SUPPORTING YOUR SPEECH

SUPPORTING MATERIALS:

• Materials used to support a speaker’s idea.
• Is chosen very carefully
• Brings your ideas across clearly and creatively.


TYPES OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS:
• Examples
• Statistics
• Testimony


EXAMPLES

• A specific case used to illustrate or to represent a group of people, ideas, conditions, experiences or the like.

• Ideas become specific, personal and lively.

• Types:
o Brief – a specific case to illustrate a point.

o Extended – a story, narrative or anecdote developed at some length to illustrate a point.

o Hypothetical – describes an imaginary or fictitious situation.


FACTS AND STATISTICS

• FACTS – statements that can be verified by independent observers
• STATISTICS
o facts expressed in numbers; numerical data
o describes size, make predictions, illustrate trends or show relationship

Example:

"Since 1962, more than one million Americans have died in firearm suicides, homicides, and unintentional injuries. In 1998 alone, 30708 Americans died by gunfire….
This is a uniquely American epidemic. In the same year that more than 30,000 people were killed by guns in America, the number in Germany was 1,164. In Canada, it was 1,304. In Australia, 391. In England and Wales 211. And in Japan the number for the entire year was 83."

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE CHOOSING A STATISTIC:

• Is this information relevant to my purpose?
• Is this information the most recently available?
• Is this information truly representative of the subject?
• Is this information from a credible source?
• Is this information consistent with what other reputable sources report?
• Is this information free from bias?
• Is this information complete?


TESTIMONY

• Definition – quotations or paraphrases used to support a point
• Types:
o Expert testimony – from people who are recognized experts in their fields
o Peer testimony – from ordinary people with firsthand experience or insight on a topic
o Prestige testimony – from a respected public figure who is not necessarily an expert on the topic but voiced out some truth about the matter.


TIPS FOR USING TESTIMONY

1. Quote or paraphrase accurately
2. Use testimony from qualified sources
3. Use testimony from unbiased sources
4. Identify the people you quote or paraphrase


THE ETHICAL USE OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS

1. Provide the date, source, and context of information cited in your speech.
2. Don’t present an opinion as though it was a fact.
3. Remember that statistics are open to differing interpretations.
4. Protect your listeners from biased information.
5. Tell listeners if you can’t identify the exact sources of your information.
6. Don’t quote out of context.
7. Be sure examples reflect reality.
8. Don’t present hypothetical examples as though they were factual.