Take Your Audience Into Account

Out of the many relevant main points you might use to develop your topic, which ones will prove most interesting to your audience? Which ones will provide your listeners with the information that is most useful to them?

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Consider the following two sets of main points for a speech on backpacking tips:

FIRST SET OF MAIN POINTS

  1. Choosing the right backpack

  2. Remembering the essential equipment

  3. Packing your backpack strategically

SECOND SET OF MAIN POINTS

  1. Coping with extreme elevation changes

  2. Selecting light, nutritious food for weeklong trips

  3. Choosing optimal equipment for subzero temperatures

Both sets of main points contain information that fits the topic of “backpacking tips.” Thus, they fit the first guideline for main points: they relate to the specific purpose of the speech. However, the question of which set is better depends on the audience. The first set contains basic information that would be appropriate for novice backpackers. The second set contains information that would be more useful for experienced backpackers who are contemplating challenging trips.