What is the role of supporting materials in a speech?

Supporting materials play a vital role in a speech by providing evidence and credibility to the speaker's claims. When a speaker presents facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes, or expert testimonials, they are effectively backing up their main points, making their arguments more persuasive. This evidence helps the audience understand the topic better and shows that the speaker has done their research and is knowledgeable about the subject matter. By bolstering claims with supporting materials, the speaker increases their credibility and enhances the overall effectiveness of the speech.

While enhancing delivery, simplifying complex ideas, and engaging the audience emotionally are important aspects of public speaking, they revolve around the speaker's presentation style and audience interaction rather than the primary function of supporting materials, which is primarily focused on substantiation and validation of the speech content.