The body of the speech contains the breakdown of your speech topic into main points. Each main point is broken down into smaller pieces called sub points. For informative speeches, this is where the information, facts, and lessons will be. For persuasive speeches, this is where you will identify a problem, solution, outcomes, and more. As a general rule, remember this: If you have an A, you must have a B. If you have a 1, you must have a 2. Beyond that, the degree with which main points are detailed will widely vary. There are three examples of a main point below. The first is a blank outline sample template. The second and third are samples of how the same main point can be broken down into different levels of detail.  For each, the main point is divided into three sub points (A, B, & C). Since the sample purpose is to persuade an audience to recycle, the sample main point discusses what items are recyclable. The second example uses minimal detail while the third example uses much more detail.The level of detail you use will likely be determined by your time limit, audience, or occasion. 

Regardless of how much detail a main point does or does not use, it is important to include a transition between the first and second points, as well as the second and third points. These transitions should be more than simple substitutes for the bold headings found in papers. Instead, they should act like bridges between main points in that they connect the points instead of only pointing to the next one. The samples below use the "Now that...move to" transition model. For example, if a speaker is between main points one and two, he or she can say "Now that we've discussed main point one, we can move to a discussion of main point two." Of course, use your actual main point names. If the speaker is between points two and three, the same model is used. However, this time the speaker should reference not just the two points on each side of the transition, but also the first main point. For example, a speaker between the final two points can say, "Now that we've discussed main point one and you understand main point two, we can finish up by examining main point three." This will sound repetitive because it is--and that's a good thing. 
 

Main Point:

Division A:

                                    1.

                                    2.               

Division B:

Division C:

-Transition/Internal Review: “Now that…move on to…”

1. Main Point: Recyclable Materials

Division A: Metal

                                    1. Aluminum

                                    2. Copper

Division B: Plastics from carbonated drink bottles

Division C: Glass

-Transition/Internal Review: “Now that you know what can be recycled, we can move on to discuss what a big difference a little effort will make.”

I. Main Point: Recyclable Materials

Division A: Metal

1. Aluminum
   1. Drink cans
   2. House siding
   3. Car and aircraft parts
2. Copper              
   1. Wiring
      1. Connective wires
      2. Internal wires
   2. Pipes
      1. Water pipe
      2. Gas pipe

Division B: Plastics from carbonated drink bottles

1. Carbonated
2. Non-carbonated

Division C: Glass

1. Drink bottles
   1. Clear
   2. Brown
   3. Green
2. Windows

-Transition/Internal Review: “Now that you know what can be recycled, we can move on to discuss what a big difference a little effort will make.”