Unit 5: Providing Supporting Content
By now, you should have nearly completed the outline for your presentation based on what you already know and your preliminary research. In Unit 5, we take a deep dive into how to create appropriate supporting material for your presentation that will convince your audience that you are credible. Then, we examine the most widely-accepted ways to cite your sources.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- identify and integrate different kinds of supporting content into your outline;
- identify credible and appropriate sources to support your presentation;
- critically analyze research materials to include in a presentation; and
- cite sources appropriately during your presentation and in your presentation materials.
5.1: Types of Supporting Content
Begin your research by considering what you already know about the topic. You will often already have resources at hand, such as your textbook or your experience. Think about how you can integrate outside sources with supporting evidence to improve your credibility and bolster your claims. There are several ways to provide good supporting content:
- identify specific facts and statistics that prove your claims;
- offer a personal story;
- provide a hypothetical example; or
- use other people's stories.
Each piece of evidence you use helps prove your sub-points and your thesis.
This article explores materials you can use to support your argument and where you can find them.
5.1.1: Facts and Statistics
Facts and statistics include population data, conversation transcripts, and historical events. In general, try not to use statistics to make your point too often, and when you do, be sure to put them in terms that are relevant to your audience. It is easy to overwhelm your audience since many people find numbers intimidating and difficult to remember. Round numbers up or down to the nearest whole number.
This article gives some reference information that will help you get started with your research.
Be sure to evaluate how the researchers conducted their investigations and made their conclusions. Watch this short video, which explains how statistics can misrepresent real-world situations.
Watch this video, which explains how to discern good and bad statistics.
5.1.2: Examples and Stories
Using examples and stories to explain your point can be extremely compelling. Complicated concepts and ideas resonate more clearly and memorably with audience members who have had similar experiences, and the information you share becomes personable and understandable. However, think twice before getting too personal.
You may want to avoid telling about an experience where you acted unprofessionally or broke the law, which could undermine your credibility. You may want to incorporate other people's stories if you have not had an experience related to your presentation's central ideas. Always give credit to your storyteller to avoid ruining your credibility with accusations of plagiarism or misrepresentation. You can describe the storyteller in general terms if you need to protect their identity.
Read this article, which explores how to integrate stories into your presentation as supporting material.
Watch these two videos, which explain how to tell a story for maximum impact.
Read this short article on the transformative power of storytelling.
Since it can be difficult to find the perfect story to prove your point, you may need to create a hypothetical example that is plausible and grounded in fact. Always be transparent about where your story originated to maintain your credibility. Review this article for some examples.
5.2: Using Credible Sources
You need to research your topic to identify external content that supports what you have to say. Remember that your credibility is at stake since your audience will distrust the information you provide, and you as a presenter if they suspect the materials you discuss are disingenuous.
Read this article, which explains how the sources you use can influence your credibility as a presenter.
Read this article, which presents an ethical framework for choosing and integrating sources into your presentation.
This article offers another viewpoint about reviewing the credibility and trustworthiness of online sources.
5.3: Finding Appropriate Sources
Your ability to research and find appropriate, credible sources to prove your arguments is a powerful and valuable skill that will help you in every educational and business environment. The following articles offer strategies for identifying and gathering reliable supporting materials. You can find many resources at your local library and through online search engines.
Read this article for a list of places to find the information you need.
Bibliographies can help you find sources for your presentation. They list the resources an author referenced when they wrote a book about a given topic. Read this toolkit on how to identify and find sources from citations.
Searching for information online is a skill. Will the information support the arguments you plan to use in your presentation? Are the sources accurate and reputable? What about the organization or company that provides the material? How will your audience perceive or react to this source? Watch this video about how to recognize the value and quality of sources you find online.
5.4: Critically Analyzing Your Research
Whether you found your material with the help of a librarian or located it through an online search, you must ensure your research's reliability. In this segment, we will explore how to assess the accuracy of sources, evaluate their reputation, and understand how your audience perceives them. All of these factors will impact your choices of what material to use and how to use them.s
First, consider whether the source material is accurate. One of the easiest ways to check for accuracy is to see if you can find another independent source that corroborates your information. Will your audience members believe your statements or demand additional proof? Watch this video, which will walk you through some tips to help you make this determination.
Next, consider the reputation of the source. Is the source of the information you plan to use respected in the community? Does it have an established track record for accuracy that will resonate with your audience, or will it damage your argument's credibility? This video uses a process called the 5 Cs to walk through an assessment of a source. How can you put this method to work for you?
Watch this short overview of things to look at when evaluating a website.
Read this article, which explores why and how to assess the reputation of an author.
Finally, what does your audience think about your source? Your source could be entirely accurate and reputable, but your audience may have had negative experiences or preconceptions about its authenticity that could resonate poorly and undermine your credibility. Consider the consequences of using a source like this, and be prepared to defend your reasons for using it during your presentation. Watch this video, which walks through the process of choosing sources.
5.5: Citing Your Sources
Documenting your sources bolsters your credibility as a presenter. The supporting facts and second opinions you provide assures the audience of the quality and thoroughness of your research, prevents accusations of plagiarism, and credits the authors and researchers you have cited. Your notes may also help your audience members track down additional information about your topic if they want to research more.
You have three options for citing your sources during an oral presentation:
- mention them orally;
- note them within the text of your presentation aids; and
- list them on a concluding slide of your presentation aid.
In general, you should always use at least one of these three methods for citing your sources, but try to use all three if you have time during your presentation and space in your presentation aids.
This article explains why you should acknowledge your sources during your presentation.
This article explains two common citation formats, MLA and APA. It also has a great quick reference you can use as you document your sources.
While oral citations do not follow a standard format, there are a few conventions for revealing the sources of your supporting evidence during your presentation.
- Lead with your citation. Use a few words to state the author or source before you offer the information you want to share, in a subject-verb order. This direct approach presents the author of the information to your audience clearly.
It informs your audience upfront that you, the presenter, did not author the information.
For example, you could say, "A recent article in the New York Times mentions that … ".
If your audience is unfamiliar with your source, you may need to explain why it is relevant to your presentation.
For example, you might mention a doctor's credentials or explain the history or mission of a relevant organization by saying "According to Dr. Jane Jones, a leading cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, … ". - Provide appropriate information. Offer enough information about your source to boost your credibility as a presenter (and to allow audience members to perform additional research on your topic), but do not offer too many details to
overwhelm or distract your audience.
For example, only mention the publication date for the research you are quoting if the date is directly relevant to your presentation. Only offer the actual name of your source if they are a recognized expert who would be of interest to your audience.
- Lead with your citation. Use a few words to state the author or source before you offer the information you want to share, in a subject-verb order. This direct approach presents the author of the information to your audience clearly.
It informs your audience upfront that you, the presenter, did not author the information.
Read this article, which offers more specifics on giving citations during your presentation.