Use an Outline

1. CLASSIFY POINTS CONSISTENTLY. Keep the categories consistent. Don’t talk about flowers, roses and annuals. Keep the classification the same.

2. STATE MAIN POINTS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. Make each point as concise and complete as possible.

3. MAINTAIN PARALLELISM. Main points should have a parallel structure. They should be the same kind of sentence. Make sure all the sentences are in the same tense and have the same structure. Key words should be the same part of speech. Expressions similar in content and function should be outwardly similar. E.g. see the beatitudes below:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.”

4. EACH MAIN POINT SHULD BE A STATEMENT, NOT A QUESTION.

5. EACH MAIN POINT SHOUD AVOID THE USE OF THE PAST TENSE AND ALL PROPER NAMES. Points should be put in the present tense as much as possible.

6. BUILD TO A CLIMAX. Main points should have a gradual heightening of interest as they proceed. Good speeches move toward a goal perceptively and definitely. The outline, like a ladder, helps listeners climb to the point of a climax.

7. GIVE ATTENTION TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF POINTS.
In pro and con arguments, generally put the pros before the cons. This meets psychological needs by avoiding unduly negative feelings at the outset. Get your audience depressed, antagonistic, or deafened, and you will lose hearers. When negatives must of necessity be spoken, rush positives in to take their placed as soon as possible. Placement is important.

8. KEEP UNITY. Keep to one subject. Discuss one concept, not the universe. Think of the tree with many branches, but one trunk, not the bushes which have no main trunk. Unity also comes by limiting the number of points.

9. USE TRANSITIONAL STATEMENTS. A good transition alters the listener to the fact that the speaker is moving from one thought to another. Transitions demonstrate the logical relationships between the divisions of your speech. If you have difficulty connecting the major parts of your speech, your difficulty may be a caution that something has gone wrong. Transitional statements are best when they are the least noticeable. In transitioning try to avoid saying, “finally” and “in conclusion.” Try developing unique ways of concluding.

10. LIMIT YOUR SUBPOINTS. Don’t be tempted to use too many major and subordinate concerns. Select only your best ideas and by an act of the willif necessary, carefully neglect all the rest.

I. Opening
II Body
1. 1st main point
a. Supporting material
b. Illustration
c. Transition sentence to second point.

2. 2nd main point
a. Supporting material
b. Illustration
c. Transition sentence to third point

3. 3rd main point
a. Supporting material
b. Illustration

III. Conclusion
After you have your outline. Memorize the opening sentence and the conclusion. By memorizing the first sentences, you will minimize your nervousness because you know what you are going to say. By memorizing the conclusion, you let the audience know when to start clapping for you.