Unlike written communication, speeches and presentations do not adhere to any one particular format, such as APA style, for citation. However, this does not mean that you do not need to cite your sources!
You should provide your listeners with a citation whenever you quote directly from a source, paraphrase a source, use someone else’s research data or conclusions, or incorporate someone else’s graphic into your visual aids. Never repeat someone else’s words or ideas without attribution. The tricky part is weaving your citations into the flow of your presentation without distracting your audience. You should not give full publication information in an oral format! Rather, use sentence constructions that offer your listeners enough information to find the source themselves if they wish to verify your presentation of that information.
This can be challenging, and you will need to practice saying the citations smoothly. Writing out the full text of your citation sentences onto notes may be helpful.
| Examples “The National Communication Association website states that approximately 7,100 individuals belong to this organization.” “In an article published in The Journal of American History in 2002, Sharon Block argues that rape became part of American political rhetoric during the revolutionary era.” “The New York Times, in a June 2, 2003 article, quotes a curator at the Bronx Zoo as observing that more people are killed in Africa by wild hippos than by any other animal.” |
Your handouts, slides, and other visual aids should contain citations if the images or data on them have been taken from another source.
It is always a good idea to prepare a full bibliography for your instructor, even if he or she did not ask for it. Many presentations involve a question-and-answer period, and having a full bibliography will be useful if someone asks you about a particular citation.
Citing your sources is not only ethical, but it also enhances your credibility. Listeners will pay more attention to a presentation that demonstrates grounding in solid research.
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