Outlines Include:

  1. Short sentences or fragments but enough information to meet requirements of a speech
  2. Partial ideas so that looking down at the paper doesn’t interfere with delivery
  3. Outline format with multiple levels
  4. Paragraphs just like you would write in a paper
  5. Your complete speech on either printer paper or notecards

Outline Format

  1. Intro
  2. Two reasons why owning a home is still part of the American Dream, but only for some people.
  3. Reason 1: Younger people are still buying homes.
  4. Evidence:
  5. Reasoning:
  6. Evidence:
  7. Reasoning:
  8. Reason 2: The cost of buying a home depends on where you live and who you are.
  9. Evidence:
  10. Reasoning:
  11. Evidence:
  12. Reasoning:
  13. What about the rest of Americans? Why do they say buying a home is not part of the American Dream? There are two reasons.
  14. Reason 1:
  15. Evidence:
  16. Reasoning:
  17. Reason 2:
  18. Evidence:
  19. Reasoning:
  20. Why it is still part of the American Dream:
  21. Conclusion

The American Dream: Do you Still Buy a House?

Intro:

  1. How many of you plan on buying a house some day? Live in a house?
  2. Difference between our area and other parts of the country: a lot of people can own a home here, not so everywhere.
  3. Home ownership is actually declining.
  4. Before: save money, buy home. Many people’s definition of the American Dream.
  5. But that’s changing. The question is, is owning a home part of the American Dream?
  6. Thesis: The American Dream is changing, and perhaps it’s as diverse as Americans themselves. Owning a home is part of the American Dream for some, but that depends on a lot of personal factors.
  1. Two reasons why owning a home is still part of the American Dream, but only for some people.
  2. Reason 1: Younger people are still buying homes.
  3. Evidence: According to Aarti Shahari of NPR, over 1/3 of home buyers are under 35 years old.
  4. Reasoning: This means young people are still buying homes. I just bought one myself (under 35). So people still want to live in purchased homes.
  5. Evidence: In Shahari’s article, reasons for wanting a home in Shahari’s article:
  6. Owning a dog
  7. Stability and permanence if you have established your career.
  8. Reasoning: These things are reasons why people have always liked owning a home. They haven’t changed.
  9. Reason 2: The cost of buying a home depends on where you live and who you are.
  10. Evidence: According to Trulia, the home buying website, the median listing price of a house in Outagamie County is $144,000.In San Francisco County it’s almost 1 million.
  11. Reasoning: That’s a huge difference, just depending on where you live. More demand in certain areas. A down payment of about $6,000 a month. In Appleton, though, the average mortgage would be about $750. That’s right around the average rent.
  12. Evidence:Shahari says, other factors in cost of a home include things not even associated with the price, like spending in general or how long you will stay.
  13. Reasoning: So that’s a lot of individual variation that makes it difficult to make a blanket statement on whether to buy.
  14. What about the rest of Americans? Why do they say buying a home is not part of the American Dream? There are two reasons against homeownership.
  15. Reason 1:
  16. Evidence: According to Michelle Higgins of The New York Times,buying a home doesn’t make people happier.
  17. Renters and homeowners: same level of happiness
  18. Bogged down with chores and the cost of owning a home.
  19. Reasoning: So if it isn’t going to make you happier, are there reasons to buy a home?
  20. Remember quantitative data doesn’t tell everything.
  21. Individual preferences and how much the majority of people choose to pay for a home.
  22. Reason 2:
  23. Evidence:Home ownership is low right now, the lowest it has been in 50 years, according to WBUR Boston.
  24. Reasoning: It is okay if people are making different choices. Perhaps those who do not want a home realize the reasons for not giving in to the typical track.
  25. Why it is still part of the American Dream:
  26. People are still buying and owning homes.
  27. More than half the country owns a home.
  28. For some it is their preference, whether it increases happiness.
  29. Conclusion

Owning a home is part of the American Dream for some, but that varies depending on location and individuals. As you look ahead to your future, consider whether you need to own a home.

Factors in life that determine this:

  1. Price of homes where you live
  2. Lifestyle: does a house work better?
  3. How much do you need stability? Does homeownership help with that for you?
  4. Do you like home maintence?
  5. Will it make you happier? It all depends.

Works Cited

Higgins, Michelle. “Home Ownership, the Key to Happiness?” The New York Times, 12 July 2013,

Shahani, Aarti. “Forget Generation Rent: More Younger Americans Aim to Buy.” NPR, 24 March 2016,

“U.S. Home Ownership Falls to a 50-Year Low.” WBUR, 29 July 2016,

“Welcome to the National Home Prices Page!” Trulia, 2016. Web. Accessed 18 October 2016.