Example Speaking Outline (Excluding Introduction and Conclusion)

I. Climate science is not new (Weart, 2009).

A. 1859 – Tyndall

B. 1896 – Arrhenius

C. 1870-1920 – Second Industrial Revolution

D. 1938 – Callendar

[… history lesson proceeds …]

(Summary: In short, this history lesson teaches us that Earth has been getting warmer.)

(Preview: Next, let’s look at how climate change may be affecting trout fisheries.)

II. Climate change is bad for trout in four ways.

A. Weather patterns

1. Too much/little rain is bad

2. Droughts

B. Warming leads to habitat reduction

1. Predator/prey patterns.

2. Competition between cold- and warm-water fishes.

C. Stream flow patterns may change

D. Brook trout vulnerable

1. Population decimated by habitat loss

2. Exacerbated by climate change

(Summary: Although these challenges are large scale, there is some hope that we can mitigate these issues.)

(Preview: Next, I will discuss some ways that individuals and collectives can help reverse some of the issues caused by climate change.)

III. Personal and collective mitigation

A. Personal (Sorenen, 2008)

1. Reduce CO2 emissions

2. Reduce energy consumption

3. Birth control

B. Collective (Cuomo, 2010)

1. Lobby for:

a. Reduce fossil fuel consumption

b. Create caps on industrial emissions

c. Encourage and support renewable and sustainable energy

2. Support Kyoto