Chapter Eleven

Main Points, Supporting Points, and Transitions

Chapter Eleven

Table of ContentsMain Points: Making the ClaimSupporting Points: Supplying the

EvidencePrinciples of Organizing Main and

Supporting PointsTransitions: Giving Direction to the

Speech*

Main Points, Supporting Points, and Transitions

A speech structure is composed of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction establishes the purpose

of the speech, and shows its relevance to the audience.

The body presents main points that are intended to fulfill the speech purpose.

The conclusion ties the purpose and main points together.*

Main Points: Making the Claim

Main Points Used to express

the key ideas and major themes of a speech; used to make statements or claims in support of the thesis*

Main Points: Making the Claim

Using the Purpose and Thesis Statements as Guideposts

Number of Main PointsForm of Main Points*

Main Points: Making the Claim:

Using the Purpose and Thesis Statements as Guideposts

You can use the specific purpose and thesis statements as guideposts to help generate the main points of your speech.*

Main Points: Making the Claim:

Number of Main Points

Depending on the topic, the amount of material to be covered, and the length of the speech, two to seven main points should be sufficient for almost any speech.

Listeners more easily recall points made at the beginning and end of a speech.*

Main Points: Making the Claim:

Form of Main Points

A main point should not introduce more than one idea. If it does, it should be split into two or more main points.*

Main Points: Making the Claim:

Form of Main Points

Parallel Form Involves stating main points in

similar grammatical form and style*

Supporting Points: Supplying the Evidence

Supporting Points Represent the material or evidence

gathered to justify the main pointsIn an outline, main points are

enumerated with upper-case Roman numerals, supporting points with capital letters, and third-level points with Arabic numerals.*

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points

A well-organized speech is characterized by unity, coherence, and balance.*

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points

UnityCoherenceBalance*

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points:

Unity

Unity occurs when a speech contains only points related to the purpose and thesis statement.*

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points:

Coherence

Coherence refers to clarity and logical consistency from the introduction, through the body, to the conclusion.

Use the principle of subordination and coordination to ensure coherence: The logical placement of ideas relative

to their importance to one another*

Principles of Organizing Main and Supporting Points:

Balance

Balance suggests that an appropriate amount of weight be given to each part of the speech relative to the other parts and to the theme.*

Transitions: Giving Direction to the Speech

Transitions Words, phrases, or sentences that tie

the speech ideas together and enable the speaker to move smoothly from one point to the next

A transition statement can be a rhetorical question, a restatement of the previous point, or a forecast of the next point.*

Transitions: Giving Direction to the Speech

The internal preview is a transition that tells the audience what to expect next.

The internal summary draws together important ideas before proceeding to the next point.*