Does the speaker use supporting materials that are relevant, representative, recent, and reliable? Supporting materials should relate directly to the issue in question. They should be representative of the situation as it exists rather than exceptions to the rule. The speaker who shouts, “Television is destroying family values!” and then offers statistics that demonstrate a rising national divorce rate has not demonstrated a causal relationship between television and family values. Facts and figures should be the most recent ones available. This is particularly important when knowledge about a topic is changing rapidly. Supporting materials should come from sources that are trustworthy and competent in the subject area. Controversial material, especially, should be supported by more than one source, and the sources should represent different perspectives on the issue.