Development: Examples, Illustrations, Incidents, Compare & Contrast Weikang Sun AP Lang – 9 4/5/2008

Development Clarify and expand on the claims and proof in a speech Otherwise, audiences won’t pay attention Types of development: Example Illustration Incident Compare & Contrast Analogy

Example Basic, important form of development typical, specific instance of something Shows speaker’s understanding of the topic Example: Claim that drunk driving kills Cite example of a case in 2001 where drunk sheriff’s deputy struck and killed two bicyclists in San Francisco

Example Guidelines Find understandable and interesting examples which clearly address the topic Introduce examples with “for example,” “for instance,” or “[example] is a good example of…” Use more than one example Don’t list examples, also discuss them Tell audience if example is made up (hypothetical example)

Illustration An expansion of an example Longer, more elaborate, detailed “draws a picture” for the listeners Develops the topic Example: Deforestation describe with detail the scenery before and after trees were cut down Creates effective contrasting pictures

Illustration Guidelines Use colorful, interesting, descriptive language Give the audience something to picture in their minds Place tag, a statement that ties back to the point being made, at the end

Incident Also known as narrative or anecdote A story used to prove or further illustrate a point Example: Airplanes are unsafe Tell a personal story of knowing someone who died in a plane crash Gives the sense of authenticity

Incident Guidelines Be cautious on the use of incidents because they tend to be very long Tell the incident with enthusiasm and interest Find incidents that are very closely related to the topic Don’t overuse incidents Don’t exceed time limits

Compare & Contrast Compare: similarities between two things Contrast: differences between two thing Use Compare & Contrast to build/develop the point Often the whole speech can be based on Compare & Contrast Example: Compare & Contrast PC’s and Macs Physical differences, speed, security, compatibility, etc.

Compare & Contrast Guidelines Explain what is being compared or contrasted Supplement compare and contrast with examples Maintain clear organization Use transitions (“on the other hand”) to signal clear explanation of the two sides of compare and contrast

Analogy Extended comparison of two things Helps audience understand difficult, confusing, or new concepts Usually compares how the two things are similar Example: Comparing the atom to the model of the solar system

Types of Analogies Literal analogy Comparing two things that are actually alike Ex. An electronic circuit and a water pump circuit. Both have a source of power which creates a current in a circuit. Figurative Analogy Comparing two things that are not literally alike, abstract Ex. Atom is not really like planets orbiting the Sun, much more complex (quantum theory)

Quiz 1. True or False? You should only use one example in a speech. False 2. An incident can also be called a(n)…? Anecdote or narrative 3. What are the two kinds of analogies? What is the difference? Literal and figurative analogies. Literal analogies describe two things that are literally alike, figurative analogies describe two things that are not literally alike