Sources for Speeches

This month we need to turn our attention to the actual content of your extemp speeches: I’ve received several questions regarding the magazines or books one ought to read, or the sources one ought to seek. I think this will provide us with an excellent opportunity to explore sources and the information within them. Thus, it is worth your focus during the next month. As we examine each question, keep this issue in mind and try to apply it in your practice speeches.

As always, please e-mail any and all extemp-related questions to me for inclusion in next month’s column!

Dear Jesse,

-James, Reedley, California

I will answer these in turn.

First, I think that sourcing is crucial to appropriately dealing with any extemp topic. I generally use three sources per point. With three points, and a source in the introduction and possibly in the conclusion, that means eleven sources per speech. That is definitely adequate.

Second (I guess I’m answering in reverse order), multiple sources per point are important. At least two sources are essential because you need corroborating evidence to back up your claims. The worst thing that any extemper can do is forget that they are an information “synthesizer.” In other words, the extemper who uses no sources forgets that the speech is not his or her opinion only and the extemper who uses too many sources forgets that the speech is not a regurgitive exercise either. Fundamentally, you need to find an equal balance within each point - and this is somewhat subjective - to determine how you can best get your point across. When deciding how many sources to put into a given point, it is best to determine what each one is trying to say and how essential that is. You need sources that define the problem, outline its impacts and also present your answer/response to the solution - or at least provide examples that support your statements. Of each point, ask what the sources provide and, if they are not adding anything unique, find new ones.

Jesse,
What is best in source use…do you prefer testimony, statistics or something else?
-Wichita, Kansas

This is very important. Again the key here is balance. You cannot depend on any one type of extemp source. A speech filled only with testimony will have lots of emotional pull and many good examples, but it will have very little in the way of hard facts and good, solid, supporting evidence. Likewise, a speech filled only with statistics will lack the human quality found in testimonials. There are many other types of evidence as well - you can expert testimony or opinion, which has a certain element of credibility, or you can have bystander testimony. You can have examples, statistics or you can cite factual listings - like country specifications, etc. Of this variety, you need to provide a colorful variety. Every speech should have most of the different types of sourcing represented at least once.

Mr. Nathan,
In one of your Q & A’s on VB Daily, you advocated reading up on political philosophies/Frameworks for international relations. Is there a book or few that you could recommend starting out on? Thanks.

-J. Guha
Kerr High School ‘08
Houston Texas
FX

Also a very important question. I would advise that you find a political framework or a few different ones to really dig into as your general philosophy. For example, you might take Henry Kissinger’s “Diplomacy.” This is a good standard for dealing with international questions. It provides a fairly neo-conservative perspective - that the United States has a unique role to play in the diplomatic (and military) processes of this world, and that we ought to use it to better the world situations. While this isn’t my personal preference, it can be used.

I also used a Noam Chomsky framework (on the opposite end of the spectrum as Kissinger). Chomsky, a famed linguist, uses a philosophy that emphasizes the imperialism of United States policy worldwide. This lens provides a way to analyze current events that tends to seek and find the discrepancies and difficulties of conducting an imperialist foreign policy. One could use Friedman’s “The Lexus and the Olive Tree,” which is kind of the extemp staple. Or, you can find any number of political philosophers (just ask the L/Ders on your team). Regardless, the field is quite open. You can look at the writings of current or former Secretary’s of the State or at political power brokers like Richard Holbrooke or Former President Jimmy Carter. Read some of these works and then further explore how you can apply them in a speech.

You will want to introduce a given extemp topic with an analysis from this perspective and then see if you can (you cannot always do this) tie your analysis back to this framework. This will provide you with an infinitely helpful source of cohesion. Judges love cohesion. And, you will learn quite a lot on the way.

For those of you who seek even more extemp enlightenment, order our “How to Extemp” and “Advanced Extemp” guides, written by the best.

Thanks everyone for your questions. I would encourage you all to work on these things and then look to November to look at transitions and conclusions. Send me any questions you have…until next month!

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