Engagement 7: Supporting a Point

Spex #2-Description

Supporting a single statement or claim.

I encourage you to find information to support a point relevant to your next major speech topic. You will state a point and incorporate three types of supporting material to support it:

a) Facts

b) Testimony

c) An example or narrative

d) Statistics

e) Definition

Do not forget to cite each source of information for each piece of supportingmaterial (except if it’s a hypothetical example or a narrative). You’ll want to include the author, or sponsoring agency of the source and the date of the source (year for books or agency reports, full date for newspapers and magazines).

Turn in your typed outline, including a bibliography of the three different pieces of supporting material. Make sure you label the type of supporting material you used (see example). Your bibliography should follow the APA format as described in your text, p. _______

In the following example‐notice how all forms of the supporting material work together to establish the main point. If your main points are well supported, your message should stand up even if challenged.

Take notice of the complete and thorough source citations.

Take notice that this student labeled the supporting material.

Take notice that there are transitions in between each of the sub points‐you won’t need to do this for your major speech; in your major speech, your transitions will move you from the intro to the main point and between each of your main points, as well as move you into your conclusion. The reason there are transitions in between each of the sub points in this example is just to give you practice incorporating them.

Spex #2 Supporting a point example

 I.               Suntans are not as good for you as they look on you.

(We as the audience might think, why should I care? Your job is to prove your point by offering up some solid evidence why we should).

 Transition: Let’s examine the evidence.

A.    According to a 2009 report by the American Cancer Society, prolonged exposure without protection is responsible for about 90% of all skin cancers. (Label-statistic).

Transition: Moreover exposure without protection also accelerates the aging process.

(Your audience might think: “how do I know this is true?” Again, prove it with solid supporting material).

1. B.    According to Dr. John Knox, Head of Dermatology at the Baylor University College of Medicine, “If you do biopsies on the backs of people ages 75 and 35, you won’t seen any difference under the microscope…protected skin stays youthful much longer. (Label-testimony).

Transition: Let’s look at one person who suffered from overexposure.

1. C.    Jane was a fair-skinned blond haired girl who loved swimming and sunbathing. She often sunburned but didn’t think there would be any effects other than the short-term pain. Having a good tan seemed so healthy. Now she has skin cancer and can’t go out without wearing a hat and sunscreen. (Label-example).

Transition: What does all this mean?

Restatement: A suntan may make you look healthy but it is not. Overexposure to the sun causes cancer and premature aging. Are you willing to take that risk just to look good for a brief time?

 Communication Studies 20

Public Speaking

Name_______________

Class Day and Time_______________

Speaking Exercise 2 –Graded

Supporting a Claim and Citing Sources

Instructor Critique Form

Instructions: Fill in your name and hand in this form on the day that you speak.  After it is returned to you with comments, keep it until the course is over.  The ratings on the subcategories stand for Very Effective (1), Effective (2), and Needs more work (3).  They are not of equal importance so the ratings are not intended to “add up” to a score.  The grade is based on my judgment of the overall effectiveness of the speech in the larger categories specified on the assignment sheet. 

Speech Element                      

Content                                             

Main point (claim/thesis) was clear                            1          2          3

Presented 3 pieces of evidence                                1          2          3

Thoroughly cited at least two different sources         1          2          3

Used at least two different lead ins                            1          2          3

Transitioned between points                                      1          2          3

Included a concluding statement                               1          2          3

Delivery                                                        

Extemporaneous delivery                                          1          2          3

Vocal Delivery                                                            1          2          3

Physical Delivery                                                       1          2          3

Planner                                             

Typed                                                                         1          2          3

Bibliography in APA format                                      1          2          3

Content            10

Delivery            10

Planner              5

Total points         /25

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