Testimony in support of your ideas provided by experts or by respected persons can strengthen the authority of your speech. As she developed her speech, Karen cited Sandy Blondino, director of sales at Embassy Suites, who confirmed that the lodging industry is now more receptive to disabled travelers. She concluded with Ms. Blondino’s exact words: “But that’s just hospitality, right?” She followed up this expert testimony with prestige testimony by quoting President Clinton: “When I injured my knee and used a wheelchair for a short time, I understood even more deeply that the ADA isn’t just a good law, it’s the right thing to do.” When you quote expert testimony, be sure to mention the expert’s credentials, and state when and where she or he made the statement you are quoting.
Examples. Examples illustrate points and make them seem authentic. An example says, in effect, this really happened. To illustrate her point that it is good business to serve the needs of disabled people, Karen Lovelace described a group called Opening Doors that encourages companies to improve travel for the disabled. “One hotel chain that has used this program is Embassy Suites. Their staff are taught by Opening Doors to problem-solve based on guests’ needs. And you’d better believe that the word gets around to disabled travelers!” Her example made her claim seem realistic.