Chapter 7 Summary
After reading this chapter, you will understand how to incorporate material from outside
sources into your speeches.
You should aim to use a variety of research in your speeches so that you can
appropriately appeal to your audience members. For example, a speech that includes
too many facts or statistics will not be memorable to your audience. Similarly, a speech
that uses only narratives may not be a strong logos appeal.
One type of support is examples, which engage the audience, get their attention, and
give evidence a human component. You could use short, narrative (story), or
hypothetical examples. Make sure to tailor your examples to your audience so they are
relevant.
Narratives, or stories, are also a powerful supporting material. Stories help to catch and
keep audience members’ attention. You could use a personal narrative or a hypothetical
narrative.
Explanations and descriptions are helpful as well. Explanations work well when your
audience might not have background knowledge of a topic. You have an opportunity to
tell the audience about a process, thing, idea, etc., in simple language. Descriptions
help your audience to visualize the topic you present. For example, you could describe
a building to get your audience to see in in their heads.
Many speeches contain definitions. You should avoid technical language and jargon
where possible, but there are some key words that you must define for your audience. If
you think your audience may not know what a word means, define it. It’s better to define
a word they already know than to not define it and confuse them. There are several
types of definitions, including denotative, connotative, and stipulated. Denotative
definitions are dictionary definitions (remember, d=dictionary). Connotative definitions
are the emotions we associate with a word. For example if someone says the word
“puppy,” you may have a positive or negative emotion related to that word based on
your own experience with puppies. A stipulated definition is one that you establish early
on in your speech and explain that when you use a certain term, it refers to that specific
definition.
Analogies can be powerful in speeches. Literal analogies compare two or more similar
things, whereas figurative analogies compare two or more things that do not appear to
have a connection. Watch this video on analogies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
F-TOk0ihkw.
At some point in all of your speeches you will likely use statistics, which emphasize and
clarify your argument. A few rules for using statistics include putting the numbers in
context, using them ethically, and visualizing them for the audience. Don’t present
statistics out of context. For example is you use a statistic of 90% percent, explain
whether that percentage is generally high, low, or normal. This ties into using statistics
ethically. Don’t trick your audience by throwing out statistics without explaining them.
Statistics lend themselves well to visual aids in the form of charts, graphics, etc. Use
these to your advantage.
The last type of support you should consider using in your speeches is testimony. There
are two types of testimony: expert and lay/peer. Expert testimony is delivered by an
expert in the field (i.e. a scientist), whereas lay/peer testimony is delivered by someone
who have first-hand insight into a phenomenon.
Choose a variety of support to include in your speeches. Remember, different types of
support will appeal to different audience members. Also, make sure to cite verbally, in
text in your outline, and in a reference list using APA style. Refer to the APA Style
Overview for information on how to properly use APA style.
As mentioned above, supporting material is used to get and maintain audience
attention. Your audience has competing stimuli when you are delivering your speech
and the supporting material you’ve incorporated can help them focused on your speech
instead of other parts of their surroundings.
Thank you for reading the Chapter 7 summary. Be sure to read the chapter and
materials in this week’s module as well as complete the homework.
