Chapter 5 - Researching

Your Topic
A Module for Public Speaking and Writing EN 2B
ICI - TOHM Department
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this module the students should be
able to:

 Plan how to search for a suitable topic.

 Determine the goals in writing a speech.
 Follow the guidelines for gathering speech
materials in writing.
 Demonstrate the different approaches to writing
an effective speech topic.
Public Speaking Topics
Plan Your Research
 Know how to find the data you need to support your
ideas.
 Formulate a research plan
 Critically evaluate sources and choose the best
materials available.
 Record your findings in systematic way.
Planning A Search Strategy
 Budget enough time.
 Get to know your library as well as the librarian in
your research plan.
 Let your topic guide your research.
 Identify key terms to use when you search
computerized catalogs, databases, or the internet.
 Identify experts in the field.
 Keep a running list of all your sources as you search.
 Plan to use a variety of sources.
Guidelines for Gathering
Speech Materials
The Gathering of Speech Materials – is essential in speech
building . After knowing the purpose of your speech, you
start to gather materials.

Personal Observations – there is nothing more credible

than to trust from your own personal experience.

Printed Matter – one of the biggest source of speech

materials is the printed matter if there is lack of personal
experience.
Interviews/Communication with Others – concepts or
ideas may be gained from interviews with other people
who are experts in the field of your topic or even from
plain ordinary people just to get their opinions.

Questionnaire – make a set of questions for a number of

people to answer.

Audio-visual Media – radio, television, and the movies

contribute greatly to the dissemination of information.
Forms of Supporting
Materials
Six (6) Basic Types of Supporting Materials
 EXPLANATIONS
 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
 ILLUSTRATIONS AND NARRATIVES
 SPECIFIC INSTANCES
 STATISTICS
 TESTIMONIES
1. EXPLANATION – It is a form of description or exposition
that makes a term, concept, process, or proposal lucid
or satisfactory.
 explanations tell what, how, or why
 showing relationships between the whole and its parts
 makes concepts easier to understand

2. COMPARISON and CONTRAST – are useful verbal

devices for clarifying ideas.
 Figuring out similarities and differences helps listeners
understand your ideas and opinions.
 Contrasts shows variety and differences.
 Comparison are kinds of similarities that connect
something already known or believed with ideas a
speaker hopes to have understood or accepted.

3. ILLUSTRATIONS and NARRATIVES – are useful forms of

supporting materials that show detailed example of an
idea you wish to maintain.
a. Illustration – if the example describes a concept,
condition, or circumstance
b. Narrative – if its in the form of a story

 An illustration or narrative is always “for instance”

 Some illustrations and narratives are hypothetical while
others are factual
 Illustrations share many characteristics with
explanations

How to Choose Illustrations and Narratives:

 The illustration or narrative is clearly related to the idea

it intended to support.
 It is a fair example
 It is vivid and impressive in detail (visual portrayal)
4. SPECIFIC INSTANCES – are undeveloped illustrations or
examples.
 Roman orator Cicero was the first advocate of “filling
the mind” with examples, he called it accumulation.
 Their power comes from cumulative effect rather than
vivid detail.

5. STATISTICS – refer to numbers that show relationship

between and among phenomena.
 Relationships that can emphasize size or magnitude
 Describe subclasses or parts, or establish trends
 Statistics clarify situations
 Substantiate potentially disputable central ideas
 Mae complex aspects of the world clear to listeners

6. TESTIMONY – is citing the opinions or conclusions of

others.
 Testimony mere adds weight to an idea
 It lends credibility to an assertion
 All testimony should meet the twin test of pertinence
and audience acceptability.
 When used to strengthen a statement rather than
amplify or illustrate an idea, testimony should satisfy
four main criteria:
Four (4) Main Criteria of a Testimony:

1. The person quoted should be qualified, by training

and experience, to speak on the topic being
discussed.
2. The authority’s statement should be based on first-
hand knowledge.
3. The judgment expressed shouldn’t be unduly
influenced by personal interests.
4. The listeners should perceive the person quoted to
be an actual authority.
QUESTIONS?
CHECKPOINT!
Quiz – Go to your
MOODLE platform
Pointers For Graded Recitation:
- What are the twin tests of a testimony?
- How do you differentiate an illustration from a
narrative as supporting material?
- What is the next best thing for gathering materials if
the researcher lacks personal experience?
- Describe a resource person who is called an expert in
the field.
- Give an example of audio-visual media and express
how it contributes to the dissemination of
information.