If asked to name the tallest mountain in the United States or what Neil Armstrong said during the first moon walk, most Americans could probably answer in a matter of seconds—but not because we have all those details memorized. We just have access to information 24/7 through smartphones, computers, and other electronic gadgets!
To deliver a successful presentation, you’ll need to include details that back up your main points. After all, you don’t want your audience to be searching their phones to verify your claim rather than listening to you. But how do you decide exactly what information to include in your speech? Consider using the steps below to learn how to find the details that will beef up your speech and support your thesis statement.
Remember your thesis statement? It states a claim about your topic and briefly lists your three or four supporting ideas that back up your claim. All the details you select for your oral presentation should either support your claim or illustrate your supporting ideas.
Your source summaries should have a mixture of paraphrased information and quotes from experts but should only include information that supports your thesis statement. Highlight or underline details that are important enough to include in your speech.
Look for facts, definitions, examples, and quotes from experts that back up each of your main points. You’ll probably have more information in your notes than you should include in your presentation, so be sure to choose the details that you feel are most important.
Make a list of your main ideas—the ones you included in your thesis statement. Then, under each main idea, list the details that support it. This is the first step to creating an outline, which you’ll then use to write a script for your speech.
