Try to discover the excellences or defects of the following. Compare with them the outline that you have made, and decide upon the best possible outline for the speech.

SPECIMEN OUTLINE I

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

OBJECT. To enforce the idea of the equality of all men.
THEME. The principles of the Declaration of Independence.
Introduction. To pay a tribute to Independence Hall.

I. His political views were drawn from the Declaration.
Discussion. To exalt the framers of the Declaration of
Independence.

I. The principles of the Declaration kept the Confederacy together.

II. The Declaration gives equality to all mankind. Conclusion. To show that his speech was unprepared. I. Helpfulness rather than slaughter.

SPECIMEN OUTLINE II

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

OBJECT. To impress upon his hearers that the country should be saved without the sacrifice of the central principle of the Declaration of Independence. THEME. Can the country be saved without bloodshed, on the basis that in due time all men shall have an equal chance? Introduction. Adaptation to surroundings and statement of the principle of the Declaration.

I. All his political sentiments have come from associations with this spot.

II. The central idea of the Declaration is that in due time all men shall have an equal chance.

Discussion. Application of this principle to the present crisis.
I. This country should be saved without the sacrifice
of the main principle of the Declaration.

A. It should be saved without bloodshed if possible.
B. It must be saved by force if necessary.

Conclusion. To guard against being misunderstood and to impress his loyalty to that principle.

I. As his speech was unprepared, he may have spoken indiscreetly.

II. Whatever the cost, he is willing to live or die by the principle.

EXERCISE II. The following outlines are the work of students. Some of them were made at the beginning of the course, when the student had no conception of what an outline ought to be; others were handed in later in the semester, when a fair idea had been gained of the essentials of a good speech plan.

Make a careful study of these outlines and try to profit by the merits or faults of each.

OUTLINE I

THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION

I. Wilson's administration.

A. Radical Democratic Party.
B. Democratic platform.

II. The Wilson administration has been successful.

A. Have carried out their platform statements and policies. 1. Tariff.

2. Internal improvements.

3. Federal Reserve Bank Act.

4. Foreign policy.

III. The Wilson administration has been efficient in general

and is likely to remain in power for some time.

OUTLINE II

THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION

OBJECT. To prove by facts.

THEME. Efficiency of the administration.

Introduction. Show that the administration has been efficient.

Discussion.

I. His policies.

A. Mexican.

B. European.
C. Tariff.

II. His successes.

Conclusion.

A. In keeping peace.

B. In fostering the Panama Canal project and in
Canal Tolls Act.

Discussion.

I. Wilson should be given second term and merits your support.

OUTLINE III

THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION

THEME. The Wilson administration has not been efficient. Introduction. The time has been a troublous one, in which mistakes might be pardoned. But the mistakes of this administration have been unpardonable.

I. The administration has not been efficient in foreign

affairs.

A. In Mexico.

1. The Huerta affair was not well managed a pedagogic attempt to teach morality to other nations.

2. The present situation is dangerous to life and property. No protection to Americans.

B. European situation.

1. England allowed to destroy our commerce. 2. Germany openly defiant.

3. "Too proud to fight" policy a bad one.

II. Has not been efficient in home affairs.

A. The tariff has not been well managed.

1. Underwood Bill pernicious.

B. General hard times prevail throughout the

country.

1. Not so under Taft administration.

Conclusion. The Wilson administration should not be given another term.

OUTLINE IV

THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION

OBJECT. To gain votes for Wilson at the fall election.
THEME. The Wilson administration has been a success.
Introduction. To adapt the theme to the occasion.

I. It is well to have the facts now, in order to form
our judgment before the campaign.

Discussion. To give facts that show the success of the administration.

I. Mr. Wilson's foreign policy has been courageous and successful.

A. Intervention in Mexico was carried only as far as needed.

B. The rights of Americans have been acknowledged by the belligerents.

1. Imminent war has been averted.

II. Mr. Wilson's domestic policy has been wise.

A. He has put through good banking and currency laws.

B. He has secured a wise revision of the tariff.
C. He has recognized the need of military pre-
paredness.

Conclusion. To show that the success of the administration merits support.

I. Mr. Wilson has governed well under trying conditions.

II. Mr. Wilson, the experienced pilot, should continue to hold the helm.

SUGGESTIVE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

1. TOPICS FOR EXPOSITION

Preparation of commercial casein. Process of laundering clothes. Manufacture of malted milk. Operation of a brewery. Lumbering in pine forests. Primitive houses of North America. Pyramids of Egypt. An efficient kitchen. Fundamentals of bread-making. How jelly is made. Cooking with electricity. Vacuum-cleaning. Pea-canning industry. Picture-framing. Planning a factory. Hydroelectric power plant. Manufacture of cement. Government arsenals. Types of gas engines. Centrifugal-pump testing. Babcock test. The linotype. How sheep are sheared in Montana. The production of sugar beets. How alfalfa is raised. Beekeeping. Tobacco crop. The continuation school. Bookkeeping. Comprehensive filing systems. Science as applied to business management. The treatment of goiter. Pearlfishing. Clam-fishing in the Mississippi River. Electric stage effects.

2. CAMPUS TOPICS

Required courses. Foreign-language requirements. Electives. Credit for work in literary societies. Credit for intercollegiate forensics. Cultural and vocational studies. Courses in the appreciation of art. Relation of student and faculty.