Original Oratory - Pyramid style outline

                                                Oratory Format

(Remember: the best oratories are persuasive.)

Pyramid 1 (Introduction)

                                 Attention Getter

Link to the topic

Significance of the topic

Thesis: state the point of the speech

Preview: what are you going to talk about

Common ground: what does the audience have in common with you;

why should they listen

                                    Transition

Pyramid 2 (1^st Main Point)

(Minor harm)

Commentary: who, what, when, where, why, how

Humorous story

                                    Harm/Point

Transition

Pyramid 3 (2^nd Main Point)

(Major harm)

Commentary: who, what, when, where, why, how

Serious story

Harm/Point

Transition

Pyramid 4 (Just Talkin’)

“I just don’t understand…”

“It seems to me…”

                                 Personal Opinion

Heart Story – touching (someone affected by problem)

Reconnect with the audience

Transition  

                                                            Pyramid 5 (Conclusion)

Summary of speech/main points

Justification

Restate Thesis/ Disclaimer

Solution: What can the individual do?

Hope:  story about overcoming the problem

Closing attention getter (may want to refer to attention getter from intro.)