’ve made eye contact with the audience. Skipping a line between bullet points may also help.
Include all parts of the introduction/conclusion and signposts for backup.
Include key supporting material and wording for verbal citations.
Only write on the front of your cards.
Do not have a sentence that carries over from one card to the next (can lead to fluency hiccups).
If you have difficult-to-read handwriting, you may type your speech and tape or glue it to your cards. Use a font that’s large enough for you to see and be neat with the glue or tape so your cards don’t get stuck together.
Include cues that will help with your delivery. Highlight transitions, verbal citations, or other important information. Include reminders to pause, slow down, breathe, or make eye contact.
Your cards should be an extension of your body, not something to play with. Don’t wiggle, wring, flip through, or slap your note cards.

Key Takeaways

The formal outline is a full-sentence outline that helps you prepare for your speech and includes the introduction and conclusion, the main content of the body, citation information written into the sentences of the outline, and a references page.
The principles of outlining include consistency, unity, coherence, and emphasis.
Coordinate points in an outline are on the same level of importance in relation to the thesis of the speech or the central idea of a main point. Subordinate points provide evidence for a main idea or thesis.
The speaking outline is a keyword and phrase outline that helps you deliver your speech and can include speaking cues like “pause,” “make eye contact,” and so on.
Write your speech in a manner conducive to speaking. Use contractions, familiar words, and phrases that are easy for you to articulate. Reading your speech aloud as you write it can help you identify places that may need revision to help you more effectively deliver your speech.
What are some practical uses for outlining outside of this class? Which of the principles of outlining do you think would be most important in the workplace and why?
Identify which pieces of information you may use in your speech are coordinate with each other and subordinate.
Read aloud what you’ve written of your speech and identify places that can be reworded to make it easier for you to deliver.

DuBois, W. C., Essentials of Public Speaking (New York: Prentice Hall, 1929), 104.

Winans, J. A., Public Speaking (New York: Century, 1917), 407.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Chapter Eleven – Outlining the Speech

Why outline.

Screenshot from a youtube video that explains how to build a power point

Screenshot from youtube video.

Most speakers and audience members would agree that an organized speech is both easier to present as well as more effective. Public speaking teachers especially believe in the power of organizing your speech, which is why they encourage (and often require) that you create an outline for your speech. Outlines , or textual arrangements of all the various elements of a speech, are a very common way of organizing a speech before it is delivered. Most extemporaneous speakers keep a brief outline with them during the speech as a way to ensure that they do not leave out any important elements and to keep them on track. Writing an outline is also important to the speechwriting process since doing so forces speakers to think about the main points and sub-points, the examples they wish to include, and the ways in which these elements correspond to one another. In short, the outline functions both as an organization tool and as a reference for delivering a speech.

A full-sentence outline lays a strong foundation for your message. It will call on you to have one clear and specific purpose for your message. As we have seen in other chapters of this book, writing your specific purpose in clear language serves you well:

It helps you frame a clear, concrete thesis statement. It helps you exclude irrelevant information. It helps you focus only on information that directly bears on your thesis. It reduces the amount of research you must do. It helps both you and your audience remember the central message of your speech. It suggests what kind of supporting evidence is needed, so less effort is expended in trying to figure out what to do next.

Finally, a solid full-sentence outline helps your audience understand your message because they will be able to follow your reasoning. Remember that live audiences for oral communications lack the ability to “rewind” your message to figure out what you said, so it is critically important to help the audience follow your reasoning as it reaches their ears.

Your authors have noted among their past and present students a reluctance to write full-sentence outlines. It’s a task too often perceived as busywork, unnecessary, time consuming, and restricted. On one hand, we understand that reluctance. But on the other hand, we find that students who carefully write a full-sentence outline show a stronger tendency to give powerful presentations of excellent messages.

Outlines Test the Scope of Content

When you begin with a clear, concrete thesis statement, it acts as kind of compass for your outline. Each of the main points should directly explicate. The test of the scope will be a comparison of each main point to the thesis statement. If you find a poor match, you will know you’ve wandered outside the scope of the thesis.

Let’s say the general purpose of your speech is to inform, and your broad topic area is wind-generated energy. Now you must narrow this to a specific purpose. You have many choices, but let’s say your specific purpose is to inform a group of property owners about the economics of wind farms where electrical energy is generated.

Your first main point could be that modern windmills require a very small land base, making the cost of real estate low. This is directly related to economics. All you need is information to support your claim that only a small land base is needed.

In your second main point, you might be tempted to claim that windmills don’t pollute in the ways other sources do. However, you will quickly note that this claim is unrelated to the thesis. You must resist the temptation to add it. Perhaps in another speech, your thesis will address environmental impact, but in this speech, you must stay within the economic scope. Perhaps you will say that once windmills are in place, they require virtually no maintenance. This claim is related to the thesis. Now all you need is supporting information to support this second claim.

Your third point, the point some audience members will want to hear, is the cost for generating electrical energy with windmills compared with other sources. This is clearly within the scope of energy economics. You should have no difficulty finding authoritative sources of information to support that claim.

When you write in outline form, it is much easier to test the scope of your content because you can visually locate specific information very easily and then check it against your thesis statement.

Outlines Test the Logical Relation of Parts

You have many choices for your topic, and therefore, there are many ways your content can be logically organized. In the example above, we simply listed three main points that were important economic considerations about wind farms. Often the main points of a speech can be arranged into a logical pattern; let’s review some of these patterns:

A chronological pattern arranges main ideas in the order events occur. In some instances, reverse order might make sense. For instance, if your topic is archaeology, you might use the reverse order, describing the newest artifacts first.

A cause-and-effect pattern calls on you to describe a specific situation and explain what the effect is. However, most effects have more than one cause. Even dental cavities have multiple causes: genetics, poor nutrition, teeth too tightly spaced, sugar, ineffective brushing, and so on. If you choose a cause-and-effect pattern, make sure you have enough reliable support to do the topic justice.

A biographical pattern is usually chronological. In describing the events of an individual’s life, you will want to choose the three most significant events. Otherwise, the speech will end up as a very lengthy and often pointless timeline or bullet point list. For example, Mark Twain had several clear phases in his life. They include his life as a Mississippi riverboat captain, his success as a world-renowned writer and speaker, and his family life. A simple timeline would present great difficulty in highlighting the relationships between important events. An outline, however, would help you emphasize the key events that contributed to Mark Twain’s extraordinary life.

Although a comparison-contrast pattern appears to dictate just two main points, McCroskey, Wrench, and Richmond explain how a comparison-and-contrast can be structured as a speech with three main points. They say that “you can easily create a third point by giving basic information about what is being compared and what is being contrasted. For example, if you are giving a speech about two different medications, you could start by discussing what the medications’ basic purposes are. Then you could talk about the similarities, and then the differences, between the two medications” [1] .

Whatever logical pattern you use, if you examine your thesis statement and then look at the three main points in your outline, you should easily be able to see the logical way in which they relate.

Outlines Test the Relevance of Supporting Ideas

When you create an outline, you can clearly see that you need supporting evidence for each of your main points. For instance, using the example above, your first main point claims that less land is needed for windmills than for other utilities. Your supporting evidence should be about the amount of acreage required for a windmill and the amount of acreage required for other energy generation sites, such as nuclear power plants or hydroelectric generators. Your sources should come from experts in economics, economic development, or engineering. The evidence might even be expert opinion but not the opinions of ordinary people. The expert opinion will provide stronger support for your point.

Similarly, your second point claims that once a wind turbine is in place, there is virtually no maintenance cost. Your supporting evidence should show how much annual maintenance for a windmill costs, and what the costs are for other energy plants. If you used a comparison with nuclear plants to support your first main point, you should do so again for the sake of consistency. It becomes very clear, then, that the third main point about the amount of electricity and its profitability needs authoritative references to compare it to the profit from energy generated at a nuclear power plant. In this third main point, you should make use of just a few well-selected statistics from authoritative sources to show the effectiveness of wind farms compared to the other energy sources you’ve cited.

Where do you find the kind of information you would need to support these main points? A reference librarian can quickly guide you to authoritative statistics and help you make use of them.

An important step you will notice is that the full-sentence outline includes its authoritative sources within the text. This is a major departure from the way you’ve learned to write a research paper. In a research paper, you can add that information to the end of a sentence, leaving the reader to turn to the last page for a fuller citation. In a speech, however, your listeners can’t do that. From the beginning of the supporting point, you need to fully cite your source so your audience can assess its importance.

Because this is such a profound change from the academic habits that you’re probably used to, you will have to make a concerted effort to overcome the habits of the past and provide the information your listeners need when they need it.

Outlines Test the Balance and Proportion of the Speech

Part of the value of writing a full-sentence outline is the visual space you use for each of your main points. Is each main point of approximately the same importance? Does each main point have the same number of supporting points? If you find that one of your main points has eight supporting points while the others only have three each, you have two choices: either choose the best three from the eight supporting points or strengthen the authoritative support for your other two main points.

Remember that you should use the best supporting evidence you can find even if it means investing more time in your search for knowledge.

As you write the preparation outline, you may find it necessary to rearrange your points or to add or subtract supporting material. You may also realize that some of your main points are sufficiently supported while others are lacking. The final draft of your preparation outline should include full sentences, making up a complete script of your entire speech. In most cases, however, the preparation outline is reserved for planning purposes only and is translated into a speaking outline before you deliver the speech.

Outlines Serve as Notes during the Speech

Although we recommend writing a full-sentence outline during the speech preparation phase, you should also create a shortened outline that you can use as notes, a speaking outline, which allows for strong delivery. If you were to use the full-sentence outline when delivering your speech, you would do a great deal of reading, which would limit your ability to give eye contact and use gestures, hurting your connection with your audience.

Although some cases call for reading a speech verbatim from the full-sentence outline (manuscript delivery), in most cases speakers will simply refer to their speaking outline for quick reminders and to ensure that they do not omit any important information. For this reason, we recommend writing a short phrase speaking outline on 5×7 notecards to use when you deliver your speech.

In the next section, we will explore more fully how to create preparation and speaking outlines.

Outline Structure

Because an outline is used to arrange all of the elements of your speech, it makes sense that the outline itself has an organizational hierarchy and a common format. Although there are a variety of outline styles, generally they follow the same pattern. Main ideas are preceded by Roman numerals (I, II, III, etc.). Sub-points are preceded by capital letters (A, B, C, etc.), then Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), and finally lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.). Each level of subordination is also differentiated from its predecessor by indenting a few spaces. Indenting makes it easy to find your main points, sub-points, and the supporting points and examples below them. Since there are three sections to your speech— introduction, body, and conclusion— your outline needs to include all of them. Each of these sections is titled and the main points start with Roman numeral I.

OUTLINE FORMATTING GUIDE

Title: Organizing Your Public Speech

Topic: Organizing public speeches

Specific Purpose Statement: To inform my audience about the various ways in which they can organize their public speeches.

Thesis Statement: A variety of organizational styles can used to organize public speeches.

Introduction Paragraph that gets the attention of the audience, establishes goodwill with the audience, states the purpose of the speech, and previews the speech and its structure.

(Transition)

I. Main point

A. Sub-point B. Sub-point C. Sub-point

1. Supporting point 2. Supporting point

Conclusion Paragraph that prepares the audience for the end of the speech, presents any final appeals, and summarizes and wraps up the speech.

Bibliography

In addition to these formatting suggestions, there are some additional elements that should be included at the beginning of your outline: the title, topic, specific purpose statement, and thesis statement. These elements are helpful to you, the speechwriter, since they remind you what, specifically, you are trying to accomplish in your speech. They are also helpful to anyone reading and assessing your outline since knowing what you want to accomplish will determine how they perceive the elements included in your outline. Additionally, you should write out the transitional statements that you will use to alert audiences that you are moving from one point to another. These are included in parentheses between main points. At the end of the outlines, you should include bibliographic information for any outside resources you mention during the speech. These should be cited using whatever citations style your professor requires. The textbox entitled “Outline Formatting Guide” above provides an example of the appropriate outline format.

Preparation Outline Examples

This book contains the preparation outline for an informative speech the author gave about making guacamole (see third section). In this example, the title, specific purpose, and thesis precedes the speech. Depending on your instructor’s requirements, you may need to include these details plus additional information (like visual aids). It is also a good idea to keep these details at the top of your document as you write the speech since they will help keep you on track to developing an organized speech that is in line with your specific purpose and helps prove your thesis. At the end of this text, in Part 3, you will find full-length examples of Preparation (Full Sentence) Outlines, written by students just like you!

Using the Speaking Outline

“TAG speaks of others first” by Texas Military Forces. CC-BY-ND .

A speaking outline is the outline you will prepare for use when delivering the speech. The speaking outline is much more succinct than the preparation outline and includes brief phrases or words that remind the speakers of the points they need to make, plus supporting material and signposts. [2] The words or phrases used on the speaking outline should briefly encapsulate all of the information needed to prompt the speaker to accurately deliver the speech. Although some cases call for reading a speech verbatim from the full-sentence outline, in most cases speakers will simply refer to their speaking outline for quick reminders and to ensure that they do not omit any important information. Because it uses just words or short phrases, and not full sentences, the speaking outline can easily be transferred to index cards that can be referenced during a speech.

Speaking instructors often have requirements for how you should format the speaking outline. When formatting your speaking outline, here are a few tips:

First, write large enough so that you do not have to bring the cards close to your eyes to read them. Second, make sure you have the cards in the correct order and bound together in some way so that they do not get out of order. Third, just in case your cards do get out of order (this happens too often!), be sure that you number each in the top right corner so you can quickly and easily get things organized. Fourth, try not to fiddle with the cards when you are speaking. It is best to lay them down if you have a podium or table in front of you. If not, practice reading from them in front of a mirror. You should be able to look down quickly, read the text, and then return to your gaze to the audience.

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. – Albert Einstein

McCroskey, J. C., Wrench, J. S., & Richmond, V. P., (2003). Principles of public speaking . Indianapolis, IN: The College Network.
Beebe, S. A. & Beebe, S. J. (2003). The public speaking handbook (5th edition). Boston: Pearson. ↵

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS

Cc licensed content, shared previously.

Stand up, Speak out by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Chapter 8 Outlining Your Speech. Authored by : Joshua Trey Barnett. Provided by : University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN. Located at : http://publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext.html . Project : The Public Speaking Project. License : CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives
TAG speaks of others first. Authored by : Texas Military Forces. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/texasmilitaryforces/5560449970/ . License : CC BY-ND: Attribution-NoDerivatives

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[ tran- skrahyb ]

verb (used with object)

to make a written copy, especially a typewritten copy, of (dictated material, notes taken during a lecture, or other spoken material).
to make an exact copy of (a document, text, etc.).

to transcribe Chinese into English characters.

Phonetics. to represent (speech sounds) in written phonetic or phonemic symbols.
Radio. to make a recording of (a program, announcement, etc.) for broadcasting.
Music. to arrange (a composition) for a medium other than that for which it was originally written.
Genetics. to effect genetic transcription of (a DNA molecule template).

/ trænˈskraɪb /

to write, type, or print out fully from speech, notes, etc
to make a phonetic transcription of
to transliterate or translate
to make an electrical recording of (a programme or speech) for a later broadcast
music to rewrite (a piece of music) for an instrument or medium other than that originally intended; arrange
to transfer (information) from one storage device, such as punched cards, to another, such as magnetic tape
to transfer (information) from a computer to an external storage device
usually passive biochem to convert the genetic information in (a strand of DNA) into a strand of RNA, esp messenger RNA See also genetic code translate

Discover More

Derived forms.

tranˈscriber , noun
tranˈscribable , adjective

Other Words From

tran·scriber noun
mistran·scribe verb (used with object) mistranscribed mistranscribing
nontran·scribing adjective
pretran·scribe verb (used with object) pretranscribed pretranscribing
retran·scribe verb (used with object) retranscribed retranscribing
untran·scribed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcribe 1

Example Sentences

With this new integration, Otter Assistant can now join and transcribe meetings on more platforms, even if the Otter user is not attending the meeting.

Students’ conversations and debates are recorded, transcribed and collated in a computing cloud that helps teachers tailor lesson plans based on how classmates are interacting with each other.

At the end of a trip, sit down and transcribe it into a journal, or just leave it as audio notes.

As in later jobs, he often communicated to staff with memos that were dictated into a recording device and transcribed by secretaries.

Another two years went by before the IRS started electronically transcribing the forms.

And we could make copies of these digital files on our computers and transcribe anywhere anytime we wanted.

Have one friend with the tendency to transcribe her day from breakfast to bed?

This glass is now lost, and I transcribe the verses from a detailed description of this chateau published at Paris.

I shall, therefore, transcribe from his book some of the most important remarks bearing on this matter.

We will only transcribe from it one phrase, as explicit as it is short.

One of her first tasks was to transcribe the just written fourth act of Prometheus Unbound.

A few days afterwards I received from Diderot the note I am going to transcribe.

Related Words

Chapter 10 Delivering the Speech

Using notes effectively, learning objectives.

Know how to use notecards to free you from your manuscript.
Know how to use notecards to stay organized while you make audience contact.
Understand how to develop effective notecards for a speech.

It’s a great deal of work to prepare a good speech, and you want to present it effectively so that your audience will benefit as much as possible. We’ve already said that extemporaneous speaking provides the best opportunity for speaker-audience contact and that speaking extemporaneously means you do not have your full manuscript or outline with you. Instead, you will use notecards. The cards should have notes, not the full text of your speech. This can also be done with an autocue device—the TelePrompTer does not have to provide a full word-for-word script.

We have developed a system for creating highly effective notecards. Our system has been used effectively both in public speaking courses and in freshman composition courses. Surprisingly, the system consists of only five cards. For many people, this does not sound like nearly enough cards. We would make the case that you can do a good job with five cards, and we have seen many students do just that.

The Purpose of Speaker Notes

Using notes adds to your credibility as a speaker. If you depend on a full manuscript to get through your delivery, your listeners might believe you don’t know the content of your speech. Second, the temptation to read the entire speech directly from a manuscript, even if you’re only carrying it as a safety net, is nearly overwhelming. Third, well-prepared cards are more gracefully handled than sheets of paper, and they don’t rattle if your hands tremble from nervousness. Finally, cards look better than sheets of paper. Five carefully prepared cards, together with practice, will help you more than you might think.

Key Tips for Using Notes

Plan on using just five cards, written on one side only. Get 4 × 6 cards. Use one card for the introduction, one card for each of your three main points, and one card for the conclusion.

Include Only Key Words

Your cards should include key words and phrases, not full sentences. The words and phrases should be arranged in order so that you can stay organized and avoid forgetting important points.

One exception to the key word guideline would be an extended or highly technical quotation from an authoritative source. If it is critically important to present an exact quotation, you may add one additional card that will contain the quotation together with its citation. If you plan to use such a quotation, make sure it has central importance in your speech.

Hold Your Notes Naturally

Notes are a normal part of giving a presentation. You do not need to conceal them from the audience; in fact, trying to hide and use your notes at the same time tends to be very awkward and distracting. Some instructors recommend that you avoid gesturing with your notes on the grounds that nervous shaking is more noticeable if you are holding your notes in your hand. If this is the case for you, practice gesturing with your free hand, or put your cards down if you need to use both hands. Other instructors recommend treating notecards as a natural extension of your hand, as they believe it is distracting to put your notes down and pick them up again. Whichever “rule” you follow, remember that the goal is for your use of notecards to contribute to your overall appearance of confidence and credibility.

Prepare Notecards to Trigger Recall

The “trick” to selecting the words to write on your cards is to identify the keywords that will trigger a recall sequence. For instance, if the word “Fukushima” brings to mind the nuclear power plant meltdown that followed the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, then that one word on your notecard should propel you through a sizable sequence of points and details. Once you have delivered that material, perhaps you’ll glance at your card again to remind yourself of the key word or phrase that comes next.

You must discover what works for you and then select those words that tend to jog your recall. Having identified what works, make a preliminary set of five cards, written on one side only. Number the cards, and practice with them. Revise and refine them the way you would an outline. If you must, rewrite an entire card to make it work better, and test it the next time you practice.

Always practice with your notecards—and with any visual aids you plan to use. Practicing is also the best way to find out what kinds of things might go wrong with your notes in the presented speech and what steps you should take to make things go smoothly.

Write in Large Letters

You should be able to read something on your card by glancing, not peering at it. A few key words and phrases, written in large, bold print with plenty of white space between them, will help you. If the lighting in your speech location is likely to have glare, be sure to write your notes in ink, as pencil can be hard to read in poor lighting.

Using Notecards Effectively

If you use as much care in developing your five notecards as you do your speech, they should serve you well. If you lose your place or go blank during the speech, you will only need a few seconds to find where you were and get going again. For instance, if you know that you presented the introduction and the first main point, which centers on the Emancipation Proclamation, you can readily go to your second card and remind yourself that your next main point is about the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution.

In addition, the use of your notecards allows you to depart from the exact prepared wordings in your manuscript. In your recovery from losing your place, you can transpose a word or phrase to make your recovery graceful. It allows you to avoid feeling pressured to say every single word in your manuscript.

Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to put your entire speech on cards in little tiny writing. You will end up reading words to your audience instead of telling them your meaning, and the visual aspect of your speech will be spoiled by your need to squint to read your cards.

Key Takeaways

Good notecards keep you from reading to your audience.
Good notecards are carefully based on key words and phrases to promote recall.
Good notecards should enhance your relationship with listeners.
Using the introduction to your speech, create a 4 × 6 notecard that includes the grabber, the thesis statement, and the preview. Test it by standing as you would during a speech and using it to guide you.
Answer these questions: Is it absolutely crucial to utter every word on your outline? Are there some words or phrases that are crucially important? How can you use your notecards to focus on the most important ideas?
Select key terms from your speech that you believe will trigger your recall of the sequence of main ideas in your speech. Use them as the basis of your next four notecards. Test the cards by practicing with them to see whether your selected terms are the ones you should use.
Public Speaking: Practice and Ethics. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/public-speaking-practice-and-ethics/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Definition of 'transcribe'

transcribe in British English

Transcribe in american english, examples of 'transcribe' in a sentence transcribe, trends of transcribe.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

In other languages transcribe

American English : transcribe / trænsˈkraɪb /
Brazilian Portuguese : transcrever
Chinese : 写下根据笔记或磁带录音等
European Spanish : transcribir
French : transcrire
German : transkribieren
Italian : trascrivere
Japanese : 書き起こす
Korean : 필사하다
European Portuguese : transcrever
Latin American Spanish : transcribir

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transcontinental railroad
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Write out from speech, notes, etc
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to write, type or print out from speech, notes etc Crossword Clue
The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "to write, type or print out from speech, notes etc", 10 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . Enter a Crossword Clue.
How to Use Notes in a Speech: A Guide for Speakers
In the first method, you can print out a set of "notes pages" which combine the slide content with your notes content. In the second method, you can use "Presenter View" to display your slides for the audience and, simultaneously, your slides and notes for you. For a well-rehearsed speaker, this can work very well.
How to Prepare Notes for Public Speaking
Cut and glue them onto your notes or print them directly by using the "Size" option in the "Print Layout" tab. 4. Include brief details under the keywords. Follow the keywords with the details you need to express in your speech. Create bullet points or numbering beneath the words.
How to Use Notes When Public Speaking Without Losing Your Audience
Anchor that elbow to your waist and hold your notes firmly, with limited movement. Use your other hand to gesture. Don't gesture with the hand holding your notes--the flapping paper or pile of ...
Your Complete Guide to Making Public Speaking Notes Work for YOU
Never put your speaking notes on the screen! Put them in a Word document ( here's how to format it ). Put them on 3 x 5″ cards. Put them in a chart, diagram, or series of pictures. You can even put them in PowerPoint's presenter notes, although that's an awkward solution that keeps you tethered to your computer.
How to Use Notes in a Speech: 14 valuable tips for a speaker
Realize that notes are just notes, and shouldn't be the full manuscript of your speech. Cue cards can be very effective when speaking in public. Make sure you are writing down keywords and phrases to remember. Try not to look down at your cards too much. There are many benefits and also tricks to using notes during your speech.
14.3: Using Notes Effectively
The Purpose of Speaker Notes. Using notes adds to your credibility as a speaker. If you depend on a full manuscript to get through your delivery, your listeners might believe you don't know the content of your speech. Second, the temptation to read the entire speech directly from a manuscript, even if you're only carrying it as a safety net ...
To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc
To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc. Today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Here are the possible solutions for "To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc" clue.
How to Use Notes During a Speech
6. During the speech, rest the notes on a lectern or table: Try not to hold them in your hand, otherwise they may reveal your shaky hands or you may subconsciously start to play with the paper. Also, feel free to move around the stage, away from the lectern. It creates a better connection with your audience and you can always walk back to your ...
55 Speaking Notes and Practice: Reminders and Additional Tips
Use a timer - consider writing the time on your note cards to keep yourself on track with the pace of your speech. Allow plenty of revision and edit time - practicing for hours the night before your speech is not a successful strategy. Create a practice timeline that will allow plenty of revision time, editing of your outline, and updating ...
Writing Out A Speech From Notes Crossword Clue
We found 1 solutions for Writing Out A Speech From Notes. The top solutions are determined by popularity, ratings and frequency of searches. The top solutions are determined by popularity, ratings and frequency of searches.
Writing out a speech from notes Crossword Clue
Writing out a speech from notes Crossword Clue. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Writing out a speech from notes", 12 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues .
Speaking Notes
CC-BY-NC-SA. Organization: Your notes should help you deliver your content in the precise order that you have planned. You can organize your notes by speech part (introduction, main point #1, main point #2, conclusion, etc.) to keep your thoughts organized. If you are using cards, number your cards so you can keep them in order.
Taking Notes and Tracking Sources
Use a system. Regardless of the type of materials you are recording, maintain a consistent formatting system. Typically, each entry will include your actual notes, the source, and where it might fit in your speech (a heading or subject, such as "Main Point #2" or "Pros of Self-Driving Cars"). Labeling the subject of a note will enable ...
7.4: Outlining your Speech
There are principles of outlining you can follow to make your outlining process more efficient and effective. Four principles of outlining are consistency, unity, coherence, and emphasis (DuBois, 1929). In terms of consistency, you should follow standard outlining format. In standard outlining format, main points are indicated by capital roman ...
To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc (10) Crossword
Answers for To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc (10) crossword clue, 10 letters. Search for crossword clues found in the Daily Celebrity, NY Times, Daily Mirror, Telegraph and major publications. Find clues for To write, type or print out fully from speech, notes etc (10) or most any crossword answer or clues for crossword answers.
Chapter Eleven
Outlines Serve as Notes during the Speech. Although we recommend writing a full-sentence outline during the speech preparation phase, you should also create a shortened outline that you can use as notes, a speaking outline, which allows for strong delivery. If you were to use the full-sentence outline when delivering your speech, you would do a ...
TRANSCRIBE Definition & Meaning
Transcribe definition: to make a written copy, especially a typewritten copy, of (dictated material, notes taken during a lecture, or other spoken material).. See examples of TRANSCRIBE used in a sentence.
Using Notes Effectively
Using notes adds to your credibility as a speaker. If you depend on a full manuscript to get through your delivery, your listeners might believe you don't know the content of your speech. Second, the temptation to read the entire speech directly from a manuscript, even if you're only carrying it as a safety net, is nearly overwhelming.
Chapter Eleven
Serves as Notes during the Speech. ... Sub-points are preceded by capital letters (A, B, C, etc.), then Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.), and finally lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.). Each level of subordination is also differentiated from its predecessor by indenting a few spaces. ... you should write out the transitional statements that you ...
TRANSCRIBE definition and meaning
7 meanings: 1. to write, type, or print out fully from speech, notes, etc 2. to make a phonetic transcription of 3. to.... Click for more definitions.
to write type or print out fully from speech,notes etc Crossword Clue
The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "to write type or print out fully from speech,notes etc", 10 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . Enter a Crossword Clue.