COMM-2500 Chapter 8: Textbook Notes
3 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Good speeches need strong supporting materials to bolster the speaker"s point of view. The problem with generalizations is that they don"t answer the three questions listeners always ask of a speaker: what do you mean? why should i believe you? so what? . The skillful use of supporting materials often makes the difference between a poor speech and a good one. Research has shown that vivid, concrete examples have a strong impact on listener"s beliefs and actions. Without examples, ideas often seem vague, impersonal, and lifeless. With examples, ideas become specific, personal, and lively. Brief examples also called specific instances may be referred to in passing to illustrate a point. Another way to use brief examples is to pile them one upon the other until you create the desired impression. Extended examples are often called narratives, illustrations, or anecdotes. By telling a story vividly and dramatically, they pull listeners into the speech.
