Why Preparing an Outline Really Matters: Step-by-Step
Let’s be real: your Individual Oral is like walking a tightrope: 10 minutes, two texts, one big idea. Without a well-structured outline, you’re winging it. And that’s risky.
- A strong outline does two key things:
- Keeps your argument sharp: you won’t forget what you planned to say.
- Keeps your delivery smooth: you sound clear, natural, and in control.
- It’s not about scripting every word. It’s about building a rock-solid structure you can speak from confidently.
Step 1: Choose a Strong Global Issue
- Make sure your global issue is clear, specific, and arguable across both texts.
- Ask yourself: Does this issue show up clearly in both texts? Can I explore how it's represented, not just that it exists?
Example
- How societal inequality shapes identity and opportunity.
- The dehumanizing effects of war and violence.
- How capitalist systems compromise morality and compassion.
Tip
- Actually write the global issue at the top of your outline.
- The examiner should never have to guess what it is.
Step 2: Set Up Your Labels
- Use a clear and balanced structure to divide your points.
- Here's a helpful label template:
| Label | What It Means |
|---|---|
| HOOK | Your opening setup of the global issue |
| TX1 / TX2 | Refers to Literary (TX1) and Non-Lit (TX2) texts |
| CLOSE-1/2 | Close analysis moments with clear quotes |
| WIDE-1/2 | Broader analysis – structure, tone, message |
| WRAP | Your conclusion that pulls everything together |
Step 3: Draft Each Point (1 per Minute)
- Use shorthand: this keeps your delivery fluid and natural.
- For each point, use the formula: Technique + Effect → Link to Global Issue
Example
TX1-CLOSE-1: simile “a shadow of his former self” + loss of identity → war strips individuality (GI)
Tip
- Avoid full sentences. There's not enough space and this isn't a script.
- You’re planning the core idea, not how to say it word-for-word.
Step 4: Balance Your Outline
- 4 points per text is the sweet spot: 2 close + 2 wide.
- Intro and conclusion should each be 1 minute.
- Keep it chronological: plan your IO in the order you'll speak it.
- Make sure each text gets equal time and depth.
Step 5: Review and Rehearse
- Once your 10-point outline is done:
- Read it out loud: does each point flow into the next?
- Time yourself: aim for 10 minutes max.
- Ask: Do I keep coming back to the global issue?
Sample IO Outline
Example
Global Issue: How war dehumanises individuals and strips them of identity.
- [HOOK]: War reduces people to symbols, tools, or statistics = individual identity is erased under violence.
- [TX1-CLOSE-1]: Line #: use of third-person pronoun “it” to describe the soldier’s corpse = objectification + emotional detachment = dehumanisation made routine.
- [TX1-WIDE-1]: Imagery of mechanical war machines + repetition of numbers = soldiers reduced to data = mass deindividuation.
- [TX1-CLOSE-2]: Stark contrast between battlefield chaos and internal monologue = fractured identity = trauma splits selfhood.
- [TX1-WIDE-2]: Survivor guilt expressed through silence = psychological toll reveals loss of personal meaning.
- [TX2-CLOSE-1]: Image: wide-angle shot of rows of identical helmets = conformity + erasure of personality.
- [TX2-WIDE-1]: Archival voice-over using passive verbs (“was taken”, “was sent”) = no agency = war strips subjects of choice.
- [TX2-CLOSE-2]: Line #: direct quote “We became shadows” = metaphor = existence reduced to aftermath.
- [TX2-WIDE-2]: Juxtaposition of soldier interviews with news headlines = inner human truth vs public narrative = systemic dehumanisation.
- [WRAP]: Both texts show that war’s greatest violence isn’t just physical, it’s psychological, erasing identity and muting individuality.
Note
- Plan for timing: 10 dot points = 10 minutes. Stick to one point per minute.
- Write in shorthand: No full sentences! Use symbols like + (technique + effect) and → (leads to...).
- Example: “Passive verbs + loss of agency → war strips identity”
- Keep it even: 4 points per text (2 close + 2 wide), 1 intro, 1 conclusion.
- Practice from it: Use your outline as your speaking map, not a script.
Final Thoughts
- If your ideas aren’t clear on paper, they won’t be clear when spoken.
- Your outline is the difference between sounding rehearsed and sounding smart.
- Build it right, and you’ll stay calm, make sense, and actually enjoy the process.
