When you write a speech, you need to research your topic thoroughly and use credible sources to support your arguments. But how do you evaluate the relevance and currency of your research materials? Here are some tips to help you find and use the best information for your speech.
Before you start researching, you need to define the purpose of your speech and the main points you want to convey. This will help you narrow down your topic and focus on the most relevant aspects. For example, if you are giving a speech about climate change, you need to decide whether you want to inform, persuade, or motivate your audience, and what specific angle or message you want to deliver.
The first purpose of your speech is to gain the confidence of your audience by researching their background. Find out their: -- Educational background -- Professional experiences -- Demographics, such as age, ethnicity, nationality, and income This information will help you design the speech in ways familiar to your audience. If you're talking before millennials, include examples from millennial experts. If you're speaking to retirees, make historical references and include anecdotes from people their age. Otherwise, you risk alienating your audience by telling them information they already know or espousing specialized information or jargon that they don't.
Once you have a clear purpose and a focused topic, you need to choose your sources carefully. You want to use sources that are reliable, authoritative, and unbiased. You can use different types of sources, such as books, journals, websites, reports, or interviews, depending on your topic and audience. However, you should always check the credibility of your sources by looking at their authorship, publication, accuracy, and objectivity.
Make sure your sources are credible, but also lively and succinct in their explanations. Often a scientist's comments on social media will be more audience-friendly than those buried inside a journal article. Don't shy away from controversy either. Conflict and debate help us learn. Simply provide information about the author's background and provide context. Consider your own biases when including sources. Include both credible conservative and progressive voices. if you're a white Chicagoan, for example, seek out expert sources with brown and black skin and/or those working in a region outside major cities.
Another important factor to consider is the currency of your sources. This means how up-to-date and relevant they are for your topic and audience. Depending on your topic, you may need to use sources that are very recent or that reflect historical trends. For example, if you are giving a speech about the latest developments in artificial intelligence, you need to use sources that are current and reflect the latest research and innovations. On the other hand, if you are giving a speech about the history of democracy, you may need to use sources that cover a longer period and provide historical context.
One way to evaluate the relevance and currency of your sources is to compare and contrast them with each other and with your own perspective. You can look for similarities and differences in the arguments, evidence, and conclusions of different sources, and see how they relate to your own thesis and main points. You can also look for gaps, inconsistencies, or controversies in the literature, and see how you can address them in your speech.
Finally, you need to cite your sources properly and give credit to the original authors. This will help you avoid plagiarism and show respect for the intellectual property of others. It will also help you establish your credibility and authority as a speaker, and allow your audience to verify and follow up on your information. You can use different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, depending on your discipline and preference. However, you should always follow the guidelines and conventions of your citation style and be consistent throughout your speech.
By all means, give credit by first and last name, professional title and publication in your speech. But don't go overboard and overwhelm your audience with minutia. Save all the APA or MLA details for the text supplementing your speech, including its bibliography/works cited pages.
Examples that reflect people's experiences should be an integral part of your speech. Answer this question: "Why should I care?" Statistics alone are boring. Go even further and make your presentation interactive. For example, ask the audience to complete a short survey, then project the results and discuss them with one another. Consider adding a witty story, music, vivid photos or video to complement your main points. While you can't turn a Six Sigma speech into a circus act, recognize that audiences are apt to embrace those messages that are both informative and entertaining. Remember timing is the key to a successful, focused speech. Vow never to present beyond your allotted time -- practicing and editing to assure it does.