Speaking Outline is a concise, bullet-point plan of a paper, specially designed for an oral presentation without slides.
The Speaking Outline helps structure the customer’s talk: it’s a compact list of main points and the order of delivery, adapted for spoken format (short phrases and cues).
It’s much shorter than the original paper and focuses on logical flow, so that the student, by glancing at it, can confidently speak on the topic for 5–10 minutes.
Steps to Prepare a Speaking Outline
1. Writing the Outline
The outline is created as a hierarchical bullet list: introduction, main points, conclusion.
For example:
Introduction:
Hook – e.g., a question to the audience or an interesting fact (if appropriate)
Thesis statement – briefly, the aim of the paper
Point 1: … (key idea, with subpoints – fact/example)
Point 2: …
Conclusion: … (summary, possibly with a discussion question)
The language of the outline is more conversational than in the paper, and much shorter.
Essentially, it’s the skeleton of the speech.
Its length is usually about 1 page (compared to 10 pages of the full work).
2. Formatting
The outline should be easy to read.
Numbered main points are helpful.
If the student will hold the paper during the talk, it’s best to limit the outline to 1–2 pages, so they don’t shuffle through pages while speaking.
3. Proofreading and Editing
Check that all important ideas from the paper are included — so the student doesn’t forget something they might be asked about.
At the same time, ensure brevity — the outline must fit the time limit.
For large works (20+ pages), it’s fine if the outline focuses only on key conclusions; just clarify to the client that a short talk can’t cover everything and that the outline highlights the most essential points.
4. Delivery
In the delivery message, it’s recommended to include short guidance, for example:
“Here’s your speaking outline: follow the bullet points and expand each in your own words. Estimated speaking time: ~5 minutes. You can start with an opening question if you like (optional). Good luck!”
Guidelines to Share with the Teammates
Quality Criteria
Clarity & Brevity:
Each bullet = 1–2 short lines.
If longer, split into subpoints.
Simplicity is key — listeners can’t follow dense text.
Completeness:
Covers all main ideas — enough for the student to remember essential content, but without overloading details.
Oral Language:
Use conversational phrasing (moderately).
Contractions (“can’t” instead of “cannot”) are fine.
You can include hints like:
“(rhetorical Q: what’s the cost of this issue?)”
Emphasis Markers:
Highlight key data or ideas in bold so they stand out:
“60% students are distracted daily.”
Timing:
Ensure it fits the expected time.
If too short, add an example; if too long, trim.
Ease of Use:
The student should be able to follow the outline without confusion.
Use numbering (1, 2, 3) for main points and sub-bullets (– or a, b) for details.
No complex sentences:
Outline = note style.
Even fragments are fine:
“Result: 15% increase in turnout.”
Consistency:
Include only what’s in the main paper — no invented data or claims.
A good Speaking Outline is like a skeleton covered with the student’s own knowledge.
According to feedback, students who receive such outlines feel much more confident:
“I had a clear outline to follow, so I didn’t panic while speaking.”
But a poor outline can confuse them even more than having none at all — so handle it carefully.