Develop your topic. Before starting your notes, outline or thesis, organize your thoughts and develop a clear, concise topic that will be expounded upon in your speech.
Construct a few preliminary theses that state your position on the same topic. Having several options and different ways to communicate your stance on a specific topic will allow you to combine thoughts or remove unnecessary clutter to form the best possible statement. These preliminary theses can be considered a rough draft and way of just getting initial thoughts onto paper.
Consider your audience. What do you want to make sure they hear or feel from your speech? What is the demographic of your audience and how will this affect your delivery? Considering your listeners will help you to properly frame your thesis.
Read back over your preliminary theses and consider the following questions: Is the sentence clear and concise, focusing on a specific topic? Does your sentence set a goal for your speech that you will answer or accomplish in the rest of your delivery? Is the thesis easy to understand and remember as the focal point of your speech?