Chapter 13
Speech Content: Research, Supporting Materials, and
Ethics
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CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
• Learn how to research your speech and cite evidence in your presentation.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
• This chapter introduces us to a scenario where a student named Roberto wanted to deliver a
speech about rebate rip-offs after a personal experience left him feeling irritated. After showing
his instructor a draft of his outline, he was initially disappointed by the feedback. Because
RESEARCHING YOUR SPEECH
• Research improves the quality and effectiveness of your speech.
• You can use evidence—information gained from research sources—to support claims in your
speech.
• By presenting evidence, you can also gain credibility—the perception of your audience that you
are qualified to speak on your topic.
• Creating a Research Plan
The following steps will help you formulate a research plan—a strategy for finding and
keeping track of information to use in your speech.
Inventory your research needs.
o Date of the publication
o Volume number (for periodicals)
o Publisher and city of publication (for books)
o Page number where the evidence appears
o URL for Internet sources
o Economic self-interest: Sources can desire to make money, which may
lead them to slant facts or explanations.
o The need to please superiors: For example, a government worker might
defend a boss’s poorly conceived policy.
o Ego investment: Sources can be so wrapped up in a theory or a cause
Books
• To find books related to your topic, start by researching your library’s electronic
catalog by subject.
• Such catalogs are usually available online, allowing remote access.
Periodicals
• Newspapers are sometimes said to produce “a first draft of history” because
their articles represent journalists’ views of current events as those events are
unfolding.
Government documents
• If your topic relates to government activities, laws, or regulations, government
documents can provide useful information for your speech.
• Using the Internet
The Internet has become the initial and even primary research option for many college
students.
You can’t always be certain that your Internet search will generate the information you
need.
Benefits of Internet research
• Internet research allows you convenient access to information on nearly any
topic from any location.
• The Internet also offers speed.
Disadvantages of Internet research
• Despite the web’s vastness, most of the world’s knowledge is still contained in
printed works.
• You can’t assume that the information you find online is credible because most
of it is not vetted in the same way that books and periodicals are.
Evaluating the credibility of online sources
• If the author’s name is noted, you can search the name online or by checking
periodical indexes, such as Academic Search Premier, to see if he or she has
• Interviewing Experts
You also can learn about your topic by interviewing people with expertise on your topic.
Prepare for your interview.
• Decide what you want to learn from an interview, and then decide whom to
interview.
• Arrive on time for your interview, and dress professionally, unless the occasion
warrants different attire.
• Start with friendly, easy-to-answer questions.
• Stay focused.
• Maintain eye contact with your subject.
• Be open to new information.
SELECTING AND USING SUPORTING MATERIALS
• Supporting materials are the different types of information that you use to develop and
support your main ideas.
• Uses of Supporting Materials
Building audience interest
Enhancing audience understanding
audience a deeper and richer picture of your point.
Definitions
• When you introduce new information to audience members, you often use terms
that are unfamiliar to them.
• For terms that are specific to the field of your speech, an expert definition from a
credible source of information on that topic is a good choice.
Statistics
• Statistics are information (or data) presented in numerical form.
• To present statistics effectively to your audience, apply the following guidelines:
o Limit the number of statistics you present.
o Use presentation aids to explain your statistics.
o Establish context by explaining how statistics relate to your listeners.
• Analogies can also be figurative—meaning that the two entities are not in the same
category, but the characteristics of one (which is familiar) can help the audience
understand the characteristics of the other (which is unfamiliar).
• Guidelines for Using Supporting Materials
Choose the most credible proof.
Consider your audience.
SPEECH ETHICS
• Many students may be unaware of the appropriate standards for speech ethics—the principles and
values that should guide your conduct when preparing and delivering a speech.
• Although making ethical choices in public speaking can sometimes be difficult, we will help you develop
• When a speaker makes a statement that includes true facts mixed with false information,
he or she is telling a half-truth.
• In practice, a half-truth has the same damaging effect as a lie.
False inference
• When speakers make statements with an intent to lead listeners to an incorrect
• To avoid the risk of plagiarism, it is critical to keep track of any online information you
have cut and pasted and to write down the citation at the time you do your research.
Properly quote from sources.
• Any time that you directly quote information from a source, you need to attribute that
material to the source in your speech and outline.
LIST OF KEY TERMS
evidence
credibility
research plan
research librarians
citation
supporting materials
examples
brief examples
extended examples
testimony
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why is gathering credible research important for presentations?
2. What are four types of sources you can find by conducting research in the library?
• Books, periodicals, newspapers, government documents: With the ease of access to the
Internet, many people forget that the library is still a valuable resource filled with reference
materials. The university library will have a search tool (online catalog) where student can
3. What are the pros and cons of conducting Internet research?
• Advantages: Many students appreciate the convenience and speed of conducting research
using the Internet. Students have a tendency to go straight to Google, and if they would like
4. How can you determine if the source you’ve selected is credible?
• Students often don’t know how to tell if a source they’d like to use is credible. Have your
students note four things when making that determination:
Expertise: A source with expertise has the knowledge necessary to offer reliable facts
5. What are some guidelines for using supporting materials in your speech?
• Videos: This question is great for class discussion because students sometimes struggle with
incorporating supporting materials into the body of their speech to enhance their message.
They often want to play a YouTube video, but I recommend using this medium as a
APPLY YOUR SKILLS
APPLY YOUR SKILLS FROM CHAPTER 13
1. Look at the “Apply Your Skills” activity on page 413 in the text. After students complete the
activity, have them answer the following questions, either in a small group, in a class discussion, or
in writing:
MORE “APPLY YOUR SKILLS” IDEAS
1. Review the illustration “Maintain Accurate Records of Your Sources” on page 384 in the text.
What are some strategies and tools you can use to maintain accurate records of your sources? Why is
it important to do so?
could the individual on the right provide you that would make him an expert in the medical field,
and how could you determine if that was an accurate claim?
3. Review the illustration “Online Indexes Offer the Best of Both Worlds” on page 389 in the text.
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PERSONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
1. Ask students to think about the classes in which they believe the most learning took place. Have
them identify the class, explain the type of assignments and projects they completed, and describe
how the assignments applied to their learning. Based on this information, would they consider
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Give students 30 minutes to come up with three potential speech topics. Then have them find
three different credible source types for each topic and cite them using them appropriate format
2. Give students five minutes to make a list of everything that needs to be included in a citation for a
book, for a periodical, and for a web page on a Works Cited page. This may seem like a simple
exercise, but it is important for enhancing understanding citation work. After students have
completed this task, write their responses on the board, and ask them why they would include each
piece of information. Asking students “Why?” helps them to comprehend the material better. Ask
4. Provide students with the following scenario, and give them 15 minutes to conduct this activity
(you might have to explain the meaning of the speech topic): “Your major is criminology, with a
5. Have students form groups of four or five people and research the institution’s policy on
plagiarism (also known as an “academic integrity policy”). It should be included in the student code
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ADDITIONAL MEDIA RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES
1. Search for and watch the 10-minute video titled “KP’s Speech Class—Research & Citing Sources
(Part I—2009).” After watching the research tutorial, provide two tips for conducting research and
two research pitfalls to avoid.
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HANDOUTS AND READY–TO–PRINT ACTIVITIES
Oral Citation
Exercise
Listed below are various sources on the topic of “cupcakes.” Use the information
provided to write how you would orally cite each source if you were giving an
informative speech on the topic. Be sure to present the full citation (which would be
written on your prepared notecards during the actual speech) by identifying the
Author:
Publication:
Document type:
Title:
Abstract:
Smith, Jessica Leigh
People. 4/29/2012 Special Issue, p71-1NULL. 3p.
Magazine article
Healthy Cupcakes across the States
The article offers information on cupcake bakeries in the U.S. including Cakes R Us in Dallas,
TX, Carly’s Kitchen in New York City, NY, and Cakery Tops in Beverly Hills, CA. Gluten-free
and vegan cupcake recipes are presented.
Author:
PR Newswire