Expert Testimony
Expert testimony comes from people who are qualified by training or experience to serve as authorities on a subject. As you review your research notes, you will probably discover statements by experts offering opinions, information, or simply interesting quotations. When you cite experts in your speeches, you are calling on them as qualified witnesses to support your case. Using expert testimony allows you to borrow their credibility to make your own message more convincing. Expert testimony is especially important when your topic is innovative, unfamiliar, highly technical, or controversial.
When you use expert testimony, remember that competence is area- specific. That means that your experts can speak as experts only within their area of expertise. For example, emergency room physicians who can provide expert testimony on the physical effects of gunshot wounds may not qualify as experts on gun control legislation. As you introduce expert testimony in your speeches, be sure to present the credentials of your experts. Emphasize the recency of their statements, and, when appropriate, indicate that their words appeared in a prestigious journal, book, or newspaper.
Tags: Education