3 Research and Supporting Materials

Start with a focused question

Begin with a topic, then narrow it to a question a speech can answer. For example, the broad topic of urban trees could become: “How can planting street trees reduce heat in residential neighborhoods?” A Focused research question helps determine what evidence is needed and which sources are relevant; it may be refined as research progresses.

Consider what kind of evidence the question calls for before searching. A question might require recent statistics, a scientific study, historical records, firsthand accounts, or expert explanation. Match the source to the claim: a government dataset may help establish a population trend, while interviews can reveal individual experiences.

A Primary source provides firsthand evidence, such as original documents, observations, or interviews. A Secondary source interprets or summarizes evidence gathered by others. Either kind can be useful, depending on the purpose.

Find and evaluate sources

Search library catalogs and databases, scholarly journals, government publications, reputable news organizations, and relevant books. Use specific search terms drawn from the question, and follow references in trustworthy sources to locate original research. A source’s format or professional appearance alone does not establish its reliability.

Apply Source evaluation by considering several criteria:

• Authority: Who wrote or published the source, and what relevant expertise do they have?

• Evidence and accuracy: Does the source explain where its information came from? Can key claims be checked against original data or another reputable source?

• Purpose and perspective: Is the source informing, selling, entertaining, or advocating? Are funding or conflicts of interest disclosed?

• Currency: Is the source recent enough for the topic? Current research may matter in changing fields, while older sources may be suitable for stable historical topics.

• Relevance: Does the source support the point the speech intends to make, and is it suitable for the audience?

A clear viewpoint does not automatically make a source unusable. Recognize its perspective and seek other credible views when an issue is contested. Cross-checking important facts—especially quotations, statistics, and claims repeated online—against original or independent sources can help verify them.

Gather and organize evidence

Keep research notes that distinguish a source’s exact words from your own summaries and reactions. Record publication details as you work: author or organization, title, date, publisher or website, and page number or stable link when available. These details make it easier to verify information and prepare citations later.

Select evidence that directly supports a speech point. Useful forms include:

• Facts and definitions to establish context.

• Statistics to show scale, frequency, or change.

• Examples and brief stories to make an idea concrete.

• Expert testimony to explain specialized information.

• Firsthand research, such as an interview or observation, when relevant and responsibly conducted.

Explain what the evidence shows and how it connects to the claim. A statistic about average neighborhood temperatures may establish a pattern, but the speaker still needs to explain how that pattern supports a proposed action. Avoid cherry-picking numbers, changing their meaning, or implying that one example proves a general rule. Report important qualifications, such as the population studied, time period, or limits acknowledged by researchers. Omitting context or changing wording can make statistics misleading.

Attribute evidence clearly

Attribution helps listeners judge a claim and gives credit to the people whose work is used. Introduce a source with enough detail to establish its relevance and credibility. For example: “In a 2023 report, the city’s public health department found that…”

For a direct quotation, identify the speaker or author and the source. Quote accurately, and use quotation marks in notes so borrowed wording is not mistaken for your own. Paraphrasing still requires attribution because the underlying idea or information belongs to the source. Never present someone else’s words, findings, or ideas as your own.

A spoken citation does not need to recite every element of a written bibliography. Give listeners the most useful details aloud—often the author or organization, publication or study, and date—then provide a fuller reference list on a final slide, handout, or shared document. Check quotations and statistics against original sources whenever possible: a citation cannot make inaccurate or distorted evidence trustworthy.

Apply research to a speech point

Suppose the claim is: “Planting shade trees can help reduce heat exposure on city streets.” A speaker could find a relevant city or university study and check who conducted it, when and where it was conducted, and what its measurements cover.

The finding can then be presented with a concise oral citation and an explanation of its significance: “A university study of these neighborhoods found lower daytime surface temperatures on streets with greater tree cover. That finding suggests shade trees may be one useful part of a local heat-reduction plan.” This wording stays within the evidence; it does not claim that trees alone solve urban heat.