Chapter 7Chapter 7Supporting Your SpeechSupporting Your Speech

Supporting Material Supporting material (or evidence) is any

information that clarifies, explains, or adds depth or breadth to your topic.

You discover evidence by conducting research on your topic, which is the process of gathering supporting material to defend your ideas.

Types of Supporting Material

Facts and Statistics A fact is information that has been established

as accurate.

Statistics are the collection and arrangement of numerical facts.

Both appeal to listeners with a “thinking” learning style.

Types of Supporting Material

Definitions, Descriptions, and Explanations

Definition: a statement that clarifies the meaning of a word or phrase.

Description: goes beyond a definition in that it attempts to create a picture in the minds of listeners.

Explanation: provides details as to how and why, appealing to the “thinking” and “doing” learning styles.

Types of Supporting Material

Examples: a specific case used to illustrate or represent a concept, condition, experience, or group of some sort. Tend to appeal to the “feeling” aspect of the

learning cycle.

Testimonies: quotations or paraphrases used to support a point. Expert testimonies are from a recognized

professional in a field.

Peer testimonies are from first hand sources.

Types of Supporting Material

Analogies: a comparison drawn between two essentially unrelated concepts or objects.

Locating Supporting Material

Personal Experience State your credibility.

Effective in adding human interest to speeches.

Research interviews Cite the credentials of the expert interviewed.

Surveys Effective for discovering the attitudes, values,

and beliefs generally held by people in the research sample.

Locating Supporting Material

Library Resources Books

Reference works

Magazines and Newspapers

Government Documents and Academic Journals

Internet Documents

Conducting Ethical Research

Evaluate your evidence Is it relevant?

Is it credible?

Is it current?

Does your research answer all the important questions raised by your speech?

Have you consulted a variety of resources?

Do you use a variety of supporting material?

Conducting Ethical Research

Document your evidence

APA citations

Cite others work in APA format inside your formal outline.

Orally cite works during your speech.