Tool Kit

Practically Speaking by J. Dan Rothwell

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Chapter 5 Using Supporting Materials Effectively

• Identifying Types of Supporting Materials

• Competent Use of Examples

• Competent Use of Statistics

• Competent Use of Testimony

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Chapter 5 Learning Objectives

• 5.1 Strategically use examples to improve understanding and to support points in a given speech.

• 5.2 Accurately select statistics when appropriate to support content in a given speech.

• 5.3 Identify how competently using principle types of testimony can support claims in a given speech.

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What are Supporting Materials?

Supporting materials are the examples, statistics, and

testimony used to bolster a speaker’s assertions

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Four Goals of Supporting Materials

1. To Clarify Points

2. To Support Claims

3. To Gain Interest

4. To Create Impact

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Using Examples Competently

Four Types of Examples: Hypothetical

Real Brief

Extended

Examples are specific instances of a general category of objects, ideas, people, places,

actions, experiences, or phenomena

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Hypothetical Examples: It Could Happen

• Used to describe an imaginary situation to illustrate an idea or make a point

• Hypothetical examples should be consistent with known facts to be believable

• Zombie Apocalypse—OK, “could happen” is silly, but you get the picture!

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Real Examples: It Did Happen

• Real examples have immediacy and genuineness • Hypothetical examples can lack this

• Can have profound impact and increase credibility

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Brief Examples: Short and to the Point

• Brief examples help mitigate short attention spans and information overload

• Works well to maintain audience interest

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Extended Examples: Telling a Story

• Some examples require telling a detailed story for full impact

• Ensure your story fits within time constraints

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Using Examples Effectively: Choose Carefully

• Use relevant examples: Stay on point

• Choose vivid examples: Create images

• Use representative examples: Reflect what is

accurate

• Be mindful of the vividness effect

• Stack examples when one is not enough

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Using Statistics Competently • Statistics are measures of what is true or factual

expressed in numbers

• A well-chosen statistic can:

• Support claims

• Show trends

• Correct false assumptions

• Validate hypotheses

• Contradict myths

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Choose Statistics for Effect • Use accurate statistics accurately

• Don’t distort information

• Make statistics concrete and meaningful

• Make statistical comparisons to gain perspective

• Use credible sources

• Objectivity and accuracy are essential

• Stack statistics to create an impact

• Use visual aids to clarify statistical trends and analysis

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Use Accurate Statistics Accurately

Minimum Wage for U.S. workers:

1969: $1.60

2019: $7.25

Minimum Wage Adjusted for Inflation:

1969: $10.95

2019: $7.25

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Make Statistics Concrete

Question: How hot is Venus (the hottest planet in our solar system)?

Answer: 864 degrees Fahrenheit (average)

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Make Statistics Concrete (cont.)

According to Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Venus is hot enough to bake a pizza in 3 seconds.

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Make Statistical Comparisons

Pay Gap between CEOs and Average U.S. Worker

1980: CEOs made 42 times more $$$

2017: CEOs made 361 times more $$$

Source: Quinnell, K. (2018, May 22). Retrieved from:

https://aflcio.org/2018/5/22/executive-paywatch-2018-gap-between-ceo-and-worker-compensation-continues-gro w

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Use Credible Sources for All Statistics

• Internet websites are not necessarily credible sources for statistics.

• Blogging sites almost always have a biased point of view.

• “Studies show” and “research indicates” are not credible source citations for statistics.

• All statistics, except the most common (e.g., 50 states in the U.S.) require a credible source.

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Stack Statistics for Impact

When one statistic simply won’t do:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that persons with a high school degree have a median weekly income of $730. By comparison, persons with an Associate’s degree make $862, workers with a Bachelor’s degree make $1,198, those with a Master’s degree take in $1,434 a week, and individuals with a doctorate earn $1,825 a week.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019

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Use Visual Aids to Clarify Statistical Trends and Analysis

A simple graph can make overwhelming numbers more comprehensible

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Using Testimony Competently

Types of Testimony:

• Testimony of Experts

• Eyewitness Testimony

• Testimony of Non-Experts

A testimony is a firsthand account of events or the conclusions offered publicly by experts on a topic.

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How to Use Testimony Effectively

• Quote or paraphrase accurately • Do not shorten quotes to take on a different

meaning • Do not delete important qualifiers from

statements

• Use qualified sources • Testimony from non-experts and eyewitnesses

can be highly unreliable

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General Consideration Across Types of Supporting Materials

• Choose interesting supporting materials • Cite sources completely and unambiguously • Source citations should include (at minimum):

1. Source name 2. Qualifications of the source (if not obvious) 3. Outlet where evidence can be found 4. Date of the publication

• Abbreviate repetitive source citations • Combine examples, statistics, and quotes

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Review of Chapter 5 Learning Objectives

• 5.1 Strategically use examples to improve understanding and to support points in a given speech.

• 5.2 Accurately select statistics when appropriate to support content in a given speech.

• 5.3 Identify how competently using principle types of testimony can support claims in a given speech.