🎯 Using Evidence Effectively: Build Your Speech Like a Superhero Builds Their Case!
🏠 The Big Idea: Your Evidence Is Your Superpower
Imagine you’re a detective solving a mystery. You can’t just say, “I think the cat ate the cookies!” You need proof — maybe crumbs on the cat’s whiskers, a pawprint on the table, or a witness who saw the whole thing.
Public speaking works the same way!
When you give a speech, your audience is like a jury. They want to believe you, but first, you need to show them evidence. Evidence is the magic ingredient that turns “I think this” into “I know this, and here’s why.”
🎭 Universal Metaphor: Think of your speech as a three-legged stool. Each leg is a type of evidence: statistics, quotes, and examples. Remove one leg, and the stool wobbles. Use all three, and your speech stands strong!
📊 Supporting Evidence Usage: The Foundation of Trust
What Is Supporting Evidence?
Supporting evidence is proof that backs up what you’re saying. It’s the difference between:
❌ “Vegetables are good for you.” (Just an opinion)
✅ “Vegetables are good for you — doctors say eating 5 servings daily can reduce heart disease by 25%!” (Now THAT’S believable!)
The 3 Types of Evidence Superpowers
graph TD A["🎯 Your Main Point"] --> B["📊 Statistics"] A --> C["💬 Quotes & Citations"] A --> D["📖 Examples & Stories"] B --> E["Numbers that prove your point"] C --> F["Expert words that support you"] D --> G["Real situations that show truth"]
Why Does Evidence Matter?
Think about it like this: If your best friend says, “This pizza place is amazing!” — you might believe them because you trust them.
But if a stranger says the same thing? You’d probably ask, “Why? What makes it amazing?”
Your audience is full of strangers. They need evidence to trust you.
Quick Example
Without evidence:
“Reading is important for kids.”
With evidence:
“Reading is important for kids. A study from Yale University found that children who read just 20 minutes a day hear 1.8 million more words per year than non-readers — and that builds stronger brains!”
See the difference? The second one makes you nod and think, “Wow, I should read more!”
📈 Using Statistics Effectively: Numbers That Tell Stories
What Are Statistics?
Statistics are numbers that prove something is true. They’re like scorecards for real life.
Simple Example:
- “Most people like ice cream.” ← Vague
- “87% of Americans say ice cream is their favorite dessert.” ← Powerful!
The Golden Rules of Using Statistics
Rule 1: Keep Numbers Simple
Your audience can’t remember “47.3829 percent.” Instead, say:
| ❌ Don’t Say | ✅ Say Instead |
|---|---|
| 47.3829% | “Nearly half” |
| 1 in 7.6 people | “About 1 in 8 people” |
| 2,847,593 people | “Nearly 3 million people” |
Why? Simple numbers stick. Complicated numbers confuse.
Rule 2: Make Numbers Relatable
Big numbers mean nothing unless you connect them to something familiar.
Example:
“The Great Wall of China is 13,170 miles long.”
That sounds long, but how long really?
“The Great Wall of China is 13,170 miles long — that’s like walking from New York to Los Angeles five times!”
NOW you get it!
Rule 3: Use the “1 in X” Trick
“1 in 5 people” is easier to picture than “20%.”
Example:
“20% of students experience test anxiety.”
becomes…
“Look to your left. Look to your right. One of the three of you has felt test anxiety. You’re not alone.”
Suddenly, it’s personal.
Rule 4: Always Cite Your Source
Numbers without sources sound made up. Numbers WITH sources sound trustworthy.
❌ “Studies show that…” (What studies? WHO says?)
✅ “According to Harvard Medical School, walking 30 minutes daily reduces heart disease risk by 35%.”
What Makes a Good Statistic?
graph TD A["📊 Good Statistic"] --> B["✅ Recent"] A --> C["✅ From a trusted source"] A --> D["✅ Relevant to your point"] A --> E["✅ Easy to understand"] B --> F["Less than 5 years old"] C --> G["Universities, government, experts"] D --> H["Directly supports your claim"] E --> I["Rounded, simple numbers"]
Example: Statistics in Action
Topic: Why schools should have recess
“According to the CDC — that’s the Centers for Disease Control — students who get at least 20 minutes of recess perform 20% better on tests than students who don’t. That’s like turning a C into a B, just by playing outside!”
What made this work?
- Cited a trusted source (CDC)
- Made it relatable (C into B)
- Used a simple, round number (20%)
💬 Quotes and Citations: Borrowing Brilliance
What Are Quotes and Citations?
A quote is when you repeat exactly what someone else said. A citation tells your audience WHERE the information came from.
Think of it like this: When you share a rumor, people ask, “Who told you?” The same applies to speeches!
Why Use Quotes?
- Experts know more than you — Borrow their credibility!
- Famous words inspire — Some phrases are too perfect to paraphrase
- It’s not just YOUR opinion — You have backup!
The 3 Types of Quotes
| Quote Type | When to Use It | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Expert Quote | To prove a fact | “Dr. Jane Goodall said, ‘What you do makes a difference.’” |
| Famous Quote | To inspire or connect emotionally | “As Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” |
| Real Person Quote | To tell a story | “My grandmother always said, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’” |
How to Introduce a Quote
Never just drop a quote into your speech. Set it up first!
❌ “Hard work beats talent. That’s what my coach says.”
✅ “My coach used to remind us before every game: ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’ Those words pushed me to practice harder than anyone.”
See how the second one builds anticipation?
The Quote Sandwich Method
Every quote needs three parts — like a sandwich!
graph TD A["🍞 TOP BUN: Introduce the quote"] --> B["🥩 FILLING: Say the quote"] B --> C["🍞 BOTTOM BUN: Explain what it means"]
Example:
🍞 Top: “The great scientist Albert Einstein once said something that changed how I think about failure.”
🥩 Quote: “‘Failure is success in progress.’”
🍞 Bottom: “He meant that every mistake teaches us something — so we’re never truly failing, we’re just learning.”
How to Cite Sources (Without Being Boring)
You don’t need to say, “According to the Journal of American Medical Association, Volume 47, Issue 3, published on March 15, 2023…”
Instead, keep it natural:
✅ “Harvard researchers found…” ✅ “A recent study from NASA shows…” ✅ “As psychologist Dr. Angela Duckworth explains…” ✅ “The World Health Organization reports…”
Picking the Right Quote
Ask yourself:
- Is this person respected? (Don’t quote random internet strangers!)
- Is it short and memorable? (Long quotes lose attention)
- Does it directly support my point? (Don’t use quotes just because they’re famous)
Example: Quotes in Action
Topic: Why failure is okay
"I used to be terrified of making mistakes — until I learned something that changed my life.
Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, failed over 1,000 times before he got it right. When a reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times, Edison said, ‘I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The lightbulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.’
That quote taught me something: failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s PART of success."
What made this work?
- Set up the quote with a personal story
- Introduced who Edison was (inventor of the lightbulb)
- Delivered the quote word-for-word
- Explained what it meant
🎯 Putting It All Together: The Evidence Triple Threat
The best speeches use ALL three types of evidence together. Watch:
Topic: Why everyone should learn to swim
"Every day, ten people in the United States drown. That’s according to the CDC. Ten families, every single day, lose someone they love — and here’s the tragic part: most of those deaths could have been prevented.
Dr. Linda Quan, a pediatric emergency doctor, says, ‘Swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children ages 1-4.’
I know this firsthand. When I was seven, I fell into a pool at a birthday party. I didn’t know how to swim. I still remember the panic, the water filling my lungs, until a lifeguard pulled me out. That day, my parents signed me up for lessons — and those lessons may have saved my life.
Learning to swim isn’t just a nice skill — it’s a survival skill. And with 88% fewer drowning deaths for kids who take lessons, shouldn’t every child have that chance?"
Count the evidence:
- 📊 Statistic: “10 people drown daily” + “88% reduction”
- 💬 Quote: Dr. Linda Quan’s expert opinion
- 📖 Personal story: The speaker’s own experience
That’s the Triple Threat!
✨ Key Takeaways
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Evidence = Trust. Don’t just state opinions — prove them!
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Statistics work best when they’re simple — round numbers, relatable comparisons, and clear sources.
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Quotes give you borrowed brilliance — use experts, famous figures, or real people to strengthen your message.
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Always cite your sources — it makes you sound prepared and honest.
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Use the Quote Sandwich — Introduce → Quote → Explain.
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Mix your evidence — Statistics + Quotes + Stories = The Triple Threat!
🚀 You’ve Got This!
Using evidence might feel tricky at first, but remember: you’re not alone. Every great speaker learns to lean on numbers, quotes, and stories to make their message powerful.
Start small. Next time you want to convince someone of something, try adding just ONE piece of evidence.
“Mom, I need a later bedtime because Harvard says kids my age need more independence to develop responsibility!”
See? Evidence works everywhere.
Now go build your three-legged stool — and let your speeches stand strong! 🪑✨