Subpoints are statements that further explain your main points. In this way, subpoints are "less important" than your main points, but still necessary for your readers to fully understand your main points.

For example, consider the student's Main Point 1: "By tolerating their children's involvement in violent gangs, parents send a signal to their children that they no longer care about their children's future." The reader will probably wonder what the student meant when she said parents would "no longer care about their children's future." It is necessary to discuss several ways in which parents signal they "no longer care about their children's future."

For instance, in one paragraph, the student might declare: "Members of violent gangs often suffer physical injuries, long-term disabilities, or even death. These are physical threats to their children's future that no responsible parent would tolerate." (Subpoint 1)

In another paragraph, she might declare: "Members of violent gangs often drop out of school, threatening their future career success. This is a possible fate that no responsible parent would tolerate." (Subpoint 2)

In the first subpoint, the writer identified physical threats to a gang member's future. In the second subpoint, the writer identified career threats. She could go on to identify other types of threats, such as threats to a gang member's future education, financial security, psychological well being, etc. These would be discussed in separate paragraphs. NOTE: Subpoints are different from evidence, which is the "proof" that supports a subpoint. Each subpoint will probably be developed as a separate paragraph in your paper.