Sample Demonstration Speech Outline

John Doe
Demonstration Speech Outline

Topic:  Candle Making

Specific purpose:  To demonstrate to my audience how to make candles.

I. Introduction

A.  Attention-getter: How many of y’all use candles at home? If you’re like me, then you use candles almost every day to make your house smell better, to help you relax in a bubble bath, or to celebrate someone’s birthday! Did you know that candles actually date back to the Ancient Egyptians who are credited with making the first candles? They made torches by soaking the spongy core of reeds in melted tallow (made from animal fat).

B.  Tie to the audience:  Like the ancient Egyptians, I’ve invented a method of candle-making that can save

     you loads of money, and it can be a lot of fun! And no, it doesn’t involve animal fat. If you look in

     stores like Yankee Candle, you can spend anywhere from $5.00 to over $100.00 on a new candle! Well,

     today I am going to show you an inexpensive and fun way to make your very own candles at home.

C.  Credibility Material: Two years ago I began making candles. At first I made them just for fun, but then I started selling my candles for choir and for my church’s youth group around Christmas time.

D.  Preview: Today I will explain three basic steps to candle-making. First, I’ll show you how to go about

      finding the right materials. Next, I’ll show you how to melt the wax. And finally, I’ll show you how to

      make a molded ice-cube candle.

Transition: So, let’s get started!

II. Body

A. The first step is to gather the equipment you will need.

1. You will need wax.

a. You can either use old, worn out candles, which are obviously free, or you can purchase paraffin wax from a craft store.

2. You will also need wicks.

a. You can make wicks from heavy, braided cotton string, or you can purchase wicks from a craft store. I read in Ray Shaw’s book entitled Candle Art that heavy braided cotton string works just as good (Shaw 25-26). I’ve never tried the cotton string, but it’s worth a try!

3. Next, you’ll need to set up a double boiler.

a. You can use an actual double boiler.

b. You can also make your own using a pan and a jar or coffee can.

4. Next, you will need a mold for your candle.

a. This can be anything: a milk carton, cup, a tin can, a paper towel tube, etc.

5. Finally, there are two optional ingredients for candle-making:

a. First, you can use crayons or wax dye to add color to your wax.

b. Second, you can purchase scented oils or essential oils, which I prefer, to make your

    candles smell wonderful.

Transition: Now that we have all of our materials, let’s get to the fun part!

B. The first thing we’re going to do is melt the wax.

1. Start by placing wax in the double boiler or in a coffee can put in a pan of water.

2. Apply heat until the water boils.

3. Once the water is boiling, make sure to turn down the heat and let the wax melt. Don’t let the

    wax boil.

4. Once the wax has melted, you can add your wax dye, crayons, or scent (if desired) and stir.

Transition:  Once you’ve got the wax melted, you can really get creative and have some fun with the color, scent, and shape of your candle.

C. I’m going to show you how to make a molded ice cube candle.

1. First, I’m going to cut off the top of a milk carton.

2. Next, place a candle the height of the carton in the center of the carton. This makes an excellent wick.

3. Now break about ten ice cubes into chunks.

a. Finely crushed ice creates small holes. Large cubes create large openings.

4. Next, fill the mold with crushed ice.

5. Quickly pour hot wax into the carton while someone holds the candle straight.

            a. Be careful not to burn anyone!

6. Lastly, pour off the excess water when the wax is completely hardened.

Transition: Now that you know how to make an ice cube candle, let’s go over everything I showed you today.

III. Conclusion

A. Review Your Steps: So today I showed you how to do three basic things.

1. I showed you how to find the right materials.

2. I showed you how to correctly melt the wax.

3. And I showed you how to make an ice-cube candle. Just remember, the tricky part is keeping the

    wick in the center of the mold.

B. Closure: Today we use candles for many occasions. They are really inexpensive to make and a lot of fun! So when you try making candles on your own, use your imagination and be creative. Have a great time experimenting and making your own candles to enjoy!