← Chapter 8
Oral Communication · Chapter 8

The Cue-Card Compressor

Fifteen lines of a finished full-sentence outline, and a five-minute slot. Compress each line to keywords, keep the three things that must stay verbatim, and cut until the clock fits. The card on the right redraws at whatever type size you choose — design it for a person whose hands are shaking and whose eyes have three-quarters of a second to spare.

The lectern setup

Time limit
5:00
Type size on the card
12 pt

Fifteen lines to compress

The clock

0:00of 5:00

The page you will actually hold

Final pass before you walk in