McGraw-Hill Public Speaking

• Preparing the speech
• Outlining your speech
• Documenting your speech
• Organizing your material
• Home
  
  

Main points are key ideas that support your central idea. In gathering and evaluating your resources, you probably noted points that were made repeatedly and are relevant to your central idea. Assess which points are most significant and use them as the main points of your speech. Decide how many points to present, then organize them strategically to support your central idea.

Choosing the main points relevant to your central idea

Not all facts are important nor do they all support your cental idea. As you're reviewing your sources, consider whether the material is relevant to your central idea.  Each time you locate information that is relevant, record it.

Taking notes

Whether you use note cards or a computer, you should record information in a way that is easy to sort.  Include all the information you need to attribute the information to the proper source.  Footnotes on your preparation outline or manuscript require the author name, publication name, date, location, and page reference, if any. Separate your notes on the cards or within a file so that only one idea is contained in a note.   Paraphrase the original materials.  If you want to include a short phrase verbatim, record it with quotation marks.  Take enough notes that you feel confident that you can support your main points.  Generally, it is easier to shorten a speech that has too much information than it is to lengthen one for which you have inadequate information.

Determining the number of main points for your speech

Your speech should not have too many main points. If you try to present too many points, particularly in a short speech, your audience is likely to become confused.  In an impromptu speech, limit your speech to a single point.   In a longer manuscript or extemporaneous speech, you will probably want to limit your speech to 3-5 points.

Organizing your main points to support your central idea

Present main points in a logical order to strengthen your speech.  Your main points should make your central idea clearer. Common organizational strategies include chronological, topical, spatial, and problem-solution.

Chronological order. Use chronological order to present main points in their order of occurrence. Present a sequence of events, steps in a procedure, or stages of a process in their logical order.

Spatial order. Use spatial order to describe structure, layout, or any directional pattern. Use a left-to-right, top-to-bottom, inside-to-outside or similar pattern of organization.

Causal order.  Use causal order to give reasons or show a cause and effect relationship. Organize speeches to show causes then effects, or effects then causes.

Problem-solution order.  Use problem-solution order to establish that a problem exists and to propose a solution. 

Topical order. Use topical order to present supporting evidence that does not have a clear timeline, spatial organization, or causal relationships.  Use topical order when your topic does not lend itself to another organizational strategy.