S121,
Public Speaking
IUS Library
Customized
Course Support
Recommended
Resources for S121
You can use library
resources to find and research a topic for your speech by using reference
materials, databases, online resources and books in the library.
How to find
a topic:
Try
to find a topic that you are interested in or care about. Many resources can
help you think of good ideas. Here are some suggestions:
Three
good resources to begin with are:
1. CQ Researcher REF H35 .E353
CQ researcher gives easy to read and up to date, reports of
today’s issues. It also includes a list of sources for each report.
2. Opposing
Viewpoints Resource Center
Allows you to research different sides of controversial
issues.
Book series
There
are also several series of books that summarize both sides to an issue that you
can use to research speech topics.
To
browse these types of books, click on advanced search in IUCAT then enter in
these terms under the “Series” area. Each book in the series deals with
a different topic.
“Opposing Viewpoints”
“Contemporary World Issues Series”
“Social Issues Primary Resources”
“Current Controversies”
Some places
to begin your research:
Specialized Encyclopedias
In
the reference area, you’ll see many specialized encyclopedias that cover a wide
variety of subjects. Here are a few
examples:
Encyclopedia of Human Rights Issues Since 1945 REF
JC 571 .L2747
Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics REF Q175.35 .B37
Encyclopedia of Global Change REF GE149 .E47
Encyclopedia of
Psychology REF BF31
.E52
Encyclopedia of
Rural
The
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural
There are also many
specialized encyclopedias that are available as electronic books. You can find
them listed in IUCAT and use them online.
Databases
There are many databases that can help you find articles
from journals, but this database may be a good one to start with. There are
other more specialized ones
News Sources
There are several news sources to use in your
research
This database contains full-text articles from major
This database contains some major
Contains links to recent news stories from influential
newspapers and magazines, like the Wall Street Journal
Through this database, you can access full-text copies of
stories from the Courier-Journal from 1999 through roughly a month ago.
Editorials
on File REF
D839 .E3
Collects and indexes the nation’s editorials. This is a good
source to find out different perspectives on an issue.
Use IUCAT to find books and journals
You
can use IUCAT to find books, printed and online journals, and other
resources.
Think
of several keywords for topics involving your speech. Try to think of several
different words that might express the topic.
Then
begin entering them in the “keyword anywhere” box.
How to find
a statistic
World
Almanac REF AY67.N5W7
Filled with easy to scan statistics and lists. Click
here for online version
ESPN
Sports Almanac REF GV741.I582
Contains sports statistics and records.
Statistical
Abstract of the
Outlines some of the most frequently used statistics about
the
Demographic
yearbook of the U.N. REF HA17.D45
This is a
good source for statistics about other countries.
This is an online clearing house for US government
statistics. The a-z index gives links to statistics about various topics.
A good source for finding statistics from federal agencies,
state agencies, and associations, and the Gallup Poll.
How to find
a Fact
A
Matter of Fact REF AG5.M37
Lists facts and statistics for many of today’s hot issues,
and it also cites the source of the stat or fact.
Famous
First Facts REF AG5 .K315
Lists “firsts” for a wide variety of topics.
Facts on File REF D410 .F3
Facts
about the Presidents REF
E176.1 .K3
Each entry
lists important facts about each president.
How to find
Biographical Information
This database links you to biographical entries from the
electronic versions of several biographical encyclopedias. You may find several
listings for the same person.
Current
Biography REF
CT100.C82
Biographies of people in the news from all walks of life -
pop culture, the arts, business, politics & international affairs, science
and sports.
Chambers
Biographical Dictionary REF
CT103.C4
Brief biographical essays about significant
living and historical figures from around the world.
Who’s
Who in
Highlights living Americans and each entry lists their most
important accomplishments.
How to find
a quote
The
library has a wide variety of dictionaries of quotations. Here are some
examples:
Chamber’s Dictionary of Quotations PN6081 .C43
Home Book of Quotations REF
PN6081 .S47
Last Words of Distinguished Men & Women REF PN6328 .L3 M3
The Quotable Woman REF
PN6081 .S47
Random House Webster’s Quotationary PN 6081.R29