The Body section of your preparation outline needs to be in a strict hierarchal format.
I) MAIN POINTS PHRASED AS FULL SENTENCES WITH PARALLELISM
(transitions: break the hierarchy)
II) MAIN POINTS PHRASED AS FULL SENTENCES WITH PARALLELISM
| Note | Symbol Key: | Interpretation |
| ! = |
SUPERIOR |
You used a clear and precisely formatted body that was easy to read. There were no compound sentences. Everything was clearly labelled and numbered and spaced. |
| + = |
EFFECTIVE |
Proper formatting was used. Each idea had it's own place. |
| + = |
PROBLEMATIC |
There were significant problems with your formatting. Too may ideas were at the same place on your outline. Check for any of the following abbreviations on the response sheet. |
| TRANS |
TRANSITIONS | Remember to include your transition statements on your preparation outline; they should break the outline format and be in parenthesis or italics and be labelled as transitions. |
| INDENT |
INDENTATIONS | Outlining improvement: Indents should be "hanging indents" where the number or label of the point or subpoint is in a margin of its own. Double space between points. |
| FUROUT |
FURTHER OUTLINING | Some of your sub-points and sub-sub-points needed to be broken down into further subordinated items. Each distinct idea should have it's own place on the outline. |
| BOF |
BETTER FORMAT NEEDED | Your outline is not in a true hierarchal outline format. Remember, each level of sub-point should be indented further to the right, each level labelled in a consistent manner, hanging indents to show that labeling and double spaces between items. Transitions should be included, but should break the outline and be either in parenthesis or italics. For fuller credit, it would be wise to review this in your text before your next speech. |
| PARA |
PARAGRAGH OUTLINE | Your body is not in a true hierarchal format but is in labelled prose paragraphs. Your sub-points and sub-sub-points needed to be broken down into further subordinated items. Each distinct idea should have it's own place on the outline. Each level of sub-point should be indented further to the right, each level labelled in a consistent manner, hanging indents to show that labeling and double spaces between items. Transitions should be included, but should break the outline and be either in parenthesis or italics. For fuller credit, it would be wise to review this in your text before your next speech. |
| HIER |
CHECK HIERARCHY | Check your hierarchy more carefully. Does it branch correctly? Does it branch enough? |
| BTRPHRA |
BETTER PHRASING | Put more effort into phrasing your main points. Remember, they should be in full sentences and exhibit parallelism whenever possible. |
| TOOMANY |
TOO MANY MAIN POINTS | You had too many main points in this speech; create fewer categories to contain your ideas. Three to five main points is optimal. For this speech, two to three were specified. |