Research Guide, COM 212 Public Speaking

Introduction to Research

Assignments

• Informative Speech
• Persuasive Speech
• Evaluating Information on the Web
• Public Speaking Rubric
• Bibliography Rubric

Research Helpers

• Tutorials
• Ask a Reference Librarian
• Assignment Calculator  
• MLA Citation Resources 
• APA Citation Resources
• bibme.org 
• Zotero
• Grammar Helper
• Talking to Databases
• Tips for Research Success

Writing Aids

• Writing Center
• Resources for Writers

Brainstorm ideas and topics that interest you

• Open Mind (pdf)
• Tips for Finding a Topic (pdf)
• 200 Possible Persuasive Speech Topics (pdf)

Read a daily newspaper

• Daily Print Newspapers
• Newspaper Websites
• Database: Acces World News (NewsBank)

Explore topics using resource tools

• ProQuest topics tab (pdf)
• OCLC First Search "hot topics" (pdf)
• Browse Reference Books
• Clusty (pdf)

Recommended Resources

Journal Locations and Browsing

• Journal Finder: Use this tool to search for journal titles by title or ISSN or browse for journals by title or subject area.
• Print Journals/Periodicals: Located on the main level of the library at the end of the Reference collection.

Periodical Databases/Indexes

Reports and Pro/Con Essays

• CQ Researcher
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Points of View Reference Center

Newspapers from Alternative Views

• Ethnic Newswatch (Go to the Database field, choose Select Multiple Databases, Clear the list and place a check mark in Ethnic NewsWatch, then click on Continue)
• LexisNexis

General Databases (provide scholarly, popular, and trade journal articles)

• Academic Search Premier
• ProQuest

Meta Search

• BearHunt: Use this tool to search multiple databases and CLICnet at one time.

Books

• CLICnet: The shared catalog of Cooperating Libraries in Consortium
• NetLibrary (eBooks)
• Gale Virtual Reference Library 
• Oxford Reference Online
• Children's Non-Fiction Collection
• Series Books -At Issue Series, Current Controversies, Opposing Viewpoints, Contemporary Issues Companion

Dewey Decimal System

• Dewey Browser: OCLC's prototype, provides a visual interface for the Dewey Decimal System.  Use this tool to find a Dewey number for a topic and then browse our  library's shelves or catalog.

Web Resources

• Google Scholar
• Librarian's Index to the Internet
• Library of Congress

Speech Texts

• American Memory
• AmericanRhetoric.com

Searching Tips

• Questions to consider as you analyze your topic (pdf)
• Answer some questions about a possible topic (pdf)
• Search Techniques (pdf)
• Evaluation Criteria (pdf)
• Other Evaluation Criteria (pdf)

Citation Information

• Importance of Citations
• Citation and Biblography Aids

Audio Visual Resources

• Audience Response System
• Using Power Point Effectively
• Ten Secrets for Using Power Point Effectively
• Video Databases