Facts and Statistics
Which type of supporting material uses information that can be verified?
Facts
What type of supporting material uses another person's perspective or experience?
Testimony
What is contextual reasoning?
Choosing supporting material that fits the specific speaking situation.
Howard University was founded in 1867.
Fact
“65% of college students surveyed reported feeling stressed during finals.” What type of support is this?
Statistics
A doctor explains the health effects of sleep deprivation. What type of testimony is this?
Expert testimony
Name two things a speaker should consider when choosing supporting material.
Audience, purpose, occasion, setting, or message.
“75% of students surveyed said they experience stress during finals.”
Statistic
What is the main difference between a fact and a statistic?
A fact is verifiable information, while a statistic presents numerical information.
What type of supporting material uses a narrative about a person's experience or events?
A story/narrative
True or False: The same supporting material is appropriate for every audience.
False
“A student was struggling with school and work, so she visited a campus counselor and learned how to manage her stress.”
Story/Narrative
A speaker wants to show that a problem affects a large percentage of college students. Which supporting material would be most directly useful?
Statistics.
A student describes their own experience dealing with college stress. What type of support is this?
Personal testimony
You're giving a graduation speech about overcoming college challenges. Would a personal story or a scientific statistic necessarily be more appropriate?
A personal story may be more appropriate because the goal is to connect with the audience emotionally and make the message relatable.
“For example, a student who works 20 hours a week while taking five classes may struggle to balance school and work.”
Example