Question

Draft an outline for your opening statement. It should have an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion.

Answer 1

Introduction
- Hook: opening line to grab attention (an anecdote, surprising fact, or rhetorical question).
- Purpose/thesis: one clear sentence stating the goal of the opening statement.
- Credibility/connection: brief phrase explaining why you (or the speaker) are qualified or why the audience should care.
- Preview: list 2–3 main points you will cover.

Body paragraph
- Topic sentence: state the main point of the paragraph (ties directly to one previewed point).
- Evidence/support: 1–2 pieces of concrete support (data, example, short story, or authority).
- Explanation: briefly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence and overall purpose.
- Transition sentence: link this paragraph back to the thesis and signal moving toward conclusion.

Conclusion
- Restate thesis: one sentence that reinforces the opening purpose in different wording.
- Summarize key point(s): 1–2 short phrases recapping the main takeaway(s).
- Call to action / final thought: tell the audience what you want them to think, feel, or do next.
- Memorable close: a short, striking sentence or quotation to end on a strong note.

Optional: include suggested time (e.g., 30–60 seconds for introduction, 60–90 seconds for body paragraph, 15–30 seconds for conclusion) and a couple of sentence starters you can drop in.