Argumentation and Debate Persuasive Speech-Preparation Outline
This is a brief speaking outline that you will use to prepare for a speech. It is what you will initially practice with but not what you will ultimately approach the podium with.
1. This is where you will state your proposition. 2. This is where you will provide a definition of your key terms. You will not necessarily state them to your audience here; however they may be stated within the introduction or as transition statements between the introduction and the first contention. 3. This is the overview/Introduction. This is where you will get the attention of the audience, clearly introduce your topic, relate it to your audience and state your proposition/thesis of the argument. (This will be 10%-20% of your presentation.) a. This is your first contention 1. Your contentions are where you support the propositions you made in the thesis. (It is also known as your first main point to support the proposition/ thesis.) i. This is your first claim to support your first contention. (It is also known as your first sub-point or evidence to support contention 1.) 1. This is where you will establish your first grounds to support your first claim. This may be an example, testimony, etc. It is also known as your first subsub-point or evidence to support your first claim. 2. This is where you will establish your second grounds to support your first claim. This may be another example or testimony. It is also known as your second sub-sub-point or additional evidence to support your first claim. 3. After all your grounds have been stated, this is where you will establish your warrant. Your warrant shows the relationship between grounds1/2/etc. and your first claim. 4. Sometimes you will need to provide backing for your warrant. Backing shows the reasonableness of the warrant to the audience. ii. This is your second claim to support your first contention. (It is also known as your second sub-point or evidence to support contention 1.) 1. This is where you will establish your first grounds to support your second claim. This may be an example, testimony, etc. It is also known as your first sub-sub-point or evidence to support your second claim. 2. This is where you will establish your second grounds to support your second claim. This may be another example or testimony. It is also known as your second sub-sub-point or additional evidence to support your second claim. 3. After all your grounds have been stated, this is where you will establish your warrant. Your warrant shows the relationship between grounds1/2/etc. and your second claim. 4. Sometimes you will need to provide backing for your warrant. Backing shows the reasonableness of the warrant to the audience. b. This is your second contention. Your contentions are where you support the propositions you made in the thesis. It is also known as your second main point to support the proposition/ thesis. You would follow this with claims, grounds, warrants, and backing just as you did with your first contention. 4. This is your summary/Conclusion/Rejoinder. This is where you will restate your proposition/thesis and summarize your argument. (This will be 5%-10% of your presentation) a. You may also include a call to action.
