Embedded Files
This preview from your weekly readings is designed to give you an overview of the material we will cover this week. Please be sure to completely read each assigned chapter since the material will be needed to answer the quizzes and to complete other graded work such as discussions and assignments.
For this week, please read:
Chapter 9.2 Researching and Supporting Your Speech
Chapter 9.2 Researching and Supporting Your Speech
For this chapter, please read only pages 434 to 450)
Chapter Learning Objectives
Chapter Learning Objectives
Identify appropriate methods for conducting college-level research.
Distinguish among various types of sources.
Evaluate the credibility of sources.
Identify various types of supporting material.
Employ visual aids that enhance a speaker’s message.
We live in an age where access to information is more convenient than ever before. The days of photocopying journal articles in the stacks of the library or looking up newspaper articles on microfilm are over for most. Yet, even though we have all this information at our fingertips, research skills are more important than ever. Our challenge now is not accessing information but discerning what information is credible and relevant. Even though it may sound inconvenient to have to physically go to the library, students who did research before the digital revolution did not have to worry as much about discerning. If you found a source in the library, you could be assured of its credibility because a librarian had subscribed to or purchased that content. When you use Internet resources like Google or Wikipedia, you have no guarantees about some of the content that comes up.
Chapter 9.3 Organizing
Chapter 9.3 Organizing
Chapter Learning Objectives
Chapter Learning Objectives
Explain the process of organizing a speech.
Identify common organizational patterns.
Incorporate supporting materials into a speech.
Employ verbal citations for various types of supporting material.
List key organizing signposts.
Identify the objectives of a speech introduction.
Identify the objectives of a speech conclusion.
When organizing your speech, you want to start with the body. Even though most students want to start with the introduction, I explain that it’s difficult to introduce and preview something that you haven’t yet developed. A well-structured speech includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Think of this structure as a human body. This type of comparison dates back to Plato, who noted, “every speech ought to be put together like a living creature” (Winans, 1917). The introduction is the head, the body is the torso and legs, and the conclusion is the feet. The information you add to this structure from your research and personal experience is the organs and muscle. The transitions you add are the connecting tissues that hold the parts together, and a well-practiced delivery is the skin and clothing that makes everything presentable.
Chapter 9.4 Outlining
Chapter 9.4 Outlining
Chapter Learning Objectives
Chapter Learning Objectives
Explain the principles of outlining.
Create a formal outline.
Explain the importance of writing for speaking.
Create a speaking outline.
Think of your outline as a living document that grows and takes form throughout your speech-making process. When you first draft your general purpose, specific purpose, and thesis statement, you could create a new document on your computer and plug those in, essentially starting your outline. As you review your research and distill the information down into separate central ideas that support your specific purpose and thesis, type those statements into the document. Once you’ve chosen your organizational pattern and are ready to incorporate supporting material, you can quote and paraphrase your supporting material along with the bibliographic information needed for your verbal citations into the document. By this point, you have a good working outline, and you can easily cut and paste information to move it around and see how it fits into the main points, subpoints, and sub-subpoints. As your outline continues to take shape, you will want to follow established principles of outlining to ensure a quality speech.
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