Professional Informative Speech Outline template

The specific purpose of a speech is its goal, stated in a complete sentence. If the general purpose of your speech is to inform, then your specific purpose will be a statement of the particular information you will present to the audience.

Example: General purpose in his speech about place-kicking is to inform. His specific purpose could be stated in a complete sentence. “I want to explain the steps in sports-style place-kicking.”

1. Express the specific purpose as a declarative sentence;

2. State the specific purpose precisely. “I want to explain the four steps in soccer-style place-kicking.”;

3. Make sure the specific purpose contains only one idea;

4. Include words in the specific purpose that show your intent. Examples: explain, show, give.

To organize the body of a speech, you will need to: 

• determine the main points you want to stress;
• organize the main points in a consistent pattern the audience can follow;
• outline all the material you plan to use in the speech.

Because the body of a speech contains the most important ideas that will be presented, many experienced speakers prepare it first.