Informative Speech Outline (Topic: J. Cole)
1. Audience Analysis
My topic of J. Cole will be well received by the audience because a lot of the class has shown interest in
music. Additionally, rap music has grown vastly in popularity for our generation and is probably the most
listened to genre on campus. J. Cole isn’t the most popular artist out there today, but he is still very well-
known so that the audience is interested but also wants to learn more.
2. Credibility
For starters, I will show my credibility through personal knowledge. J. Cole has been my favorite artist for
several years now and I have listened to pretty much all of his music that I could find. Furthermore, I
intend to do ample research for my speech and relay my findings throughout. I will find credible and
trustworthy sources and make sure to credit them when used.
3. Outline
I. Introduction
a. Attention Statement: Do an activity that has students stand if they enjoy music, stay
standing if they prefer rap/pop music, and finally ask a few students who there favorite
artists are.
b. Statement of Credibility: J. Cole is my favorite artist and I have been listening to him for
years. I also have conducted research about him.
c. Reason for Audience to Listen: He is a very influential artist with lots of fans all while
staying ‘under the radar’ and doing it his own way. J. Cole has never been big on social
media or really sharing his personal life but tries to make the music stand for itself.
d. Thesis Statement: I will be speaking to you all about artist J. Cole.
e. Preview of Main Points: Specifically, I will talk about his early life, his music career, and
where he is today.
i. Transition: For starters, let’s take a look at J. Cole’s childhood.
II. Body
a. Main Point #1: Early Life
i. Subpoint #1: Childhood – Born on January 28, 1985 on an American military
base in Frankfurt, Germany with the name Jermaine Lamarr Cole. His father left
the family while J. Cole was a baby and they moved to Fayetteville, North
Carolina where his mom worked hard to try and make ends meet.
ii. Subpoint #2: High school/College – Jermaine graduated high school with a 4.20
GPA and was able to move and get a scholarship to St. John’s in New York. He
wanted to move to New York to increase his chances of receiving a recording
contract. He graduated St. John’s with a degree in communications and a 3.9
GPA.
1. Transition: Now that we know about his upbringing, I will talk about his
career as a musician.
1. Audience Analysis
My topic of J. Cole will be well received by the audience because a lot of the class has shown interest in
music. Additionally, rap music has grown vastly in popularity for our generation and is probably the most
listened to genre on campus. J. Cole isn’t the most popular artist out there today, but he is still very well-
known so that the audience is interested but also wants to learn more.
2. Credibility
For starters, I will show my credibility through personal knowledge. J. Cole has been my favorite artist for
several years now and I have listened to pretty much all of his music that I could find. Furthermore, I
intend to do ample research for my speech and relay my findings throughout. I will find credible and
trustworthy sources and make sure to credit them when used.
3. Outline
I. Introduction
a. Attention Statement: Do an activity that has students stand if they enjoy music, stay
standing if they prefer rap/pop music, and finally ask a few students who there favorite
artists are.
b. Statement of Credibility: J. Cole is my favorite artist and I have been listening to him for
years. I also have conducted research about him.
c. Reason for Audience to Listen: He is a very influential artist with lots of fans all while
staying ‘under the radar’ and doing it his own way. J. Cole has never been big on social
media or really sharing his personal life but tries to make the music stand for itself.
d. Thesis Statement: I will be speaking to you all about artist J. Cole.
e. Preview of Main Points: Specifically, I will talk about his early life, his music career, and
where he is today.
i. Transition: For starters, let’s take a look at J. Cole’s childhood.
II. Body
a. Main Point #1: Early Life
i. Subpoint #1: Childhood – Born on January 28, 1985 on an American military
base in Frankfurt, Germany with the name Jermaine Lamarr Cole. His father left
the family while J. Cole was a baby and they moved to Fayetteville, North
Carolina where his mom worked hard to try and make ends meet.
ii. Subpoint #2: High school/College – Jermaine graduated high school with a 4.20
GPA and was able to move and get a scholarship to St. John’s in New York. He
wanted to move to New York to increase his chances of receiving a recording
contract. He graduated St. John’s with a degree in communications and a 3.9
GPA.
1. Transition: Now that we know about his upbringing, I will talk about his
career as a musician.
