Final answer:
The key statements supporting your speech thesis are the main points. These statements should align with and reinforce the thesis statement, and they must be evidenced by facts, statistics, or other forms of synthesis. Each main point is typically introduced as a topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key statements or principles that support your speech thesis are your main points. These are the major supporting statements for your thesis, and each one should bolster the central argument of your speech. You should question what each topic sentence is claiming and how it relates to the thesis statement.
Additionally, each main point should be developed in paragraphs and supported by evidence, which can include facts, statistics, or a synthesis of ideas. Essential to crafting a compelling argument in your writing is choosing language and reasoning strategies that guide readers back to your thesis statement.
When planning the main points and body paragraphs, remember that your main points should be clear topic sentences expressed at the beginning of each paragraph. By adding 'because' to your thesis statement, you can preview these main points. The thesis is the underlying claim, position, or hypothesis that answers your research question(s) and should be supported by subsequent main points.