Harriet Wetton
Whether you’re a debater, writer, or student, understanding how to properly incorporate source citations is an essential skill. This not only applies to writing but also to oral presentations and speeches. Among the key components of a well-crafted speech is the ability to effectively cite your sources. So, how do you go about learning how to cite a speech? What are the reasons behind citation, and why is it so important? Understanding how to cite a speech will boost your credibility as a speaker and make your arguments more convincing.
By incorporating citations, you position yourself as someone who has thoroughly researched the topic. This establishes you as knowledgeable, even if you’re not the expert. Through your research, you’re borrowing the expertise of others to back your points, lending credibility to your speech. In this guide, we’ll take you through the essential steps on how to cite a speech effectively.
Plagiarism doesn’t just happen in writing—failing to credit your sources during a speech is also a form of plagiarism. This is why learning how to cite a speech is so crucial. By citing your sources, you’re giving proper acknowledgment to the original author or researcher, making it clear that the ideas you’re presenting are supported by reliable data or expertise.
Your goal is to give your audience enough information to look up the source if they want to learn more. While you may not have time to recite the full bibliography or list every detail, providing key information allows listeners to verify the information independently. Mastering how to cite a speech correctly will ensure that you maintain the integrity of your work.
Understanding Citation source
Let’s break down how to cite a speech using a few examples. Students often make common mistakes during oral source citations, which can hurt their credibility.
Take, for instance, this example: “Research done by XYZ shows that more deaths result from Hepatitis than from obesity and heart disease combined.” Here, the listener may wonder who XYZ is. If XYZ is not a well-known figure, like a prominent scientist or an influential organization, you must provide context.
The correct approach would be to say something like, “Research conducted by XYZ at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that more deaths result from Hepatitis than from obesity and heart disease combined.” By including the source’s affiliation with a credible institution like the CDC, you reinforce the authority of the information, making it a stronger citation.
Another frequent mistake involves citing search engines like Yahoo or Bing. It’s important to remember that these are not actual sources; they are tools to find sources. For instance, instead of saying, “According to Yahoo.com,” you should specify the original source. Here’s a more appropriate citation: “A study conducted in 2011 at Johns Hopkins University shows that more deaths result from Hepatitis than from obesity and heart disease combined.” This approach gives your audience specific information they can verify, helping you demonstrate that you know how to cite a speech effectively.
Statistics, such as “70% of Americans are overweight or obese,” also require proper citation. Simply throwing out a number without attributing it to a credible source can make your argument seem weak. In this case, you could say, “According to a 2020 survey conducted by the American Heart Association, 70% of Americans are overweight or obese.” This makes the statistic far more convincing, and it’s a great example of how to cite a speech properly.
Citation style in How to cite a speech
APA Style Citation
How to cite a speech in APA Style? You don’t quote the speech; you should find a credible source for the text. Then you reference the book, video documentary, website, or other sources for the excerpt. The reference format depends on the type of document you’ve used.
If you found Dr. King’s speech in a book of great speeches, reference be as below.
Smith, J. (Ed). (2009). Great Speeches in American History. Washington, DC: E & K Publishing.
The in-text citation would comprise the surname of the author or editor of the source document and the year of publication.
Dr. King Declared, “excerpt from the speed “(Smite, 2007)
MLA Style Citation
Many times, a source is part of a bigger whole in the context of how to cite a speech. For example, a magazine article is part of a bigger whole, the magazine. For citation purposes, we call the bigger whole, in this case, the magazine, a container. While citing sources, the container is usually italicized and is followed by a comma.
The container method can be employed for different types of material. For speeches, the work cited format can be the Last Name, First Name. “Speech Title or Address.” Title of Event, date in Day, Month, Year, Place of event, City. Type of performance.
The in-text citation is formatted to let the reader find the reference in the Works Cited page. The essential parenthetical citation is (Last Name page #); however, since there isn’t a page number for a live speech or lecture, use a condensed version of the title of the speech: (Last Name “Title”).
Example:
In-text citation:
(Atwood “Silencing the Voice “).
(Stein, “Reading and Writing”).
When quoting a speech published in a book or journal you will cite that source.
Chicago Style citations are of two types
Notes and Bibliography
The notes and bibliography system is chosen by many in the humanities, involving literature, history, and the arts regarding determining how to cite a speech. In this style, sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note matches a raised (superscript) number in the text. Sources are also typically listed in a separate bibliography. The notes and bibliography system can fit in with a wide variety of sources, including uncommon ones that don’t fit neatly into the author-date system.
Author-Date
The author-date style is a more common style to recognize how to cite a speech in the sciences and social sciences subjects. In this style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by the last name of the author and year of publication. Each in-text citation matches up with an entry in a reference list, and full bibliographic information is provided.
