Student Resources for COM 181

COM 181
Reference Sheet: SUPPORTING MATERIALS

A speaker's use of supporting materials can make the difference between a good speech and a bad speech. Effective supporting materials add credibility to a speaker's ideas, making them clear, meaningful and understandable. The audience, topic and specific purpose will dictate appropriate supporting materials.

Kinds of support include:

• EXAMPLES
• STATISTICS
• TESTIMONY
• ANALOGY

1. EXAMPLES
   
   1. FACTUAL EXAMPLE
      
      1. also called illustration, narrative or anecdote
      2. use to clarify, reinforce and/or personalize ideas
      3. can be brief or extended
      4. human interest examples can be very effective in appropriate instances
      5. STUDENT EXAMPLE:
   2. HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE
      
      1. uses an imaginary situation to illustrate what might or could happen if a situation
         really occurred
      2. use to clarify, reinforce and/or personalize ideas
      3. can be brief or extended
      4. STUDENT EXAMPLE:
2. STATISTICS
   
   1. use of numbers, dates, etc., to support a point
   2. use to clarify or strengthen points
   3. use statistics ethically, sparingly and appropriately
   4. consider using visual aids to help audience comprehension of statistics
   5. STUDENT EXAMPLE:
3. TESTIMONY
   
   1. EXPERT TESTIMONY
      
      1. use of opinions of acknowledged authorities
      2. lends credibility to speaker's original ideas
      3. CAUTION: quote or paraphrase accurately; cite source
      4. STUDENT EXAMPLE:
   2. PEER TESTIMONY
      
      1. use of opinions of ordinary people who have actual experience or knowledge of topic
      2. CAUTION: quote or paraphrase accurately; cite source
      3. CAUTION: using someone else's ideas or words without citing that person or source
         is plagiarism
      4. STUDENT EXAMPLE:
4. ANALOGY
   
   1. use of comparison of two things which are not exactly alike but which have certain
      characteristics in common
   2. be sure elements of comparison have meaning for audience
   3. STUDENT EXAMPLE:

Reference: Lucas, Stephen E., The Art of Public Speaking, Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc., 1995.