Free, editable examples

Free cue-card templates. Your words, at a glance.

A good cue card helps you find your next thought without reading a whole paragraph. Start with one of these short decks, replace the prompts with your own details, and rehearse the transitions aloud.

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Choose your starting point

Wedding speech: welcome, story, toast

Use one affectionate story that guests can follow without inside knowledge. Make the couple the focus and save the final card for a short toast.

  1. Card 1
    WELCOME
Your name + how you know the couple.
Thank everyone for being here.
  2. Card 2
    ONE STORY
Where were you? What happened?
Choose one detail that shows their character.
  3. Card 3
    THE TWO OF THEM
What do they bring out in each other?
One example, in your own words.
  4. Card 4
    THE TOAST
Your wish for their life together.
Invite everyone to raise a glass.

Write names and your final toast exactly as you want to say them. Keep the story as prompts so you can look up at the couple.

Download Wedding speech template (.txt) Use cue cards for a wedding speech

Class presentation: point, evidence, explanation

Give each main point its own evidence and explain why it matters. Add a source name to the card so you remember to credit it aloud.

  1. Card 1
    OPEN
My topic is…
The question I am answering is…
Why it matters to this class.
  2. Card 2
    MAIN POINT
One claim in your own words.
A fact or example + its source.
  3. Card 3
    EXPLAIN
What does the evidence show?
Connect it back to the question.
  4. Card 4
    CLOSE
The one thing to remember.
Thank the class and invite questions.

Duplicate the point and explanation cards for each additional idea. Put slide numbers in the text if you need to match cards to a deck; Cards mode does not advance slides.

Download Class presentation template (.txt) Use cue cards for a class presentation

Public speaking: problem, example, next step

Keep a short talk focused on one change you want the audience to understand or try. Use a concrete example before asking them to act.

  1. Card 1
    OPEN
A question the audience recognizes.
Name the problem in one sentence.
  2. Card 2
    EXAMPLE
One real situation.
What happened? What did you learn?
  3. Card 3
    THE IDEA
What could be done differently?
Explain one practical change.
  4. Card 4
    NEXT STEP
One action the audience can take.
Return to the opening question and close.

If you need a quote word for word, keep it on its own card and credit the source. Rehearse the move from that quote back into your own voice.

Download Public speaking template (.txt) Use cue cards for public speaking

Written setup guide

How to use these templates in CueCard

CueCard allows up to 280 characters per card, or 120 with Show on Lock Screen enabled. These starting cards fit the shorter limit. Check the length again after editing names and details. The templates also work as prompts on paper.

  1. 01

    Put one idea on each card

    Choose a deck below and replace the prompts with names, key facts and words that remind you of the story. Keep the opening and closing clear; use brief prompts for the middle.

  2. 02

    Import the deck into Cards mode

    Download the .txt file and save it to Files. In CueCard, choose Cards from the mode menu, then Import from File from the ••• menu. The [separator] lines in each file divide the text into cards. You can also copy each visible card into the app separately.

  3. 03

    Practise with the screen you will use

    Read Cards shows your deck in the app. Enable Show on Lock Screen in Cards Settings if you want that view, or follow the Apple Watch guide to read from your wrist. Set a timer and rehearse once, turning each card when you finish its idea.

Related setup and delivery guides

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