12. Central Idea

• Central Idea:

  • a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a speech
  • The thesis statement, the subject sentence, or the major thought
  • Expressed as a simple, declarative sentence that refines and sharpens the specific purpose statement
• Residual message: What you want your audience to remember after they have forgotten everything else in the speech.
• Guidelines for the central idea

  1. Should be expressed in a full sentence
  2. Should not be in the form of question
  3. Should avoid figurative language
  4. Should not be vague or overly general