Matthew J. Tobin

Acontraction of the term “Web log” is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art, photographs , sketches , videos , music , audio, which are part of a wider network of social media. Micro-blogging is another type of blogging, one which consists of blogs with very short posts. As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs. With the advent of video blogging, the word blog has taken on an even looser meaning — that of any bit of media wherein the subject expresses his opinion or simply talks about something.

Most of the facts and figures, testimony, examples, ideas for narratives, and material for presentation aids will come from in-depth sources of information such as periodicals and books. The “Guide to Library and Internet Resources” contains an annotated list of periodicals that may be useful in speech preparation. As you research your speech, try to use a variety of sources representing different perspectives on your topic. Keep in mind that periodicals have a reputation of their own. Some periodicals, such as the Wall Street Journal, will be perceived as highly credible and objective, whereas other periodicals may be less acceptable to your audience. Even highly credible sources may be tinned with bias on certain topics. For example, the American Cancer Society might be an excellent source of information about the relationship between cancer and smoking, but may be biased by self-interest on the question of government funding for medical research.
When you need facts and figures, consult an almanac, yearbook, or atlas. Almanacs and yearbooks provide accurate, up-to-date compilations of information on a wide range of topics. Such materials go beyond simple lists to include short articles and graphics that you can adapt for presentation aids. Atlases are useful when your topic calls for geographical information. They often include data on such things as population density or industrial production and are a good source of materials for presentation aids. Biographical resources can provide information about the qualifications of experts you might cite in a speech. Books of quotations can offer material for the introductions and conclusions of speeches. Most such books are indexed by topic and author, making it easy for you to find what others had to say about your subject. Most of these resources are available on the Internet as well as in the library.

Humor can enlighten an introduction and, when used appropriately, can put your audience in a receptive mood for your message. But humor may also be the most misused technique for introducing speeches. Because someone once told them that starting with a joke will assure success, beginning speakers often search through anthologies of humor to find something that will make people laugh. Unless it is carefully adapted, however, such material often sounds canned, inappropriate, or only remotely relevant to the topic or occasion. If you wish to use humor in your introduction, be certain the material is fresh and pertinent.
Be especially careful when using humor to open a speech. It can be grossly inappropriate for some topics and occasions. Also, don’t let a humorous introduction “upstage” the rest of your speech. We once heard a student open a speech with a rather risque quotation from Mae West: “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” It drew an initial gasp followed by some hearty laughter. Unfortunately, as the speech continued, one student would chuckle over the remembered joke, then the audience would start laughing all over again even when nothing funny had been said. After the speaker finished, we questioned the audience about their “inappropriate” responses. Their reply? “We kept remembering that Mae West line. We just couldn’t help it.” And to this day, neither of your authors can remember the topic of the speech, just the opening humor.