speech planning template

How to Write an Effective Speech Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide

• The Speaker Lab
• March 8, 2024

Table of Contents

Mastering the art of speaking starts with crafting a stellar speech outline. A well-structured outline not only clarifies your message but also keeps your audience locked in.

In this article, you’ll learn how to mold outlines for various speech types, weaving in research that resonates and transitions that keep listeners on track. We’ll also show you ways to spotlight crucial points and manage the clock so every second counts. When it’s time for final prep, we’ve got smart tips for fine-tuning your work before stepping into the spotlight.

Understanding the Structure of a Speech Outline

An effective speech outline is like a map for your journey as a speaker, guiding you from start to finish. Think of it as the blueprint that gives shape to your message and ensures you hit all the right notes along the way.

Tailoring Your Outline for Different Speech Types

Different speeches have different goals: some aim to persuade, others inform or celebrate. Each type demands its own structure in an outline. For instance, a persuasive speech might highlight compelling evidence while an informative one focuses on clear explanations. Crafting your outline with precision means adapting it to fit these distinct objectives.

Incorporating Research and Supporting Data

Your credibility hinges on solid research and data that back up your claims. When writing your outline, mark the places where you’ll incorporate certain pieces of research or data. Every stat you choose should serve a purpose in supporting your narrative arc. And remember to balance others’ research with your own unique insights. After all, you want your work to stand out, not sound like someone else’s.

The Role of Transitions in Speech Flow

Slick transitions are what turn choppy ideas into smooth storytelling—think about how bridges connect disparate land masses seamlessly. They’re not just filler; they carry listeners from one thought to another while maintaining momentum.

Incorporate transitions that feel natural yet keep people hooked. To keep things smooth, outline these transitions ahead of time so nothing feels left up to chance during delivery.

Techniques for Emphasizing Key Points in Your Outline

To make certain points pop off the page—and stage—you’ll need strategies beyond bolding text or speaking louder. Use repetition wisely or pause strategically after delivering something significant. Rather than go impromptu, plan out what points you want to emphasize before you hit the stage.

Timing Your Speech Through Your Outline

A watchful eye on timing ensures you don’t overstay—or undercut—your moment under the spotlight. The rhythm set by pacing can be pre-determined through practice runs timed against sections marked clearly in outlines. Practice will help ensure that your grand finale isn’t cut short by surprise.

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Depending on the type of speech you’re giving, your speech outline will vary. The key ingredients—introduction, body, and conclusion—are always there, but nuances like tone or message will change with each speaking occasion.

Persuasive Speeches: Convincing With Clarity

When outlining a persuasive speech, arrange your arguments from strong to strongest. The primacy effect works wonders here, so make sure to start off with a strong point. And just when they think they’ve heard it all, hit them with an emotional story that clinches the deal.

You might start by sharing startling statistics about plastic pollution before pivoting to how individuals can make a difference. Back this up with data on successful recycling programs which demonstrate tangible impact, a technique that turns facts into fuel for action.

Informative Speeches: Educating Without Overwhelming

An informative speech shouldn’t feel like drinking from a fire hose of facts and figures. Instead, lay out clear subtopics in your outline and tie them together with succinct explanations—not unlike stepping stones across a stream of knowledge.

If you’re talking about breakthroughs in renewable energy technology, use bullet points to highlight different innovations then expand upon their potential implications one at a time so the audience can follow along without getting lost in technical jargon or complexity.

Ceremonial Speeches: Creating Moments That Matter

In a ceremonial speech you want to capture emotion. Accordingly, your outline should feature personal anecdotes and quotes that resonate on an emotional level. However, make sure to maintain brevity because sometimes less really is more when celebrating milestones or honoring achievements.

Instead of just going through a hero’s whole life story, share the powerful tales of how they stepped up in tough times. This approach hits home for listeners, letting them feel the impact these heroes have had on their communities and sparking an emotional bond.

Incorporating Research in Your Speech Outline

When you’re crafting a speech, the backbone of your credibility lies in solid research and data. But remember, it’s not just about piling on the facts. It’s how you weave them into your narrative that makes listeners sit up and take notice.

Selecting Credible Sources

Finding trustworthy sources is like going on a treasure hunt where not all that glitters is gold. To strike real gold, aim for academic journals or publications known for their rigorous standards. Google Scholar or industry-specific databases are great places to start your search. Be picky. Your audience can tell when you’ve done your homework versus when you’ve settled for less-than-stellar intel.

You want to arm yourself with evidence so compelling that even skeptics start nodding along. A well-chosen statistic from a reputable study does more than decorate your point—it gives it an ironclad suit of armor.

Organizing Information Effectively

Your outline isn’t just a roadmap; think of it as scaffolding that holds up your argument piece by piece. Start strong with an eye-opening factoid to hook your audience right off the bat because first impressions matter—even in speeches.

To keep things digestible, group related ideas together under clear subheadings within your outline. Stick to presenting data that backs up each key idea without wandering down tangential paths. That way, everyone stays on track.

Making Data Relatable

Sure, numbers don’t lie but they can be hard to connect to. If you plan on using stats in your speech, make them meaningful by connecting them to relatable scenarios or outcomes people care about deeply. For instance, if you’re talking health statistics, relate them back to someone’s loved ones or local hospitals. By making the personal connection for your audience, you’ll get their attention.

The trick is using these nuggets strategically throughout your talk, not dumping them all at once but rather placing each one carefully where its impact will be greatest.

Imagine your speech as a road trip. Without smooth roads and clear signs, the journey gets bumpy, and passengers might miss the scenery along the way. That’s where transitions come in. They’re like your speech’s traffic signals guiding listeners from one point to another.

Crafting Seamless Bridges Between Ideas

Transitions are more than just linguistic filler. They’re strategic connectors that carry an audience smoothly through your narrative. Start by using phrases like “on top of this” or “let’s consider,” which help you pivot naturally between points without losing momentum.

To weave these seamlessly into your outline, map out each major turn beforehand to ensure no idea is left stranded on a tangent.

Making Use of Transitional Phrases Wisely

Be cautious: overusing transitional phrases can clutter up your speech faster than rush hour traffic. Striking a balance is key—think about how often you’d want to see signposts on a highway. Enough to keep you confident but not so many that it feels overwhelming.

Pick pivotal moments for transitions when shifting gears from one major topic to another or introducing contrasting information. A little direction at critical junctures keeps everyone onboard and attentive.

Leveraging Pauses as Transition Tools

Sometimes silence speaks louder than words, and pauses are powerful tools for transitioning thoughts. A well-timed pause lets ideas resonate and gives audiences time to digest complex information before moving forward again.

This approach also allows speakers some breathing room themselves—the chance to regroup mentally before diving into their next point with renewed vigor.

Connecting Emotional Threads Throughout Your Speech

Last but not least, don’t forget emotional continuity, that intangible thread pulling heartstrings from start-to-finish. Even if topics shift drastically, maintaining an underlying emotional connection ensures everything flows together cohesively within the larger tapestry of your message.

Techniques for Emphasizing Key Points in Your Speech Outline

When you’re crafting your speech outline, shine a spotlight on what matters most so that your audience doesn’t miss your key points.

Bold and Italicize for Impact

You wouldn’t whisper your punchline in a crowded room. Similarly, why let your main ideas get lost in a sea of text? Use bold or italics to give those lines extra weight. This visual cue signals importance, so when you glance at your notes during delivery, you’ll know to emphasize those main ideas.

Analogies That Stick

A good analogy is like super glue—it makes anything stick. Weave them into your outline and watch as complex concepts become crystal clear. But remember: choose analogies that resonate with your target audience’s experiences or interests. The closer home it hits, the longer it lingers.

The Power of Repetition

If something’s important say it again. And maybe even once more after that—with flair. Repetition can feel redundant on paper, but audiences often need to hear critical messages several times before they take root.

Keep these strategies in mind when you’re ready to dive into your outline. You’ll transform those core ideas into memorable insights before you know it.

Picture this: you’re delivering a speech, and just as you’re about to reach the end, your time’s up. Ouch! Let’s make sure that never happens. Crafting an outline is not only about what to say but also how long to say it.

Finding Balance in Section Lengths

An outline isn’t just bullet points; it’s a roadmap for pacing. When outlining your speech, make sure to decide how much time you’d like to give each of your main points. You might even consider setting specific timers during rehearsals to get a real feel for each part’s duration. Generally speaking, you should allot a fairly equal amount of time for each to keep things balanced.

The Magic of Mini Milestones

To stay on track, a savvy speaker will mark time stamps or “mini milestones” on their outline. These time stamps give the speaker an idea of where should be in their speech by the time, say, 15 minutes has passed. If by checkpoint three you should be 15 minutes deep and instead you’re hitting 20 minutes, it’s time to pick up the pace or trim some fat from earlier sections. This approach helps you stay on track without having to glance at the clock after every sentence.

Utilizing Visual Aids and Multimedia in Your Outline

Pictures speak louder than words, especially when you’re on stage. Think about it: How many times have you sat through a presentation that felt like an eternity of endless bullet points? Now imagine if instead, there was a vibrant image or a short video clip to break up the monotony—it’s game-changing. That’s why integrating visual aids and multimedia into your speech outline isn’t just smart. It’s crucial for keeping your audience locked in.

Choosing Effective Visuals

Selecting the right visuals is not about flooding your slides with random images but finding those that truly amplify your message. Say you’re talking about climate change. In this case, a graph showing rising global temperatures can hit hard and illustrate your chosen statistic clearly. Remember, simplicity reigns supreme; one powerful image will always trump a cluttered collage.

Multimedia Magic

Videos are another ace up your sleeve. They can deliver testimonials more powerfully than quotes or transport viewers to places mere descriptions cannot reach. But be warned—timing is everything. Keep clips short and sweet because no one came to watch a movie—they came to hear you . You might highlight innovations using short video snippets, ensuring these moments serve as compelling punctuations rather than pauses in your narrative.

The Power of Sound

We often forget audio when we think multimedia, yet sound can evoke emotions and set tones subtly yet effectively. Think striking chords for dramatic effect or nature sounds for storytelling depth during environmental talks.

Audiences crave experiences they’ll remember long after they leave their seats. With well-chosen visuals and gripping multimedia elements woven thoughtfully into every section of your speech outline, you’ll give them exactly that.

Rehearsing with Your Speech Outline

When you’re gearing up to take the stage, your speech outline is a great tool to practice with. With a little preparation, you’ll give a performance that feels both natural and engaging.

Familiarizing Yourself with Content

To start off strong, get cozy with your outline’s content. Read through your outline aloud multiple times until the flow of words feels smooth. This will help make sure that when showtime comes around, you can deliver those lines without tripping over tough transitions or complex concepts.

Beyond mere memorization, understanding the heart behind each point allows you to speak from a place of confidence. You know this stuff—you wrote it. Now let’s bring that knowledge front and center in an authentic way.

Mimicking Presentation Conditions

Rehearsing under conditions similar to those expected during the actual presentation pays off big time. Are you going to stand or roam about? Will there be a podium? Think about these details and simulate them during rehearsal because comfort breeds confidence—and we’re all about boosting confidence.

If technology plays its part in your talk, don’t leave them out of rehearsals either. The last thing anyone needs is tech trouble during their talk.

Perfecting Pace Through Practice

Pacing matters big time when speaking. Use timed rehearsals to nail down timing. Adjust speed as needed but remember: clarity trumps velocity every single time.

You want people hanging onto every word, which is hard to do if you’re talking so fast they can barely make out what you’re saying. During rehearsals, find balance between pacing and comprehension; they should go hand-in-hand.

Finalizing Your Speech Outline for Presentation

You’ve poured hours into crafting your speech, shaping each word and idea with precision. Now, it’s time to tighten the nuts and bolts. Finalizing your outline isn’t just about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. It’s about making sure your message sticks like a perfectly thrown dart.

Reviewing Your Content for Clarity

Your first task is to strip away any fluff that might cloud your core message. Read through every point in your outline with a critical eye. Think of yourself as an editor on a mission to cut out anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you can explain each concept clearly without needing extra words or complex jargon. If not, simplify.

Strengthening Your Argument

The meat of any good presentation lies in its argument, the why behind what you’re saying. Strengthen yours by ensuring every claim has iron-clad backing—a stat here, an expert quote there. Let this be more than just facts tossed at an audience; weave them into stories they’ll remember long after they leave their seats.

Crafting Memorable Takeaways

Audiences may forget details but never how you made them feel—or think. Embed memorable takeaways throughout your outline so when folks step out into fresh air post-talk, they carry bits of wisdom with them.

This could mean distilling complex ideas down to pithy phrases or ending sections with punchy lines that resonate. It’s these golden nuggets people will mine for later reflection.

FAQs on Speech Outlines

How do you write a speech outline.

To craft an outline, jot down your main ideas, arrange them logically, and add supporting points beneath each.

What are the 3 main parts of a speech outline?

An effective speech has three core parts: an engaging introduction, a content-rich body, and a memorable conclusion.

What are the three features of a good speech outline?

A strong outline is clear, concise, and structured in logical sequence to maximize impact on listeners.

What is a working outline for a speech?

A working outline serves as your blueprint while preparing. It’s detailed but flexible enough to adjust as needed.

Crafting a speech outline is like drawing your map before the journey. It starts with structure and flows into customization for different types of talks. Remember, research and evidence are your compass—they guide you to credibility. Transitions act as bridges, connecting one idea to another smoothly. Key points? They’re landmarks so make them shine.

When delivering your speech, keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself so that every word counts.

Multimedia turns a good talk into a great show. Rehearsing polishes that gem of a presentation until it sparkles.

Last up: fine-tuning your speech outline means you step out confident, ready to deliver something memorable because this isn’t just any roadmap—it’s yours.

• Last Updated: March 5, 2024

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Persuasive Speech Outline, with Examples

March 17, 2021 - Gini Beqiri

A persuasive speech is a speech that is given with the intention of convincing the audience to believe or do something. This could be virtually anything – voting, organ donation, recycling, and so on.

A successful persuasive speech effectively convinces the audience to your point of view, providing you come across as trustworthy and knowledgeable about the topic you’re discussing.

So, how do you start convincing a group of strangers to share your opinion? And how do you connect with them enough to earn their trust?

Topics for your persuasive speech

We’ve made a list of persuasive speech topics you could use next time you’re asked to give one. The topics are thought-provoking and things which many people have an opinion on.

When using any of our persuasive speech ideas, make sure you have a solid knowledge about the topic you’re speaking about – and make sure you discuss counter arguments too.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• All school children should wear a uniform
• Facebook is making people more socially anxious
• It should be illegal to drive over the age of 80
• Lying isn’t always wrong
• The case for organ donation

Read our full list of  75 persuasive speech topics and ideas .

Preparation: Consider your audience

As with any speech, preparation is crucial. Before you put pen to paper, think about what you want to achieve with your speech. This will help organise your thoughts as you realistically can only cover 2-4 main points before your  audience get bored .

It’s also useful to think about who your audience are at this point. If they are unlikely to know much about your topic then you’ll need to factor in context of your topic when planning the structure and length of your speech. You should also consider their:

• Cultural or religious backgrounds
• Shared concerns, attitudes and problems
• Shared interests, beliefs and hopes
• Baseline attitude – are they hostile, neutral, or open to change?

The factors above will all determine the approach you take to writing your speech. For example, if your topic is about childhood obesity, you could begin with a story about your own children or a shared concern every parent has. This would suit an audience who are more likely to be parents than young professionals who have only just left college.

Remember the 3 main approaches to persuade others

There are three main approaches used to persuade others:

The ethos approach appeals to the audience’s ethics and morals, such as what is the ‘right thing’ to do for humanity, saving the environment, etc.

Pathos persuasion is when you appeal to the audience’s emotions, such as when you  tell a story  that makes them the main character in a difficult situation.

The logos approach to giving a persuasive speech is when you appeal to the audience’s logic – ie. your speech is essentially more driven by facts and logic. The benefit of this technique is that your point of view becomes virtually indisputable because you make the audience feel that only your view is the logical one.

• Ethos, Pathos, Logos: 3 Pillars of Public Speaking and Persuasion

Ideas for your persuasive speech outline

1. structure of your persuasive speech.

The opening and closing of speech are the most important. Consider these carefully when thinking about your persuasive speech outline. A  strong opening  ensures you have the audience’s attention from the start and gives them a positive first impression of you.

You’ll want to  start with a strong opening  such as an attention grabbing statement, statistic of fact. These are usually dramatic or shocking, such as:

Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat – Jamie Oliver

Another good way of starting a persuasive speech is to include your audience in the picture you’re trying to paint. By making them part of the story, you’re embedding an emotional connection between them and your speech.

You could do this in a more toned-down way by talking about something you know that your audience has in common with you. It’s also helpful at this point to include your credentials in a persuasive speech to gain your audience’s trust.

Obama would spend hours with his team working on the opening and closing statements of his speech.

2. Stating your argument

You should  pick between 2 and 4 themes  to discuss during your speech so that you have enough time to explain your viewpoint and convince your audience to the same way of thinking.

It’s important that each of your points transitions seamlessly into the next one so that your speech has a logical flow. Work on your  connecting sentences  between each of your themes so that your speech is easy to listen to.

Your argument should be backed up by objective research and not purely your subjective opinion. Use examples, analogies, and stories so that the audience can relate more easily to your topic, and therefore are more likely to be persuaded to your point of view.

3. Addressing counter-arguments

Any balanced theory or thought  addresses and disputes counter-arguments  made against it. By addressing these, you’ll strengthen your persuasive speech by refuting your audience’s objections and you’ll show that you are knowledgeable to other thoughts on the topic.

When describing an opposing point of view, don’t explain it in a bias way – explain it in the same way someone who holds that view would describe it. That way, you won’t irritate members of your audience who disagree with you and you’ll show that you’ve reached your point of view through reasoned judgement. Simply identify any counter-argument and pose explanations against them.

• Complete Guide to Debating

4. Closing your speech

Your closing line of your speech is your last chance to convince your audience about what you’re saying. It’s also most likely to be the sentence they remember most about your entire speech so make sure it’s a good one!

The most effective persuasive speeches end  with a  call to action . For example, if you’ve been speaking about organ donation, your call to action might be asking the audience to register as donors.

Practice answering AI questions on your speech and get  feedback on your performance .

If audience members ask you questions, make sure you listen carefully and respectfully to the full question. Don’t interject in the middle of a question or become defensive.

You should show that you have carefully considered their viewpoint and refute it in an objective way (if you have opposing opinions). Ensure you remain patient, friendly and polite at all times.

Example 1: Persuasive speech outline

This example is from the Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Specific purpose

To persuade my audience to start walking in order to improve their health.

Central idea

Regular walking can improve both your mental and physical health.

Introduction

Let’s be honest, we lead an easy life: automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, T.V. remote controls, automatic garage door openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners, etc., etc. etc. We live in a time-saving, energy-saving, convenient society. It’s a wonderful life. Or is it?

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Example 2: Persuasive speech

Tips for delivering your persuasive speech

• Practice, practice, and practice some more . Record yourself speaking and listen for any nervous habits you have such as a nervous laugh, excessive use of filler words, or speaking too quickly.
• Show confident body language . Stand with your legs hip width apart with your shoulders centrally aligned. Ground your feet to the floor and place your hands beside your body so that hand gestures come freely. Your audience won’t be convinced about your argument if you don’t sound confident in it. Find out more about  confident body language here .
• Don’t memorise your speech word-for-word  or read off a script. If you memorise your persuasive speech, you’ll sound less authentic and panic if you lose your place. Similarly, if you read off a script you won’t sound genuine and you won’t be able to connect with the audience by  making eye contact . In turn, you’ll come across as less trustworthy and knowledgeable. You could simply remember your key points instead, or learn your opening and closing sentences.
• Remember to use facial expressions when storytelling  – they make you more relatable. By sharing a personal story you’ll more likely be speaking your truth which will help you build a connection with the audience too. Facial expressions help bring your story to life and transport the audience into your situation.
• Keep your speech as concise as possible . When practicing the delivery, see if you can edit it to have the same meaning but in a more succinct way. This will keep the audience engaged.

The best persuasive speech ideas are those that spark a level of controversy. However, a public speech is not the time to express an opinion that is considered outside the norm. If in doubt, play it safe and stick to topics that divide opinions about 50-50.

Bear in mind who your audience are and plan your persuasive speech outline accordingly, with researched evidence to support your argument. It’s important to consider counter-arguments to show that you are knowledgeable about the topic as a whole and not bias towards your own line of thought.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

How to Write an Outline for a Persuasive Speech, with Examples

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Persuasive speeches are one of the three most used speeches in our daily lives. Persuasive speech is used when presenters decide to convince their presentation or ideas to their listeners. A compelling speech aims to persuade the listener to believe in a particular point of view. One of the most iconic examples is Martin Luther King’s ‘I had a dream’ speech on the 28th of August 1963.

In this article:

What is Persuasive Speech?

Here are some steps to follow:, persuasive speech outline, final thoughts.

Persuasive speech is a written and delivered essay to convince people of the speaker’s viewpoint or ideas. Persuasive speaking is the type of speaking people engage in the most. This type of speech has a broad spectrum, from arguing about politics to talking about what to have for dinner. Persuasive speaking is highly connected to the audience, as in a sense, the speaker has to meet the audience halfway.

Persuasive Speech Preparation

Persuasive speech preparation doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you select your topic wisely and prepare thoroughly.

1. Select a Topic and Angle

Come up with a controversial topic that will spark a heated debate, regardless of your position. This could be about anything. Choose a topic that you are passionate about. Select a particular angle to focus on to ensure that your topic isn’t too broad. Research the topic thoroughly, focussing on key facts, arguments for and against your angle, and background.

2. Define Your Persuasive Goal

Once you have chosen your topic, it’s time to decide what your goal is to persuade the audience. Are you trying to persuade them in favor of a certain position or issue? Are you hoping that they change their behavior or an opinion due to your speech? Do you want them to decide to purchase something or donate money to a cause? Knowing your goal will help you make wise decisions about approaching writing and presenting your speech.

3. Analyze the Audience

Understanding your audience’s perspective is critical anytime that you are writing a speech. This is even more important when it comes to a persuasive speech because not only are you wanting to get the audience to listen to you, but you are also hoping for them to take a particular action in response to your speech. First, consider who is in the audience. Consider how the audience members are likely to perceive the topic you are speaking on to better relate to them on the subject. Grasp the obstacles audience members face or have regarding the topic so you can build appropriate persuasive arguments to overcome these obstacles.

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4. Build an Effective Persuasive Argument

Once you have a clear goal, you are knowledgeable about the topic and, have insights regarding your audience, you will be ready to build an effective persuasive argument to deliver in the form of a persuasive speech. 

Start by deciding what persuasive techniques are likely to help you persuade your audience. Would an emotional and psychological appeal to your audience help persuade them? Is there a good way to sway the audience with logic and reason? Is it possible that a bandwagon appeal might be effective?

5. Outline Your Speech

Once you know which persuasive strategies are most likely to be effective, your next step is to create a keyword outline to organize your main points and structure your persuasive speech for maximum impact on the audience.

Start strong, letting your audience know what your topic is, why it matters and, what you hope to achieve at the end of your speech. List your main points, thoroughly covering each point, being sure to build the argument for your position and overcome opposing perspectives. Conclude your speech by appealing to your audience to act in a way that will prove that you persuaded them successfully. Motivation is a big part of persuasion.

6. Deliver a Winning Speech

Select appropriate visual aids to share with your audiences, such as graphs, photos, or illustrations. Practice until you can deliver your speech confidently. Maintain eye contact, project your voice and, avoid using filler words or any form of vocal interference. Let your passion for the subject shine through. Your enthusiasm may be what sways the audience. 

Topic: What topic are you trying to persuade your audience on?

Specific Purpose:  

Central idea:

• Attention grabber – This is potentially the most crucial line. If the audience doesn’t like the opening line, they might be less inclined to listen to the rest of your speech.
• Thesis – This statement is used to inform the audience of the speaker’s mindset and try to get the audience to see the issue their way.
• Qualifications – Tell the audience why you are qualified to speak about the topic to persuade them.

After the introductory portion of the speech is over, the speaker starts presenting reasons to the audience to provide support for the statement. After each reason, the speaker will list examples to provide a factual argument to sway listeners’ opinions.

• Example 1 – Support for the reason given above.
• Example 2 – Support for the reason given above.

The most important part of a persuasive speech is the conclusion, second to the introduction and thesis statement. This is where the speaker must sum up and tie all of their arguments into an organized and solid point.

• Summary: Briefly remind the listeners why they should agree with your position.
• Memorable ending/ Audience challenge: End your speech with a powerful closing thought or recommend a course of action.
• Thank the audience for listening.

Persuasive Speech Outline Examples

Topic: Walking frequently can improve both your mental and physical health.

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to start walking to improve their health.

Central idea: Regular walking can improve your mental and physical health.

Life has become all about convenience and ease lately. We have dishwashers, so we don’t have to wash dishes by hand with electric scooters, so we don’t have to paddle while riding. I mean, isn’t it ridiculous?

Today’s luxuries have been welcomed by the masses. They have also been accused of turning us into passive, lethargic sloths. As a reformed sloth, I know how easy it can be to slip into the convenience of things and not want to move off the couch. I want to persuade you to start walking.

Americans lead a passive lifestyle at the expense of their own health.

• This means that we spend approximately 40% of our leisure time in front of the TV.
• Ironically, it is also reported that Americans don’t like many of the shows that they watch.
• Today’s studies indicate that people were experiencing higher bouts of depression than in the 18th and 19th centuries, when work and life were considered problematic.
• The article reports that 12.6% of Americans suffer from anxiety, and 9.5% suffer from severe depression.
• Present the opposition’s claim and refute an argument.
• Nutritionist Phyllis Hall stated that we tend to eat foods high in fat, which produces high levels of cholesterol in our blood, which leads to plaque build-up in our arteries.
• While modifying our diet can help us decrease our risk for heart disease, studies have indicated that people who don’t exercise are at an even greater risk.

In closing, I urge you to start walking more. Walking is a simple, easy activity. Park further away from stores and walk. Walk instead of driving to your nearest convenience store. Take 20 minutes and enjoy a walk around your neighborhood. Hide the TV remote, move off the couch and, walk. Do it for your heart.

Thank you for listening!

Topic: Less screen time can improve your sleep.

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to stop using their screens two hours before bed.

Central idea: Ceasing electronics before bed will help you achieve better sleep.

Who doesn’t love to sleep? I don’t think I have ever met anyone who doesn’t like getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is essential for our bodies to rest and repair themselves.

I love sleeping and, there is no way that I would be able to miss out on a good night’s sleep.

As someone who has had trouble sleeping due to taking my phone into bed with me and laying in bed while entertaining myself on my phone till I fall asleep, I can say that it’s not the healthiest habit, and we should do whatever we can to change it.

• Our natural blue light source is the sun.
• Bluelight is designed to keep us awake.
• Bluelight makes our brain waves more active.
• We find it harder to sleep when our brain waves are more active.
• Having a good night’s rest will improve your mood.
• Being fully rested will increase your productivity.

Using electronics before bed will stimulate your brainwaves and make it more difficult for you to sleep. Bluelight tricks our brains into a false sense of daytime and, in turn, makes it more difficult for us to sleep. So, put down those screens if you love your sleep!

Thank the audience for listening

A persuasive speech is used to convince the audience of the speaker standing on a certain subject. To have a successful persuasive speech, doing the proper planning and executing your speech with confidence will help persuade the audience of your standing on the topic you chose. Persuasive speeches are used every day in the world around us, from planning what’s for dinner to arguing about politics. It is one of the most widely used forms of speech and, with proper planning and execution, you can sway any audience.

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Speech Planning Template

A Speech Planning Template is a great tool for organizing content and ideas when creating a speech. It helps users organize their thoughts and express them in a clear, organized manner. With a Speech Planning Template, users can structure the content based on an outline which makes it easier for the audience to follow. It is also particularly helpful for educators as it can be applied to any topic or area of study, enabling instructors to quickly create comprehensive and engaging speeches. By using a Speech Planning Template, students and educators alike will benefit from clearer and more effective speeches.

You can easily edit this template using Creately. You can export it in multiple formats like JPEG, PNG and SVG and easily add it to Word documents, Powerpoint (PPT) presentations, Excel or any other documents. You can export it as a PDF for high-quality printouts.

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COMM 101: Fundamentals of Public Speaking - Valparaiso

• Delivery Skills
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A basic speech outline should include three main sections:

• The Introduction --  This is where you tell them what you're going to tell them.
• The Body -- This is where you tell them.
• The Conclusion -- This is where you tell them what you've told them.
• Speech Outline Formatting Guide The outline for a public speech, according to COMM 101 online textbook  The Public Speaking Project , p.p. 8-9.

Use these samples to help prepare your speech outlines and bibliographies:

• Sample Speech Preparation Outline This type of outline is very detailed with all the main points and subpoints written in complete sentences. Your bibliography should be included with this outline.
• Sample Speech Speaking Outline This type of outline is very brief and uses phrases or key words for the main points and subpoints. This outline is used by the speaker during the speech.
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Free Lesson Plan Template for Speech Therapy with Smart Planning Tips

August 8, 2022

Just here for the quick lesson plans?  Don’t worry, I’ve got a free lesson plan template for speech therapy for ya at the bottom of the post !  But if you want my best secrets for keeping up with those lesson plans, read on. 

The other day I left a question box on my Instagram and asked what things were most frustrating about working in the school system. I got TONS of responses, but ya know what most people said? Most people hated having a large caseload and not being able to individualize therapy.

A large caseload equals a large amount of paperwork that goes with each student. It’s hard to think about how to individualize therapy when we can barely keep our heads about water. Lesson planning?  Forget it.  Who’s got time for that?

I’ll submit to you three reasons why lesson planning can be beneficial for your students AND you.

• Planning ahead will cause you to think about your students’ individual needs.
• It will make your therapy sessions run a million times more smoothly.
• You’ll actually have more time for paperwork in the long run. Yep.

What if there was a quick way to lesson plan for speech therapy sessions that didn’t take away hours of your precious paperwork time?  I got you.

Here’s the secret… quick planning .  That’s it?  Lemme show you how.  I don’t make detailed plans for every single student on my caseload.  I’ve learned to make my plans general enough that I can adapt most of my student goals to my plans.  

Plan once and use it year after year

Have a yearly plan, monthly plan, and/or weekly plan.  No, it doesn’t have to be a lot.  Use the tips and template on this post to plan your themes for the year.  Then, use those themes to come up with month-at-a-glance plans.  You can do this month by month or do several months at a time.  If you need a jump start, grab my monthly plans for free in my resource library !

Once you have those done, they’re done!  You can use the lesson plans year after year.   

Break it down by activity type for easy grabbing

For the weekly plans , take the month’s activities and jot down which activities you’ll use for the different categories of goals you have, like articulation, language, fluency, etc.  This will make it quick and easy to grab what you need before each session.  Again, once you have these, you can refer back to them year after year.

Jot next week’s plans during sessions

The weekly plans do not have to be detailed or involved.  During my sessions each week, I may take a few notes on an activity that students’ request, an idea that pops up, or something I think an individual student may need.  This will help the sessions to be a bit more tailored to the students and would incorporate activities that would help them make progress.

Use it as a quick reference for ideas

Note: I don’t always write specific weekly plans.  If you’re really pressed for time, you could use only the monthly plans as a quick reference for therapy ideas .  This way, you’d grab what you need based on each week inside that month’s plans.  No weekly plans needed.

Clickable links

It’s super helpful if you make your plans digitally and have clickable links to later easily see the resources or activities to which you’re referring.  See my monthly plan download for an example.

By having plans ready, you won’t have to scramble around and waste time during the day to figure out what you’re doing.  You may even save a little extra time for your other million tasks.

Now, you need a free lesson plan template for speech therapy sessions, right?  Here ya go! These include monthly plans, weekly plans, and to-do lists! Hit the button below to download.

October 30, 2022 at 11:56 am

[…] P.S. If you need help with streamlining your lesson planning and prepping part, be sure and check out this blog post. […]

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Writing a persuasive speech

By:  Susan Dugdale   | Last modified: 04-24-2023

Getting started with a 7 point action plan

To help you through the process of writing a persuasive speech from beginning to end, here's a 7 step checklist.

To get the most from it move through it sequentially - point by point.  You'll find links to topic suggestion pages, explanations about how to structure your speech and the importance of audience analysis with examples and more.

In my experience, a successful persuasive speech can't be flicked out in five minutes! There may be brilliantly competent speakers who can do it if they know their subject, and their audience inside out. However the rest of us, me included, have to put the time in to achieve what we want to. ☺

Quick links to get around this page easily

Checklist for writing a persuasive speech

1. Selecting a persuasive speech topic

If you've already got a speech topic move on to setting a goal . For those who don't, read on.

A major part of the challenge of writing a persuasive speech can be choosing what to speak about.

If you're preparing the speech as part of a class exercise or for a public speaking club like Toastmasters you have seemingly unlimited choice. And that can be bewildering! The possibilities are vast. How do you narrow them down?

The answer is to choose something that you genuinely care about, fits the occasion AND that you know your audience will be interested in.

Speech topic suggestions to explore

• 100  Persuasive speech ideas
• 50  Good persuasive speech topics
• 105  Fun persuasive speech topics
• 309  'Easy' persuasive speech topics
• 310 Persuasive speech topics for college
• 108 Feminist persuasive speech topics

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2. Setting a goal

The goal of writing a persuasive speech is to change or move the audience toward accepting your position on the topic.  An essential part of that is knowing exactly what it is you want to achieve.

There are degrees of change. Do you want a little, or a lot?

Most wanted response or MWR

What you decide is called your  most wanted response  or MWR.

A realistic MWR is reached through analysis of your audience in relation to your topic.

Example: My topic is "obesity in children".

Audience - who are they.

I am speaking to mothers whose children all attend the same kindergarten.

The staff are concerned about the number of children who are over weight for their age.

The children mostly come from homes where both parents work.

Current food habits as reported by kindergarten staff

Food is bought already made up for a variety of reasons including time saving, convenience, and a lack of knowledge about how to prepare it any other way.

'Treat' food (sweets, cake etc.) is also used to pacify and/or to reinforce good behavior.

Fussy or picky eating is allowed principally because the effort and time required to change already established patterns is difficult to find.

The problem is compounded by lack of exercise.

Most Wanted Response (MWR) options

In setting the goal (MWR) for the speech I need to decide what approach will achieve the best results.

Do I want to influence the mothers to open their minds to the idea that allowing a child to establish habitual unhealthy eating patterns is detrimental to their children's growth and development?

Or do I want them to stop using treat and pre-prepared foods immediately and only offer home cooked healthy options instead?

The first approach is softly-softly. The second is direct or hard hitting.

3. Audience analysis

Who is your audience.

How you persuade, and your MWR (goal) is most effectively established when you understand who you are talking to.

In relation to the topic you're going to speak about are they:

• Hostile - actively don't want to hear what you have to say for many reasons which may include prejudice, fear, ignorance, inertia, cultural difference, differing values/beliefs ...
• Neutral - no decided opinion or beliefs and therefore no investment toward maintaining the current state or moving toward a new one. This is the middle ground.
• Motivated - actively seeking to change. These people are already aware of the 'problem' and are looking for solutions. They want to hear what you have to tell them and are likely to be ready to be convinced of the rightness of your solution.

What else do you need to know?

Aside from their anticipated baseline attitude, (hostile, neutral, motivated), toward your speech topic, what else would be useful to know about your audience?

Find out their:

• General Age
• Shared fears, concerns or problems
• Cultural background(s)
• Shared interests, beliefs, values, goals, hopes, desires
• What obstacles there are to adopting the change you desire

The more you can find out, the more you can tailor writing a persuasive speech (including tone and language choice), and your MWR to fit.

For instance, going back to the obesity in children example above, we could decide,  given what we've found out about the audience, the hard-hitting approach would generate too many obstacles to overcome.

Therefore we will be writing a persuasive speech with a non-threatening MWR that has mothers accepting a pamphlet on children's healthy snack choices to take home.

4. Keep it local

Where possible draw your examples from local material. The reason is we are more likely to care or respond when we actively know who or what is involved firsthand. We identify, and the more we identify, the more invested we are in finding a solution. The situation becomes real to us and we care.

5. Evidence and empathy

An essential part of putting together a good persuasive speech is finding credible evidence to support your argument.

Seek out reputable, reliable, quotable sources to back the points you make. Without them your speech will fail its purpose.

Persuasion is a synthesis of emotional as well as intellectual appeal.

Emotional content will be dismissed unless it is properly backed. Conversely purely intellectual content will be dismissed if it lacks empathy or feeling. You need both - in equal measure.

6. Balance and obstacles

Seek out and address the opposition's arguments, or obstacles in the path of adopting your course of action, fairly and respectfully. Find the elements you share. Openly acknowledge and be clear about them. This builds credibility and trust and as a result your points of departure are more likely to be listened to.

7. Choosing a structural pattern

Once you've decided your topic and its angle, done your audience analysis, fixed what you want to achieve (MWR), researched for evidence, and addressed the obstacles, you're finally ready to begin writing.

What pattern or model will you use?

There is more than one.

Have a look at each of the four below to see which best suits your topic, speech purpose and audience.

1) Monroe's Motivated Sequence

This is a tried and tested model developed in the 1930's by Allan H Monroe. Monroe's Motivated Sequence follows the normal mind-flow or thought sequence someone goes through when someone else is persuading them to do something.

It's a pattern used over and over again by the professional persuaders:  marketers, advertisers, politicians ...

Monroe's Motivated Sequence in action

You can find out more about the five steps involved in writing a persuasive speech using  Monroe's Motivated Sequence  here. There's an explanation with examples of each step, and a printable blank outline template to download.

There's also an  example persuasive speech  to read that uses the method.

2) Problem/Solution

This is a two step pattern. The first part outlines/explains the problem and the second provides the solution which includes meeting the obstacles and giving evidence.

3) Comparison

In this pattern the method is to compare an item/object/idea/action against another similar item/object/idea/action and establish why the item/object/idea/action you are supporting is superior.

Example: Why a SBI website is better than a Wordpress site if you want to build an online business

• Reason One Wordpress primarily is a blogging platform and blogging is not a business model
• Reason Two Wordpress does not supply fully integrated step-by-step instructions to build a sustainable e-business
• Reason Three Wordpress does not provide its users with constant and fully tested upgrades/updating

With each comparison point compelling, relevant evidence is provided and obstacles are met.

(If you're curious check out the SBI v Wordpress comparison. There are many more than three reasons why SBI is the preferred online business platform! Wordpress or SBI? And these days you can actually have both through SBI.)

4) Using the negative to persuade

In this model the reasons why you are against the opposition of your chosen topic are highlighted.

Example: The topic is Teenage Binge Drinking and the angle is to persuade parents to take more control

• Leads to anti-social behavior - for example, mindless vandalism, drunk-driving, and unprotected sex 
• Impacts on growing brains - an overview of current research
• Has implications for developing addictions - alcoholism, nicotine ...

Each negative reason is backed with evidence. One piles on top the other creating an urgency to solve the problem. Your positive solution coming at the end of the speech clinches the argument.

More speech resources

For more about the processes involved in writing a successful speech check these pages:

• Using storytelling effectively

For more about delivering your persuasive speech persuasively please don't overlook these pages. They are gold! Writing is a only part of the process. How you deliver completes it.

• How to rehearse
• Using vocal variety
• Return to the top of the page  

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FREE Ultimate SLP Planner 2023-2024 [Editable]

It’s here! For the third year in a row grab your completely free SLP planner for the 2023-2024 school year. The planner from last year is now updated with this year’s academic calendar.

Designed by an SLP for SLPs. This ultimate SLP planner comes with 61+ fillable pages in order to make it the best planner for speech therapists.

Use this speech therapy planner digitally or simply print and go.

You can also mix and match and use some pages digitally and print other pages.

In addition, this speech-language pathologist planner comes in two different options. There are both vertical and horizontal versions. Just download your preferred style!

Free SLP Planner: Vertical Version

Free SLP Planner: Horizontal Version

Download your free SLP planner today and start filling in the pages with life, class and school events using the free version of Adobe Reader . It’s that simple.

See a few examples below. All blue boxes on the school SLP planner are fillable using the free version of Adobe Reader.

Do you know anyone who would like this planner? Be sure to share it with them!

The Best Free SLP Planner Includes

This August 2023 – July 2024 school year free SLP planner comes with all of the following pages to complete your speech-language pathology lesson plan template.

Not only is this planner great for SLPs, but it’s also the best planner for graduate students. You can plan for classes and for your therapy sessions. 

If you’re a graduate student, be sure to grab this incredible free resources now!

No need to purchase an Etsy SLP planner, or one of Erin Condren planners, or the SLP happy planner, or one from Hobby Lobby, or some other teacher planner when you could get this ultimate slp planner for FREE.

Speech Therapy Plan for Organization

• Cover Page [Editable Name]
• School Information
• Contact Log
• Username & Passwords
• Yearly Calendar

Speech Therapy Caseload Organization

• Caseload Planner
• Monthly Paperwork Planner (August 2024-July 2025)
• Student Attendance Tracker
• Year at a Glance

The Ultimate SLP Planner Pages

• Daily Planner
• Timed Daily Planner
• Weekly Planner Blanks
• Weekly Planner Lined
• Weekly Planner No Lines Color
• Weekly Planner No Lines No Color
• Weekly Schedule (Morning, Afternoon, Evening)
• Weekly Schedule
• Timed Weekly Schedule
• Weekly Therapy Planner (By Group)
• Weekly Therapy Planner (By Skill Area)
• Weekly Timed 2 Page Spread
• Monthly Calendar Planner (August 2023-July 2024)

Speech Therapy Data Tracking

• Tracking Progress Reports
• Individual Data Tracking (6 & 8 Blanks)
• Group Blank Data Tracking (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Student Group Options)
• Group Articulation Data Tracking (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Student Group Options)

SEE ALSO: 35 Free Speech Therapy Data Sheets Roundup

Frequently Asked Questions: Free SLP Planner

Let’s review the most frequently asked questions about this ultimate slp planner.

Who is This Planner Made for?

This planner is perfect for:

• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Special Education Teachers
• Speech Pathologist
• Classroom Teacher 
• SLP Graduate Students

Are there Monthly Calendars?

Yes! This new planner includes a monthly spread for each month from August 2024 – July 2025. 

The dates are updated as well! So, no need to write it or type it yourself.

Is this a Paper Planner?

Yes! This planner is printable or you can use it digitally with a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or Kami (both are free).

Does the Planner use High-Quality Interior Stock Paper?

Maybe? That is completely up to you! 

This is a digital file that you can print yourself from home, work, or from a print shop. Currently, there is NO PRINTED FOR YOU OPTION . Sadness I know!

Are there Inspirational Quotes?

You bet! No planner would be complete without inspirational quotes.

Does this Planner Link to Google Calendar?

No, that would be amazing though. You can upload this digital file into your google drive though. Does that count?

Can I use this Planner in Multiple Different Speech Rooms?

Yup! Either pick it up and move it to your other speech rooms or if you’re using the digital version find your favorite computer in the room and open up the planner from there. Smart I know.

Does your Planner Include Background Images? 

No! That would just be a waste of ink. But I do have a couple of beautiful planner covers to choose from.

Are there Weekly Spreads?

Can you imagine an SLP planner without weekly planner pages? Yeah me neither that would just be crazy talk. 

I got you, there are multiple weekly spreads to choose from with this planner.

See I told you I got you. 

Are there Lesson Plans?

Now that would be one impressive planner. No, but I did include two lesson planning templates so you can do your own therapy planning.

Are there Student Data Sheets?

Yes, no planner would be complete without a way to track your student’s progress.

SEE ALSO: Top 14 Free CEUs for SLPs

Does this planner come with back covers.

Hmm, I like this idea! Let me get back to you on that one.

Is the Planner an Editable Template?

If you mean can you edit my work and possibly sell it as your own. Um no. 

But if you mean is it digitally interactive and you can type directly on the document and use it on the computer then YES! 

I’ve done the heavy lifting and added all of the digital boxes and checkboxes for you all you need to do is simply open the PDF in a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or Kami (both are free).

Is this an Academic Planner?

You bet it is! This planner goes from August 2024 – July 2025.

Is there a Yearly Review Calendar?

Yup! There is a yearly review calendar of your student’s initial evaluations, evaluation dates, re-evaluation dates, service time, and a place for their birthdates. 

In addition, there is also a yearly calendar reference page to quickly check the date. 

I like to have the yearly calendar on the backside of the cover page for easy access and to cross out each day (as a countdown to summer or is that just me?).

Does the Planner Have a Floral Premium Matte Cover?

Now that sounds like one fancy planner. But to answer your question um maybe? It’s up to you because again you get to print your planner out however you like and on any paper you wish. 

I do have floral planner covers though! Check out the covers folder to pick out your favorite one.

Is There a Log to Keep a Parent Email Address?

Yes, I’ve included a contact log page where you can input the student names and their parent or guardian information as well as track each time you reach out and contact them so you have a record.

Is this Planner a Good Fit for Recent Graduates?

Yes, this planner is perfect for a recent graduate! 

It helps you keep track of your caseload, paperwork, and daily tasks all in one place.

Is this an 8×10 Planner?

You bet! It was made for a typical piece of US paper.

Can I Save this Planner in Google Drive?

You sure can! After you enter your email address you will be sent a link in an email to access the planner and it will be directly from my google drive. 

Simply make a copy and save it to your personal google drive. It’s that simple. 

Does the Planner Come with a Pretty Cover Page? 

Yes, the pretty cover page is the best part! This planner comes with 4 SLP Planner covers and 4 teacher planner covers. 

They both come in horizontal and vertical versions as well.

SEE ALSO: Speech Therapy Room Decor

Are there beginning of the year pages.

Yes, I got you! There are the following:

Are there Caseload Management Sheets?

Oh yes! The following pages will help with your caseload management.

• Year at a Glance (iep meetings, eval dates, initial eval dates, re-eval dates) 

Would this Free SLP Planner Work for Private Practice?

Yes, there would only be a handful of pages that you might not use, but the majority will come in handy. Simply pick and choose which pages to use.

Can I track Important Dates, such as IEP Meetings or Student Information?

Of course! There is a year at a glance sheet that allows you to put your student names plus there are places to track IEP meetings, initial evaluations, or re-evaluation dates so you can stay on top of all your meetings until the end of the year.

Can SLP Assistants use this Planner?

Yes, of course! 

Is there a Place to Track Progress Report Logs?

I got you! There is a progress report tracking log to keep all your progress notes in one place.  

Is there a Place to Create a Therapy Schedule? 

Oh yeah! There are two because two is better than one. 

Are there two-page layouts?

Yes, there is one two-paged layout for the weekly timed page.

Is there a Place to Track Student Birthdays?

Yup! The year at a glance page has a place to write down the student’s birthday. 

You can also find my beautiful student birthday tracker in my tpt store .

In Conclusion: Free SLP Planner

I hope you love this planner as much as I do. Now it’s time to spend less time searching for a planner and start using your new planner today. 

Wishing you happy planning days ahead!

Fill Out the Form Below to Download Your Free Copy!

2023-2024 free slp planner, speech therapy plan conclusion: free slp planner.

Do you have a large caseload and want to stay organized this school year? Then this free SLP planner is just what you need.

Download and get started planning today using your speech therapy treatment planner. Happy planning!

Got questions? Leave a comment. Let’s chat!

What do you use for your speech-language pathology treatment planner?

Want Even More Organization for Speech Therapy?

• 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy
• 261+ Free Ideas for Digital Therapy
• 917+ Best Free Boom Cards for Speech Therapy
• 11 Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy
• Best Free Interactive PDF for Speech Therapy All-in-One

Want the Best of the Bests?

Be sure to check out our most popular posts below!

• 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy / Teletherapy
• Best IEP Resources
• 71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios
• 430+ Free Multisyllabic Words List Activity Bundle
• 432+ Free Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives Bank
• 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials
• 179+ Free Speech Therapy Wh-Questions Printable

Monday 25th of July 2022

Hi, when I go to print the Printable BW version the images come out fuzzy and not at all clear. When I print the colored one, its crystal clear. Can I get help with the BW version? Thanks!

Melissa Berg

Tuesday 26th of July 2022

Hi Hailey, Thanks so much for reaching out! I tried printing the BW and it is very slightly fuzzy on my end. I'm wondering if you try taking the color version and simply printing that one in BW instead. All my best, Melissa

Tuesday 12th of July 2022

How do we download the zip file? I don't see a link anywhere.

Hi Jenny, At the bottom of this post, there is a form to put your name and email address to have the free planner emailed to you in a zip file. If you don't see the email you might want to check your spam or junk folders. All my best, Melissa

Monday 11th of July 2022

It didn't give me the option to make a copy when I downloaded. Any suggestions?

Hi Apryl, If you click on the folder you can download the folder and have your own copy. Or you can select individual pages that you want and you can select make a copy. All my best, Melissa

Tuesday 31st of May 2022

This is perfect, exactly what I need!

Wednesday 1st of June 2022

Hi Kathy! I'm happy to know this is perfect and just what you needed! It makes me happy to know I'm helping others. :) All my best, Melissa

Friday 27th of May 2022

This is exactly what I need and I am so glad you shared this!

Hi Leigh! Wonderful I'm so happy to hear this is exactly what you needed! All my best, Melissa

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Lesson Plans for Speech Therapy + Free Planning Sheet

Making lesson plans for speech therapy doesn't have to be hard. Using themes, let me show you how I plan my therapy sessions, and give you a free planning sheet to help you!

Making lesson plans is one of those things that seems to be either you or you don't. Being 100% honest, I don't always have the time to make lesson plans and I sometimes wing it.  Having done both, here's what I know to be true:  When I take the time to plan out my therapy sessions, I know that I am giving students better quality instruction because it's much more thought out. 

It also significantly decreases my stress levels because I don't have to worry about what's next.  It's hard though, I have to be intentional with the process, and that doesn't come naturally to this procrastinator.  Also, I have to turn my lesson plans in at the end of the year…. soooo…. yeah …. #documentationislife

So the question becomes, how do you do it?  The first thing I do is decide on an overall theme.  I have used these theme calendars for quite a few years and it just works for me and my brain.  These days I do a lot of my plans around the books I am using, but the books are usually related to a theme.  Why themes?  Read more here .

Once I know my theme, I see what materials, books, and games that I have related to the theme.  I have these pages from my SLP Planner, that I keep in a binder that has everything I own related to each theme.  It's easy to forget what we have, so these sheets really help me keep on top of it!  I definitely supplement with things that are not theme-related, not everything I do is theme-based.

My next task is to look at my student's goals and see what we need to work on that week.  I keep two lists of goals for each grade level, one for articulation and one for language, so I always know what I need to target (The above is just an example of what it looks like!).  I use that, paired with my available materials, to see what we should do in each session.

I have my schedule structured so that I see (mostly) articulation students on Mondays/Wednesdays and (mostly) language students on Tuesdays/Fridays.  To make things easier on myself, I will often choose one activity to use all day long on articulation days.  I try to switch things up by doing different types of activities from week to week.  Each month we cycle through using dice, daubers, coloring, game boards, and crafts.  I don't play boxed games very often, but maybe once a month.  I like to do things that are able to keep their hands and minds busy while they are waiting for their turn when we are doing a lot of drilling.

For language, I will do a couple of books, depending on the grade level, and pair them with other materials like book companions as needed.  When I start a new lesson plan for a book, I am usually able to loosely plan out several sessions. Books usually last me a couple of weeks because I can address so many goals using one!  I might need to change things around depending on how my students are doing with the skills we are working on, they may need more or less time.  I just follow their lead.

Need some help getting going in the right direction? Grab my therapy plan organizing page for FREE below

Please share.

Count not open the organizing freebie. Is there another way to access it?

Hi Jen, here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfkfs8c06xjzzmh/Therapy%20Planing%20Freebie.pdf?dl=0

Hi Jenn! Are you offering the other therapy planning sheet used in this post? Thanks in advance!

Hi Chelsey! It’s included in my SLP Planner 🙂 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SLP-Planner-2018-19-2604302

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2 weeks ago