What is the function of supporting material?

SUPPORT MATERIAL  

by Lee McGaan. last updated 3/3/2000

Use a Variety of Support Material

There are a variety of types of support material which can be used to illustrate or prove points you make. The following kinds of materials are commonly used to support assertions in speeches:

• • example -- a concrete instance of the point you are making

• • testimony -- direct quotation or paraphrase of a credible source used to prove or illustrate a point

• • statistics/surveys -- quantitative information which proves or illustrates a point.

• • definition -- providing a dictionary or personal meaning for an unfamiliar or technical word.  e.g., "A tariff is a tax placed on imported goods."

• • narration -- A narration is a small story used in a speech or essay (usually appealing to the "mind's eye," told in chronological order).

• • analogy - a comparison of the unfamiliar to the familiar.  

• • description/explanation -- describing why your point is valid in your own words, usually in vivid concrete language

• • Audio/Visual aids -- anything the audience can see or hear (other than your words) which helps you make a point. 

Good micro-structure REQUIRES that you have support for every point (assertion) you make. However, it is also valuable to use as many different types of support material as you can. A speech that is mostly statistics or only explanation is almost certainly going to be less interesting to the audience than a speech which includes stories, quotations, analogies, and examples as well as statistics or explanation. In fact, overuse of explanation is a very common weakness in speeches.

A variety of support types not only helps keep listener interest, it also builds your credibility. Research shows that speakers who use many kinds of support are judged to be more knowledgeable than those who don't and are regarded as better speakers. Beginning with your second speech we ask you to label the type of each item of support you use in your outline as a way of encouraging you to avoid having only a limited variety of support in your speech. Your instructor will discuss ways you can increase the variety of support in your messages; however, the most important factor in getting a wide variety of support is obtaining several different kinds of information sources on your topic. By all means avoid speeches based solely on "personal knowledge."

Use Support Material Effectively

Merely having a variety of good support material doesn't guarantee that the audience will understand or be convinced of your point. You must use support well.

STEP 1. State the point (assertion) you wish to make/prove/illustrate. While this seems obvious sometimes speakers state a statistic or begin a story without indicating what THEIR point is, assuming the audience will draw the right conclusion. The problem is your audience may not see the point you think is obvious. Be clear. Make your point stand out as you deliver it so the audience will recognize it as important.

STEP 2. Present support material (one or more items) which clarifies, illustrates, or proves (convinces) your assertion. Use the support to develop your idea taking enough time to let the point "soak in."

STEP 3. Show how the support material clarifies or proves your assertion by a) summarizing the point, or b) explaining the link between support and assertion. At the very least you should remind listeners of your point after you present the support material to reinforce what you want them to remember. This may seem repetitious to you but it won't to your audience. They may not have gotten the assertion in step 1 and need a summary. Sometimes you may need to do more than summarize. The audience may not be able to see how your support proves your point (This is especially true when the support is statistical.). When that is possible you should be sure to explain the link as well as summarize.

An Example from a Student Speech

Step 1. Cardiovascular disease, the nation's leading cause of death, is caused by inactivity.

Step 2. Clogged arteries and veins are a result of inactivity. (example) Excess fat also caused by inactivity leads to a higher incidence of heart disease. (explanation and example)

Step 3. Statistically, then, you will die at an earlier age if you do not exercise. (internal summary)

Page 2

You must cite your sources in your speech and if required, create a bibliography page to give credit to other folks.  I know this sounds stupid but how would you feel if someone stole one of your ideas and made a fortune off of it.  I realize you are not going to make a fortune from your speech but it will definitely lend to your credibility if you tell your audience where your information came from.

Make your professor happy and tell where your information came from even if it is from the web!

Supporting materials are information lending support, credence, or substance to your hypothesis, idea, thesis, goal, and/or outcome.

          Supporting materials are information lending support, credence, or substance to your hypothesis, idea, thesis, goal, and/or outcome. Supporting materials should highlight and add to your overall intent for your audience. In informative speeches, they add depth and explanation to your main points and ideas. Additionally, in a persuasive speech, they provide validation and evidence to your claims of fact, value, or a change in policy. Supporting materials function to add clarity, depth, persuasiveness, as well as make something more interesting and more connected for an audience. Your main point is nothing without evidence or support; it is only an assertion. Your evidence or supporting material proves your claim/hypothesis.

          The purpose of supporting materials is to:

• Enhance your message/meaning

• Add relevance to your message

• Connect/target the audience

• Provide clarity to your message

• Provide depth to your meaning

• Explain your ideas

• Validate your arguments

          There are several types of supporting materials you can use in your speeches. In fact, a wide variety of supporting materials may be used within one speech. This allows you to target your audience’s different frames of reference and experience.

Examples show relationships between listener and ideas and exemplify commonalities with a speaker and audience. 

          Examples are the main substance of a speech. They bring the speech to life for your audience. They might be considered the “lifeblood” of your speech. They are one of the most effective forms of support for your speech. Examples can show relationships between listener and ideas and exemplify commonalities with a speaker and audience. They can be personal or experiential, based on the ideas you are supporting. You use examples to cement abstract ideas, to reinforce your idea or point, and to personalize your information to yourself or to your audience.

Examples can take three forms:

• Extended: These are longer examples. They may also be thought of as narration or a story/anecdote supporting/referencing a point or idea. They may be used with complex information to help the audience understand.

• Brief: These are very short examples. They are almost a “for instance” and are used to quickly give a point of reference or clarification to an idea or point.

• Hypothetical: These are fictional/imaginary examples. They are made up to highlight ideas and information. They may be used to explain complex information or to help set a scene for the audience.

Statistics are the use of numbers and data to support your ideas or information.

         Statistics is the use of numbers and data to support your ideas or information. You can find statistics to support almost any position, side, or view taken. But you must be wary of statistics—try not to overuse them, be sure to check them for accuracy, and validate the credibility of the source. Statistics must be relevant to your topic and audience. It may be beneficial to combine each statistic with an example to add a human element to the number.

Stories are narrations of varying length which exemplify your idea.

            Stories are like examples. They are narrations of varying length which exemplify your idea. Hypothetical or factual stories can humanize your speech and establish a deeper connection with your audience. There is a current wave of the value of stories and storytelling to share information. For each idea, point, or argument you make with your audience, there is probably a story you can tell that enhances and brings relevancy to your point.

Testimony is evidence or information provided by a living person.

          Testimony is evidence or information provided by a living person. It can be used to add a human element to the speech, provide factual real-life information, and to persuade or dissuade an audience. There are two types of testimony:

• Expert: This is testimony provided by learned, studied, and knowledgeable people on a subject. This person is someone who has studied the case or information.

  • Example: A professor in psychology may provide expert testimony in support of a patient seeking help.

• Peer This testimony is given by a layperson. It is not necessarily researched or studied. It may be based on experiences, emotions, opinions, or feelings.

  • Example: You want your audience to support your plan for student government at your university, and you ask fellow classmates to tell their experiences with your plan.

          Testimony is great to include in speeches. However, you will need to be cautious to misquote someone or to change the meaning of the information. Furthermore, don’t quote someone out of context and always give credit to a source (when possible).

1) What is the purpose of supporting materials? 

​

2) A narration used to reinforce a point is a what? 

​

3) Why must you be wary of statistics? 

​

4) Hypothetical or factual stories can help do what with your audience?