Public Speaking:
An Audience-Centered Approach – 7th edition
Chapter 8
Using
Supporting
Material
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Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
“I use
not only
all the
brains I
have, but
all that
I can
borrow.”
- Woodrow Wilson
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
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Illustrations.
Descriptions & explanations.
Definitions.
Analogies.
Statistics.
Opinions.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Illustrations
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Short stories or
anecdotes with
examples to
support an idea, issue or problem.
Brief: simplified example.
Extended: in-depth example.
Hypothetical: potential example.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Illustrations Effectively
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Make sure they clearly
relate to ideas they support.
Make sure they are typical.
Make them vivid and specific.
Pick ones that audience can relate to.
Best illustrations are personal ones.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Descriptions & Explanations
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Descriptions: words painting a mental
picture of what something is like.
Explanations: discussions of
 How something
occurs or develops.
 Reasons why
something happens.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Descriptions &
Explanations Effectively
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Provide sufficient information.
Make information clear and crisp.
Do not overload listeners
with too many details.
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Types of Supporting Material
Definitions
Statements about what a term
means or how it is applied in a
specific instance.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Two Legitimate Reasons
to Use Definitions
• Technical, specialized or
unknown terms may need defined.
• Speakers may have to show examples
of how concepts apply to situations.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Two Types of Definitions
By classification
Operational
(Dictionary definition)
Constructed by first
placing a term in a
general class to which
it belongs, and then
differentiating it from
other members of that
class
(Applied Definition)
An explanation of how
something works, or
what it does.
More original than a
dictionary definition
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Definitions Effectively
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Use when absolutely necessary.
Make sure audience can
understand definition.
Make sure definition is
consistent with terms
used later in speech.
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Types of Supporting Material
Analogies
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Comparisons.
Help listeners understand the less
familiar by showing how it is similar
to the more familiar.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Two Types of Analogies
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Literal: comparing two things
that are highly similar.
Figurative: comparing two dissimilar
things that share some common
feature that forms the basis of
comparison.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Literal vs. Figurative Analogies
Literal Analogy
“What worked in New
York City on 9-11 for
disaster management
should work in
Los Angeles.”
(Two U.S.
coastal major
metropolitan cities)
Figurative Analogy
“Homeland Defense
is the best
medicine against
the epidemic
of terrorism”
(Comparing
terrorism
to a virus)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Analogies Effectively
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(For literal analogies) Make sure
the two things being compared
share many similar qualities.
(For figurative analogies) Make sure
the similarity between dissimilar
things is quite obvious.
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Types of Supporting Material
Statistics
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Numerical data
summarizing
facts or samples.
Can express
magnitude or seriousness of situation.
Can be percentage expressing
relationship of part to whole.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Statistics Effectively
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Use reputable, authoritative
and unbiased sources.
Make accurate sense of statistics.
“Compact” (to make easier to
understand & remember).
“Explode” (to show significance
across time).
“Round off (to make clearer).
Use visual aids to present statistics.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Three Types of Opinions
Expert
Testimony
Statements
of
recognized
authorities
(often more
credible)
Lay
Literary
Quotations
Testimony
Statements
Opinions or
of nonexperts descriptions by
with firsthand writers speaking
in a memorable –
knowledge
often poetic –
way
(often more
(often have
emotional)
more impact)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
Types of Supporting Material
Using Opinions Effectively
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Make sure “experts” are experts.
Identify qualifications.
Cite authorities who
are more objective.
Make sure opinion is
typical of “majority.”
Do not misquote.
Control number of
literary quotes.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
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Selecting the Best
Supporting Material
Magnitude: larger numbers are better.
Proximity: support relating more
closely with listeners is better.
Concreteness: details are
better for listeners to remember.
Variety: more diverse forms of
support will reach more listeners.
Humor: listeners might appreciate wit.
Suitability: pick support appropriate for
speaker, audience, and occasion.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009