Sample Speaking Outline – (AKA Keyword/Phrase Outline)
Quick Summary Table (Do NOT delete)
Topic: Active Listening
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about Active Listening
Central Idea: Becoming an Active Listener requires patience, practice, and discipline.
How Speech is Organized: Topical
Critical Note: See the Additional Information and Tips (p. 4) for help in completing this
template. In addition, although the template here includes three main points, with two
subpoints, two sub-subpoints, and two key ideas; every speech is different; therefore you must
adjust the number of these to fit your topic, and your personal style
A speaking outline contains only
keywords and phrases to jog
your memory
INTRODUCTION
Attention: Actions speak louder than words…
Purpose/Topic: The importance of active listening cannot be overstated…
Credibility: My research indicates that most of us hear only 3 minutes of every 10
minutes of conversation…
Reason(s) to listen: Active listening can enhance your personal and professional…
Preview Main Ideas: Increasing our ability…takes patience, discipline, and a lot of
practice.
Transition: Before discussing practice and discipline, let’s first examine…
It is important to indent these sections…it provides
you with a visual reference during your speech.
BODY
Notice the integration and
qualification of a source (when
applicable)
MP 1. Patience is the first key to effective active listening…
Subpoint 1. For example, learning why patience is so important can help the
listener… according to Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton, authors of
the book, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In…patience is…
1
Subpoint 2. Furthermore, learning how to be patient can also help the
listener…according to Fisher et al there are several techniques...
Transition: Having patience is the key to success, but without practice…
Transition is backward-forward
MP 2. Discipline is the second key to effective active listening…
Subpoint 1. According to Brian Tracy, author of Persuading Others, Speak to
Win: How to Present with Power in Any Situation, setting aside personal bias is
the first step…
Subpoint 2. Tracy goes on to say that suspending judgment is the second step…
Transition: Patience and discipline are important, but it’s practice that
truly…
MP 3: Practice is final key to effective active listening …
Subpoint 1. Research indicates that with practice, anyone can improve their
active listening ability…
Subpoint 2. According to Tracy, practicing involves three important steps…
Transition to Conclusion: In conclusion, patience, discipline, and
practice are…Let’s review what we’ve learned today.
CONCLUSION (Summary)
MP 1. Patience is the…
Notice this final transition is a backward-forward, signals the
speech is ending (e.g. in conclusion), and provides a short
summary of the central ideas of the speech, and indicates you
are moving on to the Conclusion.
Key Idea: Active listening includes seven…
MP 2. Discipline is the…
Key Idea: Setting aside personal bias…suspending judgment…
MP 3. Practicing is the...
Key Idea: Anyone can improve…involves three important steps
Closure: If you have a little patience, apply some self-discipline, and practice, you
will…not only do actions speak louder than words, they send a very powerful…
2