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Chapter 6: Finding and Using Supporting Materials 6.1 Multiple Choice 1. Merely citing the findings of your research in your speech will NOT be enough to convince your audience. You must also consider whether the supporting materials a. have the power to effectively support the topic. b. provide the support your topic requires. c. meet the informational demands of the audience. d. all of the above. Answer: d. all of the above. Rationale: Simply mentioning research findings isn't sufficient to persuade your audience. The supporting materials must also be relevant, powerful, and meet the audience's informational needs to effectively support your topic. 2. Which of the following is an example of a secondary source of information? a. a pioneer woman's journal of her trek across the prairies b. a television documentary on the Civil War c. letters from a veteran of World War II relating the attack on Pearl Harbor d. a TV interview with the survivor of an avalanche Answer: b. a television documentary on the Civil War Rationale: A secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources. In this case, the television documentary is providing a perspective on the Civil War, which is a secondary source. 3. Eyewitness and firsthand accounts of events are called a. expert sources. b. authoritative sources. c. primary sources. d. explanatory sources. Answer: c. primary sources. Rationale: Primary sources provide direct evidence or firsthand accounts of events, making them valuable for research and analysis. 4. If your audience was misinformed about the topic of your speech or unaware of the scope of the problem, your analysis of supporting materials would address the selection guidelines of a. "What support does your topic require?" b. "What does your audience need to know?" c. "How objective is your supporting material?" d. "Which form of support will be most effective for your topic?" Answer: b. "What does your audience need to know?" Rationale: When addressing an audience that is misinformed or unaware, your supporting materials should focus on providing them with the information they need to understand the topic better. 5. The most reliable source of supporting materials is/are a. computerized databases. b. television broadcasts. c. the printed word. d. personal interviews. Answer: c. the printed word. Rationale: Printed materials, such as books and scholarly articles, are generally considered more reliable than other sources due to the editorial process and peer review they undergo. 6. If you wanted to find materials dealing with education and humanities journals, you should make use of a. ERIC. b. LEXIS-NEXUS. c. MEDLINE. d. the Modern Language Association Index. Answer: a. ERIC. Rationale: ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) is a database specifically focused on education literature, making it a suitable choice for finding materials on education and humanities journals. 7. Search engines are a. machines that find engines. b. online databases that allow you to explore broad subjects. c. directories of lists. d. electronic mailing lists. Answer: b. online databases that allow you to explore broad subjects. Rationale: Search engines are tools that help users find information on the internet by searching for keywords or phrases in online databases and websites. 8. All of the following are examples of metasearch engines EXCEPT a. MetaCrawler. b. Dogpile. c. Mama. d. Ask Jeeves. Answer: d. Ask Jeeves. Rationale: Ask Jeeves is not a metasearch engine. It was a question-answering search engine that relied on a human-powered search system. 9. Databases and other resources that are NOT indexed by commercial search engines are called a. metasearch engines. b. search engines. c. first searches. d. the invisible web. Answer: d. the invisible web. Rationale: The invisible web refers to databases and resources that are not indexed by traditional search engines, making them harder to find through standard web searches. 10. If you were interested in an initial reference or general background information, a good place to begin looking would be a. newspapers. b. magazines. c. encyclopedias. d. biographies. Answer: c. encyclopedias. Rationale: Encyclopedias are a good starting point for obtaining general background information on a topic. They provide concise summaries and overviews of various subjects. 11. Two highly reliable newspapers your library likely carries are a. the New York Times and the National Enquirer. b. the Observer and the Christian Science Monitor. c. the National Enquirer and the Star. d. the Wall Street Journal and the Times Courier. Answer: b. the Observer and the Christian Science Monitor. Rationale: The Observer and the Christian Science Monitor are known for their reputable journalism and are considered reliable sources of news. 12. The most reliable source of comprehensive data is a. Statistical Abstracts of the United States. b. New York Times Index. c. The People's Almanac. d. Encyclopedia Americana. Answer: a. Statistical Abstracts of the United States. Rationale: The Statistical Abstracts of the United States provides a comprehensive collection of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States, making it a reliable source of data. 13. If you wanted to find information about famous American historical figures, a good place to begin looking would be a. the Social Science Index. b. the Guide to Periodical Literature. c. Who's Who in America. d. the Vertical File Index. Answer: c. Who's Who in America. Rationale: Who's Who in America is a biographical reference work that contains information on notable individuals in various fields, making it a valuable resource for information about historical figures. 14. If you wanted to document the qualifications of authorities whose testimony you wanted to quote, a good place to search would be a. newspapers. b. biographies. c. magazines. d. documents and reports. Answer: b. biographies. Rationale: Biographies often provide detailed information about a person's background, qualifications, and expertise, making them a good source for documenting the qualifications of authorities. 15. In conducting informational interviews, setting limits on what will be covered should occur a. at the beginning of the interview. b. in the middle of the interview. c. at the end of the interview. d. when the interview is initially arranged. Answer: a. at the beginning of the interview. Rationale: Setting limits on what will be covered in an informational interview helps ensure that both parties are clear about the expectations and scope of the interview from the outset. 16. All of the following are examples of supporting materials EXCEPT a. segments. b. examples. c. comparisons and contrasts. d. testimony. Answer: a. segments Rationale: "Segments" is not typically considered a type of supporting material in the context of speeches or presentations. 17. All of the following are forms of supporting materials EXCEPT a. comparisons and contrasts. b. examples. c. testimony. d. biographies. Answer: d. biographies. Rationale: Biographies are not typically considered a form of supporting material in the context of speeches or presentations. 18. What type of supporting materials will audiences remember more than others? a. numerical information b. expert testimony c. comparisons and contrasts d. qualitative material Answer: d. qualitative material Rationale: Qualitative material, such as stories, anecdotes, and vivid descriptions, is often more memorable to audiences than numerical information or expert testimony. 19. Statistics can be defined as a. percentages. b. numerical size. c. numbers that show relationships between or among phenomena. d. trends in numerical information. Answer: c. numbers that show relationships between or among phenomena. Rationale: Statistics are numerical data that show relationships or patterns between or among phenomena, providing insight into trends or correlations. 20. When selecting examples as supporting materials, you should consider all of the following EXCEPT its a. relevancy. b. fairness. c. trends. d. vividness. Answer: c. trends. Rationale: When selecting examples, you should consider their relevancy, fairness, and vividness to effectively support your argument or topic. Trends are not typically a consideration when selecting examples. 21. All of the following are types of statistics EXCEPT a. anecdotes. b. magnitudes. c. segments. d. trends. Answer: a. anecdotes. Rationale: Statistics are numerical data or information used for analysis and interpretation. Anecdotes, on the other hand, are brief narratives or stories, not numerical data. 22. Statistics can be used in all of the following ways EXCEPT in a. qualitative ways. b. magnitude. c. segments. d. trends. Answer: a. qualitative ways. Rationale: Statistics are primarily used for quantitative analysis, focusing on numerical data to understand magnitudes, segments, and trends. 23. All of the following are strategies for using statistics EXCEPT a. use more understandable terms. b. round off complicated numbers. c. use statistics unfairly. d. use visual aids to clarify statistics. Answer: c. use statistics unfairly. Rationale: Using statistics unfairly would be unethical and misleading. The other options focus on making statistics more accessible and understandable. 24. If your audience has minimal knowledge of a concept, what type of supporting materials would you use? a. testimony b. quantitative information c. comparisons d. newspapers Answer: c. comparisons Rationale: Comparisons can help simplify complex concepts by relating them to something familiar, making it easier for an audience with minimal knowledge to understand. 25. If your audience is hostile, what type of supporting materials would you use? a. comparisons b. statistics c. examples d. contrasts Answer: b. statistics Rationale: Statistics can provide objective data that may help to counteract hostility, as they present factual information that can be difficult to dispute. 26. Plagiarism is a. dealing with issues of right and wrong. b. judging a speaker with preconceived ideas. c. claiming someone else's ideas or information as your own. d. a speaker being honest in what he/she says. Answer: c. claiming someone else's ideas or information as your own. Rationale: Plagiarism involves using someone else's work, ideas, or information without proper attribution, which is unethical and can lead to serious consequences. 6.2 True/False 1. Since we are exposed to so much information, that automatically means the information is better. Answer: False Rationale: The quantity of information does not determine its quality. Just because we are exposed to a lot of information does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. 2. Primary sources are based on information from other sources. Answer: False Rationale: Primary sources are original materials that provide direct evidence or firsthand accounts of an event, person, or topic. They are not based on information from other sources. 3. Letters providing a firsthand account of some event are legitimate sources for supporting materials. Answer: True Rationale: Letters that provide a firsthand account of an event can be legitimate primary sources, as they offer a direct perspective from someone involved in or witnessing the event. 4. Speakers with high credibility need more supporting materials than speakers with low credibility. Answer: False Rationale: Speakers with high credibility may need fewer supporting materials because their reputation and authority already lend credibility to their statements. Conversely, speakers with low credibility may need more supporting materials to establish credibility and persuade their audience. 5. If your audience's attention or comprehension is low, you should use more examples. Answer: True Rationale: Using more examples can help clarify and reinforce key points, making them more accessible and engaging for an audience with low attention or comprehension levels. 6. Speakers with low credibility need more supporting materials than speakers with high credibility. Answer: True Rationale: Speakers with low credibility may need more supporting materials to bolster their arguments and establish credibility with their audience. 7. Many newspapers and magazines published prior to 1980 remain available only in print form. Answer: True Rationale: While many older newspapers and magazines have been digitized and are available online, not all have been, and some may only be accessible in print form. 8. Libraries are still considered useful sources of printed materials in spite of the rapidly changing electronic world. Answer: True Rationale: Libraries continue to be valuable sources of printed materials, offering access to books, journals, and other resources that may not be readily available electronically. 9. ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) is a database that helps to locate scholarly papers in humanities. Answer: True Rationale: ERIC is a database that provides access to educational literature and resources, including scholarly papers, in various fields related to education, including the humanities. 10. A single search engine is capable of searching the entire Web. Answer: False Rationale: No single search engine can search the entire web comprehensively. Different search engines may have different indexes and algorithms, leading to variations in search results. 11. Almost all major newspapers will run their own Web sites. Answer: True Rationale: In today's digital age, most major newspapers have established their own websites to complement their print editions and reach a broader online audience. 12. Generally speaking there are more controls on electronic sources than there are on printed sources. Answer: False Rationale: Electronic sources can vary widely in terms of credibility and reliability, and there may be fewer controls or regulations governing them compared to traditional printed sources. 13. Multicultural biographies are excellent sources of material that has often been neglected in the past. Answer: True Rationale: Multicultural biographies can provide valuable insights into diverse experiences and perspectives that may have been overlooked or underrepresented in historical narratives. 14. An interviewer should be courteous, arrive on time, and use the interview period productively. Answer: True Rationale: Courteous behavior, punctuality, and effective use of time are all important aspects of conducting a successful interview and building rapport with the interviewee. 15. Interviews tend to be one-sided processes. Answer: False Rationale: Interviews are typically interactive processes where both the interviewer and interviewee contribute to the exchange of information and ideas. 16. If you have to be an effective interviewer, it is important that you build a sense of mutual trust and rapport. Answer: True Rationale: Building trust and rapport with the interviewee can lead to more open and candid responses, enhancing the effectiveness of the interview. 17. Illustrations, hypothetical situations, and magnitude are some of the various forms of examples. Answer: False Rationale: Illustrations and hypothetical situations are forms of examples, but "magnitude" is not typically considered a form of example. Magnitude refers to the size, extent, or importance of something. 18. Statistics are the best form of supporting materials. Answer: False Rationale: While statistics can be powerful supporting materials, the best form of supporting materials depends on the context and the specific information being presented. Other forms, such as examples, analogies, and expert testimony, can also be effective. 19. Quantitative supporting materials are easier to remember than qualitative supporting materials. Answer: False Rationale: The ease of remembering quantitative versus qualitative supporting materials can vary depending on individual preferences and the nature of the information being presented. Some people may find quantitative data easier to remember, while others may find qualitative narratives more memorable. 20. Comparisons help to clarify complex situations and processes by focusing on the differences. Answer: False Rationale: Comparisons help to clarify complex situations and processes by highlighting similarities or differences, providing context, and aiding in understanding. 21. Comparison and contrasts should NOT be used together. Answer: False Rationale: Using both comparison and contrast can provide a more comprehensive analysis by highlighting both similarities and differences between two or more subjects. 22. Using visual materials can help to clarify statistics. Answer: True Rationale: Visual materials, such as charts, graphs, and diagrams, can make statistical data easier to understand and interpret by presenting it in a visual format. 23. Trends are numbers that show relationships between and among phenomena. Answer: False Rationale: Trends are patterns or tendencies that indicate a general direction or tendency of change over time. While trends may be represented by numbers, they are not limited to numerical data and can also be observed in qualitative data. 24. Supporting materials can provide the audience with "ammunition" for later discussion. Answer: True Rationale: Supporting materials can arm the audience with additional information, evidence, or examples that they can use to support their own arguments or engage in further discussion on the topic. 25. Plagiarism is the acknowledged inclusion of someone else's words, ideas, or information as one's own. Answer: False Rationale: Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use or appropriation of someone else's words, ideas, or work as one's own. Acknowledging the source does not make it plagiarism. 6.3 Short Answer 1. What is the difference between a primary and a secondary source? Answer: A primary source comes from eyewitness or firsthand experience. A secondary source provides an account based on other sources, some of which could be primary sources. 2. There are many popular general databases that a person may find in a library system; name three. Answer: Answers include ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center), MEDLINE, LexisNexus, InfoTrac, Reader's Guide Full Text, EBSCOhost, FirstSearch, ProQuest Research Library, MLA Bibliography, and PsycInfo. 3. What are some of the electronic resources that might be of use in searching for supporting materials? Answer: Electronic sources include electronic or computerized search systems that can search computerized databases, CD-ROM searches, and the use of the World Wide Web. 4. What kind of information can you obtain from the MEDLINE database? Answer: MEDLINE offers information concerning psychosocial and physiological studies of disease and associated medical problems. 5. What is a search engine? Answer: A search engine is a computer program that allows you to search multliple databases using specific words or phrases. 6. What is a metasearch engine? Answer: A metasearch engine sends the individual's search request to a number of search engines simultaneously. 7. When you start to research a topic, where would you begin and end with regard to the type of research used? Answer: When a person begins research, he/she should start with general references and then go to more specialized references. 8. Where should you look to find supporting materials? Answer: Supporting materials can be discovered through electronic networks, printed materials, and face-to-face questioning. 9. What are four kinds of supporting materials? Answer: (1) Examples, (2) Statistics, and (3) Testimony. 10. What are the two types of examples that can be used as supporting materials? Answer: The two types of examples that can be used are factual examples and hypothetical examples. 11. Explain why a speaker might use qualitative supporting materials rather than quantitative supporting materials. Answer: Speakers might use qualitative supporting materials because they are easier to remember. 12. List three questions that a speaker might ask when using examples as supporting materials. Answer: (1) Are the examples relevant? (2) Are they fair? (3) Are they vivid and impressive in detail? 13. When using statistics, what is meant by segments? Answer: Segments are used to isolate parts of a problem or to show aspects of a problem caused by separate factors. 6.4 Essay Questions 1. You want to give a speech on contributions that minorites have made in the United States. List and explain the research choices you would make while preparing the speech. Answer: The answer should address some of the research choices the speaker will make in preparing the research. The person may want to start with the Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America and then depending on the minority group, the researcher may also search for supporting materials in the Asian American Almanac, The Muslim Almanac, St. James Press Gay and Lesbian Almanac, The African American Almanac, The Hispanic American Almanac, and The Native American Almanac. 2. List the general guidelines that a speaker should use in planning an informational interview. Answer: (1) Decide on a specific purpose. Decide on what you hope to gain from the interview and give that information to the interviewee. (2) Plan your questions in advance so that you know what you want to ask. Expect to be flexible in the interviewing process because things may not go as planned. Set limits on what will be covered in the interview. Conclude the interview by summarizing the main ideas and expressing your appreciation to the interviewee. (3) The interviewer must also be a good listener. Remember that this is a communication process where two-way communication is required. (4) The interviewer must establish rapport with the interviewee. (5) Be courteous and followup the interview with a letter or note of appreciation. 3. If you were giving a speech where examples would be used, explain the two type of examples that can be used and when you would use the examples. Answer: The two type of examples are factual examples and hypothetical examples. Factual examples are recitations of events that actually happened or people, places, and things that actually existed. The use of factual examples or specific instances are used to help establish a point. Hypotheticals are made up examples of what could happen in a given situation. Hypothetical examples can be used to help the audience imagine the possibility of the event happening to them. The power of hypothetical examples comes from the vivid details of the situation given. 4. If you are delivering a speech on affirmative action, which is a controversial issue, explain what type of supporting materials you would use in the speech. Answer: The answers may vary. If one were to deliver a speech on affirmative action, one could use supporting materials such as facts, statistics, and testimony. The reason for choosing these types of supporting materials is because they are rational and credible forms of support. In a hostile audience, or with a controversial issue, the speaker should want to diffuse any negative emotion coming from the audience. It is very difficult for a hostile audience to argue with facts. Facts are pieces of verifiable information. The more factual materials that the speaker has, the less chance there is for argument. 5. If you were to give a speech on improving the subdivision to your subdivision association members, what would be the most effective supporting materials for your speech? Answer: The answers may vary. However, the speaker should use the five guidelines for selecting supporting materials. The most effective supporting materials would be examples. The examples could be of a hypothetical or factual nature. The idea is to try to relate to the audience by providing examples that the audience can comprehend. Another idea is to use examples or narratives that will evoke emotion from the audience. The speaker should want the audience to become personally involved in improving the subdivision. Listeners tend to respond favorably to narratives. Test Bank for Principles of Public Speaking Kathleen M. German, Bruce E. Gronbeck, Douglas Ehninger, Alan H. Monroe 9780205857548, 9780205843893
