Testimony is what someone says about your topic. This is not quoting a textbook or article, but the words spoken by another person. You can quote or paraphrase those words, but make clear to listeners when you are quoting or not. For instance, share someone's exact words like this, "According to Nashville pediatrician James Stephens, quote '----- [Dr. Stephens' words] ----' unquote." You do not need to conduct an interview to obtain a testimony. You will find testimonies in your research. The three types of testimony are expert testimony, lay testimony, and prestige testimony. Show
Expert TestimonyExpert testimony is provided by an expert in the topic of your speech. It is used to provide credibility to your speech topic and evidence. Here is another example: "One cause of ADHD might be smoking during pregnancy. Dr. Alan S. Brown, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at New York's Columbia University in New York City, led a study that found mothers who smoke when pregnant, particularly if they smoke heavily, will have 'offspring with a fairly high risk for ADHD.'" Lay TestimonyLay testimony is sometimes referred to as peer testimony. This testimony comes from average or ordinary people who happen to have some experience or knowledge of the topic. These testimonies can add human interest to the speech. Prestige TestimonyPrestige testimony is sometimes referred to as celebrity testimony. This testimony is given by someone famous. Words of caution about prestige testimony: be sure the celebrity you are quoting has a real connection to the topic, and make sure he or she is still in good standing with the audience. A celebrity's behavior could be detrimental to their credibility. Types of Examples: Brief, Extended, and HypotheticalBrief, extended, and hypothetical examples can be used to help an audience better understand and relate to key points of a presentation. Learning Objectives List the three types of examples Key TakeawaysKey Points
Key Terms
There are many types of examples that a presenter can use to help an audience better understand a topic and the key points of a presentation. These include specific situations, problems, or stories intended to help communicate a more general idea. There are three main types of examples: brief, extended, and hypothetical. Brief ExamplesBrief examples are used to further illustrate a point that may not be immediately obvious to all audience members but is not so complex that is requires a more lengthy example. Brief examples can be used by the presenter as an aside or on its own. A presenter may use a brief example in a presentation on politics in explaining the Electoral College. Since many people are familiar with how the Electoral College works, the presenter may just mention that the Electoral College is based on population and a brief example of how it is used to determine an election. In this situation it would not be necessary for a presented to go into a lengthy explanation of the process of the Electoral College since many people are familiar with the process. Extended ExamplesExtended examples are used when a presenter is discussing a more complicated topic that they think their audience may be unfamiliar with. In an extended example a speaker may want to use a chart, graph, or other visual aid to help the audience understand the example. An instance in which an extended example could be used includes a presentation in which a speaker is explaining how the "time value of money" principle works in finance. Since this is a concept that people unfamiliar with finance may not immediately understand, a speaker will want to use an equation and other visual aids to further help the audience understand this principle. An extended example will likely take more time to explain than a brief example and will be about a more complex topic.  Extended Example: An equation is an extended example that's used as a visual aid to help the audience understand a complicated topic. Hypothetical Examples A hypothetical example is a fictional example that can be used when a speaker is explaining a complicated topic that makes the most sense when it is put into more realistic or relatable terms. For instance, if a presenter is discussing statistical probability, instead of explaining probability in terms of equations, it may make more sense for the presenter to make up a hypothetical example. This could
be a story about a girl, Annie, picking 10 pieces of candy from a bag of 50 pieces of candy in which half are blue and half are red and then determining Annie's probability of pulling out 10 total pieces of red candy. A hypothetical example helps the audience to better visualize a topic and relate to the point of the presentation more effectively. Communicating ExamplesExamples help the audience understand the key points; they should be to the point and complement the topic. Learning Objectives Use examples to help your audience understand the message being presented Key TakeawaysKey Points
Key Terms
Communicating ExamplesExamples are essential to a presentation that is backed up with evidence, and they help the audience effectively understand the message being presented. An example is a specific situation, problem, or story intended to help communicate a more general idea. Examples are most effective when they are used as a complement to a key point in the presentation and focus on the important topics of the presentation. Giving an Example: An example can make an abstract idea clearer. Using Examples to Complement Key PointsOne method of effectively communicating examples is by using an example to clarify and complement a main point of a presentation. If an orator is holding a seminar about how to encourage productivity in the workplace, he or she might use an example that focuses on an employee receiving an incentive (such as a bonus) to work harder, and this improved the employee's productivity. An example like this would act as a complement and help the audience better understand how to use incentives to improve performance in the workplace. Using Examples That Are Concise and to the Point Examples are essential to help an audience better understand a topic. However, a speaker should be careful to not overuse examples, as too many examples may confuse the audience and distract them from focusing on the key points that the speaker is making. Licenses and AttributionsCC licensed content, Shared previously
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Are hypothetical examples effective for making a point about something that has already occurred?Hypothetical examples are effective for making a point about something that has already occurred. One of the most powerful means of conveying a message is through a narrative. Stories tell tales that are either real or imaginary. Testimony comprises firsthand findings, eyewitness accounts, and opinions.
What is the main advantage of using testimony in a speech?What is the main advantage of using testimony in a speech? The main advantage of using testimony is that it gives you instant credibility; quoting an expert is a way of saying, "I'm not the only one who has this idea; it has the backing of a leading authority on the subject."
Which of the following advice should be followed if you want to use statistics effectively in a speech?Which of the following advice should be followed if you want to use statistics effectively in a speech? Make statistics concrete and meaningful.
What are the two basic types of testimony speech?There are two kinds of testimony-expert testimony and peer testimony. 1. Expert testimony comes from people who are acknowledged authorities in their fields.
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