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Cat has taught a variety of subjects, including communications, mathematics, and technology. Cat has a master's degree in education and is currently working on her Ph.D.
Imagine this: you're sitting in class and the teacher walks in. They stand at the front of the classroom, open up a book, and read a definition from the book. Then they dismiss everyone for the day and walk out of the room. Do you understand the material that was covered in that class? Probably not. Advanced concepts require more than just definitions, right? You may ask for an example or a scenario that helps you understand the concept being taught.
As a speaker, you have the same responsibility to your audience. It is likely that your audience won't have a copy of your speech or an accompanying textbook. It is your responsibility as a speaker to make sure your audience understands all of the elements of your speech. You can do this by selecting relevant support for your speech.
Supporting materials are resources used to give your main points credibility. Supporting materials can be used for a variety of reasons. For example, if you gave an informative speech over the medical benefits of cinnamon, most people aren't going to believe you unless you provide them with some sort of research that supports what you say. This is why supporting materials give you credibility in your speech. There are different types of supporting materials you can use in your speech:
For more information on each type, check out our lessons on types of supporting materials. In this lesson, we will focus on how to select the right type of support for relevancy, appropriateness, and variety in your speech.
Once you've completed your research and have started outlining your speech, you'll want to select supporting material for its relevancy and appropriateness. Many students make the mistake of including research in their speeches that have no real relevancy to the points of the speech. Many times, a teacher will require students to include a certain number of sources in their speeches. Because of this, students will stick in extra supporting materials that don't actually support their speeches.
There are two tests you can use to determine the relevancy of the supporting material in your speech. First, make sure the supporting material directly relates to your main point and a sub point. If your supporting material is just sitting alone in your speech, then it is likely not relevant or you haven't developed the content of your speech properly. Second, if your supporting material does relate to one of your main points and a sub point, then ask yourself does the material:
If you can answer yes to at least one of these questions and justify your answer, then your material is likely to be relevant to the content of your speech.
Each of these questions are related to one or more types of supporting materials, too, which can help ensure you choose the appropriate supporting materials. For example, if you answered yes to the question does the material quantify an idea or concept in your speech?, then you should have a statistic or some type of numerical supporting material. If not, then you may want to reevaluate the answer to your question; your material may not be appropriate for that part of your speech. If you answered yes to the question does the material add credibility from an expert in your speech?, then the material should be some sort of expert testimony that also enhances the content of your speech.
Now, let's talk about including a variety of supporting materials. You can include a variety of supporting materials in two different ways. First, you can make sure that your research comes from a variety of sources and is balanced between different opinions.
This includes secular and religious authors and publications. If you are giving a speech in front of a religious group, then you are more likely to establish credibility and connect with your audience by using research from people that practice that particular religion. The same goes for including research from members of a particular group. If you were giving a speech in front of several members of the National Rifle Association, then including research from someone that is a member of the NRA will establish credibility and a relationship with your audience members.
Second, you will need to make sure you always include all three types of supporting materials for variety. Sometimes you will need to both enhance and quantify an idea; therefore, you may want to include both a statistic and an extended example.
For example, if you are giving a speech about teenage pregnancy, you may want to demonstrate to the audience the extent of the epidemic of teenage pregnancy. In this case, you would need to use a statistic to quantify this concept. To enhance the concept, you might want to use an extended example demonstrating the cycle of teenage pregnancy, such as the increased likelihood that a child born from teenage pregnancy is more likely to also have a child as a teenager.
I would advise that you try to cover each of the questions in the previous section during your speech. By using a variety of supporting materials, you will develop the content of your speech more thoroughly and will relate to your audience.
Just as it is important for a teacher to quantify, clarify, enhance, simplify, and reinforce ideas when teaching, so it is important for you as a speaker to do these things for your audience. Supporting materials will help you do this, but if you use the supporting materials incorrectly, then they will not support your speech properly. Supporting materials are resources used to give your main points credibility. There are different types of supporting materials you can use in your speech:
Each of these types have to be used in a way that is relevant and appropriate for your speech. To find this, first make sure that the materials relate directly to a main point and a sub point of your speech. Then, try to answer yes to at least one of the following questions:
Once you've determined if your material is relevant, the type of supporting material, and the question you've answered will tell you if the material is appropriate in your speech. Don't forget to use each type of supporting material and balanced resources to add variety to your speech.
Remember, it is your responsibility as a speaker to make sure your audience understands all of the elements of your speech.
As you complete the lesson, make a goal to:
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Communications 101: Public Speaking16 chapters | 106 lessons | 12 flashcard sets
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