11.7 Describe four potential sources and seven types of supporting material for a speech, and use each type effectively.

You have at least four potential sources of supporting material: yourself, the Internet, online databases, and traditional library resources. Personal knowledge and experience increase the likelihood that the audience will find you a credible speaker. To supplement your own knowledge and experience, you can turn to the vast resources of the Internet. Online databases provide both bibliographic information and full texts to subscribers. You will also most likely use traditional library resources—books, periodicals, newspapers, and reference resources—as sources of supporting material. The types of supporting material you can use in a speech include illustrations, descriptions, explanations, definitions, analogies, statistics, and opinions. Simple guidelines can help you use each type of supporting material effectively and cite your sources correctly.