supporting materials
the materials used to support a speakers ideas
examples, statistics, and testimony
the three major kinds of supporting materials
example
a specific case used to illustrate or represent a group of people, ideas, conditions, experiences, or the like
brief example
a specific case referred to in passing to illustrate a point
extended example
a story, narrative, or anecdote developed at some length to illustrate a point
hypothetical example
an example that describes an imaginary or fictitious situation
statistics
numerical data
mean
the average value of a group of numbers
median
the middle number in a group of numbers arranged from highest to lowest
mode
the number that occurs most frequently in a group of numbers
testimony
quotations or paraphrases used to support a point
expert testimony
testimony from people who are recognized experts in their fields
peer testimony
testimony from ordinary people with firsthand experience or insight on a topic
direct quotation
testimony that is presented word for word
paraphrase
to restate or summarize a sources ideas in ones own words
quoting out of context
quoting a statement in such a way as to distort its meaning by removing the statement from the words and phrases surrounding it