A well-structured outline is the key to a successful video script. Outlines build the argument, step-by-step, that you will use to move your audience.

The time you spend building a outline will be paid back many times over when it comes time to write the actual script. A detailed outline allows you to focus more on style, character, and pacing rather than content and structure when you write your first draft.

Outline Software

Once upon a time, stand-alone outline programs existed with powerful functions. As word-processing software like WordPerfect and MS Word grew into monster programs, outlining became a word-processing add-on. Unfortunately, word-processors are mainly designed to control the look of the printed page, thus the word-processor outliner functions mainly to make outlines look pretty, rather than as a conceptualizing tool.

MaxThink

Outlines should be viewed as critical thinking tools. MaxThink, a stand-alone DOS outline program, takes this view of outlining to heart. In addition to quickly creating, grouping, and moving topics, MaxThink allows you to sift and sort through reams of information to arrive at a coherent structure.

An Example

In the section, Working From a Distance, I describe a 20-minute speech that I was asked to write for the logistics industry. I knew nothing about logistics and I was given a three-day turn-around. The CEO who would deliver the speech is a leading spokesperson for the industry, therefore much research would be required.

Raw Data

As I read about logistics, I typed my library research directly into Maxthink, creating a new parent topic with every change of subject.

Click here to view my research data outline. It is basically a list of the raw information I started with.

List of Topics

Next, I took the research data outline and outputted a list of the main parent topics. I studied these 21 main topics in order to find the thesis and structure for the speech.

For a discussion on Structure, see Elements of the Video Script.

After reconsidering the goal of the speech, and the intended audience, I established the basic script structure as follows: 



	 October 8, 1995					page 1
	 REDEFINING THE CORPORATION OF THE FUTURE
	 How Logistics Providers Add Value to the Supply Chain

	 1. INTRODUCTION:

	 2. REENGINEERING THE CORPORATION.

	 3. THE LOGISTICS MARKET.

	 4. REASONS FOR OUTSOURCING LOGISTICS.

	 5. THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS ADDS VALUE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

	 6. THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS AS THE AGENT OF CHANGE IN
	    REDEFINING THE CORPORATION OF THE FUTURE.

	 7. COMEPETANCY FOR LOGISTICS PROVIDERS.

	 8. CLOSING.
Everything so far could have been accomplished with any word processor. But now, the power of Maxthink comes into play.

MaxThink Bin Sort

First, I Levelized my data outline so all the topics and subtopics were flattened into one long list. Next, I put my 8 script topics at the top of the research data list (adding one more for Garbage).

The Bin Sort command allows you to mark these 9 topics as Bins. In the same way the recycling man tosses newsprint into Bin 1, glass into Bin 2, etc., Bin Sort allows you to scroll through the raw data and toss each data topic into the appropriate Bin with a single keystroke.

Bin Sort Again

Next, this organizing process is applied again to each individual script topic. For example, topic number 2, REENGINEERING THE CORPORATION would be further subdivided into sub-topics, and then the research data is Bin Sorted again.

Add Anecdotes and Transitions

After all the data is organized into a three-level outline, anecdotes and transitions are added. The content outline is finished. Click to see the finished Content Outline that was faxed to the client.

First Draft

The client made a few changes and the first draft writing begins. Click to see the Finished Speech and compare it to the content outline.

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Elements of the Video Script
Ten-Point Scripting Process