Question

What are the three major types of supporting materials used in public speeches? Evaluate the use of all three types in the following speech excerpt. Be sure to deal with all the supporting materials in the excerpt, and be specific in your evaluation.

Wetlands include swamps, marshes, lakes, any area that is full of water. In addition to providing habitat for thousands of different animals, wetlands are a major barrier to the damage caused by the flooding of lakes and rivers. According to William Niering, Because they hold water like sponges, wetlands prolong and moderate runoff after heavy precipitation or snow melt. Without wetlands, floods would ravage the American landscape.

Wetlands also help protect the quality of Americas water supply. Mark Christianson, a lobbyist for environmental issues, stated in the Nebraska Law Review that Filtration of pollution is one of the most valuable functions of wetlands. Wetlands can recycle amazing amounts of polluted water.

Yet despite their many benefits, Americas wetlands are being destroyed by business interests and urban sprawl. Imagine a canteen full of water. This canteen could provide almost a weeks worth of refreshment in a hot desert. But what if there was a small hole in the canteen? Then the water might last just five days, or four, or maybe just two. This is what is happening to Americas wetlands. More than 11 million acres of American wetlandsan expanse twice the size of New Jerseyhave been drained in the past three decades. Ten times that amount have been lost since the Pilgrims arrived. Environmentalists report that today we are losing wetlands at an average rate of 458,246 acres each year. The hole in the canteen is dripping.

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