Chapter Seven

Developing Supporting

Material

Chapter Seven

Table of ContentsTypes of Supporting MaterialLocating Supporting MaterialOrganizing and Documenting Source

MaterialCritically Evaluating Sources*

Types of Supporting Material

ExamplesNarratives TestimonyFacts and

Statistics*

Types of Supporting Material:

Examples

Illustrations, descriptions, or representations: brief example- a single illustration of a

speaker’s point. extended example- multifaceted

illustration of an idea, item, or event being described.

hypothetical example- illustration of a point made by describing something that could happen in the future.*

Types of Supporting Material:

Narratives

Stories, both real and imaginative.

Forms: fairy tales legends religious

narratives myths*

Types of Supporting Material:

Narratives

Essential storytelling elements: plot characters setting timeline

Anecdote short story of an interesting, humorous,

or real-life incident.*

Types of Supporting Material:

Testimony

Firsthand findings, eyewitness accounts, and opinions that directly support a fact or an assertion. expert testimony- by professionals who

have been trained to evaluate or report on a given topic.

lay testimony- by non-experts who have witnessed or experienced events related to the subject under consideration.*

Types of Supporting Material:

Testimony

Credibility is keyThe speaker must

establish credibility establish the

reputation of the source.

cite the source’s name, title, and relevance to the topic.*

Types of Supporting Material:

Facts and Statistics

Facts- documented occurrences that include events, dates, times, people, and places.

Statistics- data expressed in numerical form. descriptive statistics- data or information

that characterize a group or classification. inferential statistics- data collected from

a sample or representative group and generalized to a larger population.*

Locating Supporting Material

Getting StartedPrimary Research:

Interviews and Surveys

Secondary Resources: Print, Electronically Stored and Online Sources*

Locating Supporting Material

primary research- original or firsthand research conducted by the speaker.

secondary research- the vast body of information gathered by others.*

Locating Supporting Material:

Getting Started

Focus on the purpose of your speech.

Develop a thesis statement.

Evaluate resources.

Decide on research methods.*

Locating Supporting Material:

Primary Research: Interviews and Surveys

Interviews planning the

questions phrasing the

questions recording the

interview conducting the

interview

Surveys especially useful

for topics related to the attitudes, values, and beliefs of people in your immediate environment.*

Locating Supporting Material:

Secondary Resources

Database- a “base” or place in which information is stored, such as books or computers.*

Locating Supporting Material:

Secondary Resources

Reference DeskCard or Online

CatalogBooks

Books of Quotations

Poetry CollectionsAtlases

NewspapersPeriodicalsEncyclopedias

AlmanacsGovernment

PublicationsBiographical

Resources*

Organizing and Documenting:

Source Material

Bibliography APA Method MLA Method Chicago Style

Method*

Organizing and Documenting:

Source Material

Elements: names of authors/editors title of publication volume or edition number name of publisher place of publication publication date and year page numbers*

Critically Evaluating Sources

Strive to use original sources Developing

Conclusions Beware of Errors in

Data Interpretation*

Critically Evaluating Sources:

Developing Conclusions

Acknowledge viewpoints when they are relevant.

Include sufficient quantity and quality of evidence to substantiate your claim.*

Critically Evaluating Sources:

Developing Conclusions

Does the supporting material actually say what you think it says?*