Scribd
Upload
2K views

Sample Speech (Panic) With Commentary

I. The document provides a sample outline for an informative speech about panic attacks. II. The outline includes an introduction that gains attention with a personal story, a body that discusses the nature, prevalence, and treatment of panic attacks in three main points, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points. III. Commentary is provided explaining the organization and structure of the outline according to public speaking principles.

Uploaded by

dex
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views

Sample Speech (Panic) With Commentary

I. The document provides a sample outline for an informative speech about panic attacks. II. The outline includes an introduction that gains attention with a personal story, a body that discusses the nature, prevalence, and treatment of panic attacks in three main points, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points. III. Commentary is provided explaining the organization and structure of the outline according to public speaking principles.

Uploaded by

dex
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

SAMPLE SPEECH WITH COMMENTARY

SAMPLE PREPARATION OUTLINE WITH COMMENTARY


The following outline for a six-minute informative speech illustrates the principles just discussed. The commentary
explains the procedures used in organizing the speech and writing the outline. (Check with your teacher to see if
she or he wants you to include a title with your outline.)

Panic Attacks
COMMENTARY

Topic: Panic Attack

Stating your specific purpose and


central idea as separate units before
the text of the outline makes it
easier to judge how well you have
constructed the outline to achieve
your purpose and to communicate
your central idea.

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the nature, extent, and


symptoms of panic attacks.
Central Idea: Panic attacks are serious medical conditions whose fearful
symptoms affect millions of people.

Labeling the introduction marks it


as a distinct section that plays a
special role in the speech.
The opening story gets attention
and, as it progresses, reveals the
topic of the speech.

Here the speaker establishes her


credibility and previews the main
points to be discussed in the body
of the speech.

Including transitions ensures that


the speaker has worked out how to
connect one idea to the next. Notice
that the transition is not included in
the system of symbolization and
indentation used for the rest of the
speech.

Introduction

I.

I can't breathe, my arms are tingling, I'm really dizzy, and it feels
as if my heart is about to fly out of my chest.

II.

When this happened to me three years ago at an outdoor concert,


I was really frightened.

III.

IV.

At the time, I had no idea what was going on.

B.

My doctor told me later that I had experienced a panic


attack.

I have learned a lot about my condition during the past three


years, and I did additional research for this speech.
Today I would like to inform you about the nature of panic attacks,
the people affected most often by them, and the options for
treatment.

(Transition: Let's start with the nature of panic attacks.)

Labeling the body marks it as a


distinct part of the speech.
Main point I is phrased as a full
sentence. As the outline progresses,

A.

Body

I.

Panic attacks are a severe medical condition with a number

notice that the main points are


arranged in topical order.

of physical and mental symptoms.


A.

The two subpoints of main point I


are shown by the capital letters A
and B and are written out in full
sentences to ensure that the
speaker has thought them out fully.
Points below the level of subpoint
are indicated by Arabic numerals
and lowercase letters. Sometimes
they are not written as full
sentences. Check to see what your
teacher prefers.
The transition shows how the
speaker will move from main point I
to main point II.
Like main point I, main point II is
phrased as a full sentence.

B.

This main point, like the first two, is


stated as a full sentence.

The attacks usually come out of nowhere and


strike when least expected.

1.

Their length can vary from a few minutes to


several hours.

There are a number of symptoms common to most panic


attacks.

V.

1.

Physical symptoms include a pounding heart,


shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and
numbness or tingling sensations in the arms and
legs.

2.

Mental symptoms include acute fear, a sense of


disaster or helplessness, and a feeling of being
detached from one's own body.

Panic attacks affect millions of people.


A.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, six


million Americans suffer from panic attacks.

B.

Some groups have a higher incidence of panic attacks


than do other groups.
1.

The National Institute of Mental Health reports


that panic attacks strike women twice as often
as men.

2.

Half the people who suffer from panic attacks


develop symptoms before the age of 24.

(Transition: Given the severity of panic attacks, I'm sure you are wondering
how they can be treated.)

VI.

There are two major options for treating panic attacks.


A.

Notice the pattern of subordination


in this section. Subpoint B notes
that cognitive-behavioral therapy is

1.

(Transition: Now that you know something about the nature of panic
attacks, let's look at how widespread they are.)

The progressive indentation shows


visually the relationships among
main points, subpoints, and subsubpoints.

The transition indicates that the


speaker is moving to her next main
point.

As defined by the National Institute of Mental Health,


panic attacks involve "unexpected and repeated episodes
of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms."

One option is medication.


1.

Antidepressants are the most frequently


prescribed medication for panic attacks.

2.

They rearrange the brain's chemical levels so as

one of the options for treating panic


attacks. Sub-subpoint 1 identifies
the kinds of techniques involved in
this therapy. Because items a and b
expand upon the techniques point,
they are subordinated to it.

to get rid of unwanted fear responses.


B.

Another option is cognitive-behavioral therapy.


1.

2.

Labeling the conclusion marks it as


a distinct part of the speech.
Summarizing the main points is
usually standard procedure in an
informative speech.
Referring back to the speaker's
personal experience mentioned in
the introduction gives the speech a
sense of unity and provides an
effective ending.

This is the final bibliography. It lists


the sources actually used in writing
the speech and is shorter than the
preliminary bibliography compiled in
the early stages of research. (See
Chapter 6 for a discussion of the
preliminary bibliography.)

This bibliography follows the 2008


Modern Language Association (MLA)
format. Check with your instructor
to see what format you should use
for your bibliography.

This therapy involves techniques that help


people with panic attacks gain control of their
symptoms and feelings.
1.

Some techniques involve breathing


exercises.

1.

Other techniques target thought


patterns that can trigger panic attacks.

According to David Barlow, author of the Clinical


Handbook of Psychological Disorders, cognitive
behavioral therapy can be highly effective.
Conclusion

I.
II.

III.

IV.

As we have seen, panic attacks affect millions of people.


Fortunately, there are treatment options to help prevent panic
attacks and to deal with them when they occur.
In my case, the combination of medication and cognitivebehavioral therapy has been extreme helpful.
I don't know if I will ever be completely free of panic attacks, but
at least I understand now what they are and what I can do about
them.
Bibliography

Barlow, David. Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders, 4th ed. New


York: Guilford Press, 2008. Print.
Baskin, Kara. "Not Just Any Old Butterflies." Washington Post 9 Jan. 2007:
F1. LexisNexis. Web. 23 Oct. 2008.
Brantley, Jeffrey. Calming Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and
Compassion Can Free You from Anxiety, Fear, and Panic, 2nd ed. Oakland,
CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2007. Print.
Choy, Yujuan. "Treatment Planning for Panic Disorder." Psychiatric Times
Feb. 2008: 4044. Print.
United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
National Institute of Mental Health. Panic Disorder.
National Institutes of Health 2 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Oct. 2008.

PREPARATION OUTLINE
Title
General Purpose
Specific Purpose
Organisational Pattern
Central Idea

: To inform
: To inform my audience about ...
: Topical Order/Causal Order/Spatial Order
: Thesis statement (Write ONE sentence that includes all the main points)

INTRODUCTION
I.
Gain attention of audience
II.
Introduce topic
III.
Establish credibility
IV.
Preview
(Transition: Let me begin with ....)
BODY
I.
I.
II.

III.

First main point (Full sentence)


Sub-point 1 (Full sentence)
3.
Elaborate (Full sentence)
4.
Give examples (Full sentence)
Sub-point 2 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)
Sub-point 3 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)
(Transition: Now that you know...., let me move to ...)

II.

Second main point (Full sentence)


A. Sub-point 1 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
B.
Give examples (Full sentence)
B. Sub-point 2 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)
C. Sub-point 3 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)
(Transition: Finally, lets look at ......)

III.

Third main point (Full sentence)


A. Sub-point 1 (Full sentence)

1. Elaborate (Full sentence)


Give examples (Full sentence)
B. Sub-point 2 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)
C. Sub-point 3 (Full sentence)
1. Elaborate (Full sentence)
2. Give examples (Full sentence)

C.

I.
II.

CONCLUSION
Summarise your main points (Make sure to give all the main points.)
End on a note of goodwill/ Give advice/ Give a quotation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Give a list of the books/magazines/articles you referred to, using either the APA or MLA format)

You might also like