Chapter 10

Researching your presentation

Your research plan

• Successful speeches require supporting information.

• That requires research!• Where do you start?

– Library– Internet– Expert

Library

• Card catalog– Online or paper-based– Three kinds of cards

• Author card• Title card• Subject card

Library

• Information in books– Table of contents

• Outlines the book for you.

– Index• Tells you exactly where to find

the information in the book.

Library

• Periodicals– Journals, magazines,

newspapers– Ask librarian to help you

find a database.– Articles are a good source.– Make sure they are

reputable periodicals.

Library

• Almanacs– A lot of random information.

• Atlases– Maps and graphic

information.– Use for visual presentation.

• Biographies• Encyclopedias• Quotation collections

Internet

• Googling your subject is a good way to start.

• Remember anyone can publish anything on the Internet.– Make sure you go to a

reputable site.• Cnn.com, Chron.com,

NYTimes.com

Expert

• Can save time.• Give you more refined

information.• Can suggest the best

sources.• Can give you great

quotes.

What to do with your research• Take notes

– Record more than you think is necessary.

• It is much harder to go back and get more info.

– Organize them into specific categories.

– Write on note cards.– Make sure to note where

you go the information.

What to do with your research• Quoting material

– Plagiarism• Copying or imitation the

language, ideas or thoughts of another and passing them off as your original work.

– Paraphrasing• Rewording an original passage

– Still have to attribute the information to the person or place you got the information.

Attribution

• Tell where you got your information.– According to the Web site

Cnn.com…– Author James Patterson

said…

• THIS IS A MUST OR IT IS CONSIDERED PLAGARISM!!!!!

Chapter 11

Organizing your speech

The Introduction

• This how you start your speech.

• Does four things– Gets the audience’s attention.– Provides a clear link from your

attention-getter to your speech topic.

– Gives your specific thesis statement.

– Presents a preview of the major areas that will be discussed.

The Introduction

• DO NOT start your speech by saying. “Hi. I’m going to tell you about…”

• You DO start your speech with an attention getter.– The first words out of your

mouth grab the audiences attention.

– There are 5 of them…you only use one.

The Introduction – attention getters• Asking question

– Best and easiest to use– “How many of you know

who Theodore Geisel is?”

• Making a reference– Refer to specific people in

the audience, your physical surroundings, etc…

– “I think this classroom needs a little something. Don’t you. Why don’t we try to liven it up a little.”

The Introduction – attention getters• Make a startling statement

– Jolts your audience into paying attention.

– “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourselfany direction you choose.You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

The Introduction – attention getters• Giving a quotation

– When you repeat the exact words someone else said, it gives you creditability.

– Dr. Seuss once said, “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

The Introduction – attention getters• Telling a story

– A narrative or anecdote. – “I don’t think there has ever

been a Christmas when I haven’t stopped what I was doing to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” That is my favorite movie, and although the new one with Jim Carrey is good, there will never be one like the original.”

The Introduction

• Thesis statement– Tells the audience exactly

what you will be speaking about. It clarifies the overall goal of the speech.

– “Today, I will inform you about…”

– “My goal is to explain…”– I would like to share with

you…”

The Introduction

• Preview Statement– One sentence at the end of

the introduction that gives the audience an overview of the subtopics you will be discussing in the body of the speech.

– “Dr. Seuss is a brilliant man because of his political views, his writing and his art.”

The Body

• It is written in an outline form.– An outline is the speaker’s

road map.

• You do not write everything you are saying in your speech.

• You don’t write in complete sentences.

The Body (outline)

• Has at least three subtopics with supporting material and details.

I. Subtopic #1A. Supporting material

1. Details

The Body (outline)

• Subtopics– Match the items listed in your

preview statement.– “Dr. Seuss is a brilliant man because of his

political views, his writing and his art.”

– Most important things you will be taking about.

– Shown with Roman numerals

I. Political viewsII. His writingIII. His art

The Body (outline)

• Supporting material– Information you have

gathered to reinforce the subtopics.

– Shown with uppercase alphabet

I. His political viewsA. Political cartoonistB. His books

The Body )outline)• Details

– Provide information that breaks down the subtopic even more

– One step deeper into the information.

I. His political viewsA. Political cartoonist

1. Called attention to the early days of the Holocaust

2. Denounced discrimination of Jews and African Americans.

B. His books1. “The Sneeches” was a book about

racial equality.2. “The Lorax” was about

environmentalism and anti-consumerism.

The Conclusion

• The way to signify the speech is finished.– Restate your preview

statement. Remind the audience of your subtopics.

– Summarize – repeat your thesis

– Leave a lasting impression. This should relate back to your attention getter.

The Conclusion

• I have told you about Dr. Suess’ political views, his books and his art. I hope that you have learned a little more about Theodore Geisel…the man we call Dr. Seuss. And as the great man once said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”