COMM 201

Vanguard University Library
COMM 201—Speech Composition and Presentation
2008-2009

BESS—the pillars of good research:

• Boolean Operators – AND narrows a search; OR expands a search; NOT narrows a search.
• Evaluation—What do you want to find in the end? How do you know you’ve found what you need? Is the information you’ve found appropriate for your literature review?
• Spelling—Are there multiple spellings of the search term that you’re using?
• Synonyms—Words or phrases that mean the same thing

Keywords: Homeland Security; Domestic Violence; Homeless Shelters; Business Ethics, Immigration

Evaluation: What do you want to find in the end? How do you know you’ve found what you need? Is the information you’ve found appropriate for the types of speeches you’ll be giving? Informative? Persuasive? Extemporaneous?

Types of Speeches:

• Informative Speech—giving facts. Databases to use for Informative Speeches: Infotrac, Proquest, Ebsco, WilsonSelectPlus, Britannica
• Persuasive Speech—making an argument. Databases to use for Persuasive Speeches: CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints, Lexis-Nexis (All give “pro” and “con” information)
  Websites to use for Persuasive Speeches: PublicAgenda.org
• Extemporaneous Speech—limited preparation; speaking from an outline

THIS CLASS WILL FOCUS ON PREPARATION for your PERSUASIVE SPEECH.

Online via the Library Web Page http://www.vanguard.edu/library/

• Off Campus: Proxy Server Access. See instructions on the Library Website in the left hand side: “Connect from Off Campus” or under “VU Library Services”

1. CQ Researcher

• Informative overviews of current interest topics
• Browse Topics—Pick a topic; Abstract appears; For full article, click on “Overview”; Bibliography of original sources for the overview is located at the end of the article.
• Quick Search—Type a key word; A list of articles appear; Choose one; Abstract and overview are together in one document. Bibliography of original sources for the document is located at the end of the article.
• Key Words: Homeland Security

2. OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS

• Full-text newspaper and magazine articles
• Key Words: Domestic Violence

3. LEXIS-NEXIS Newspapers and legal articles – mostly full text

• Quick Search
• Key Words: Business Ethics

4. Public Agenda http://www.publicagenda.org

• Non-partisan opinion research
• Select an Issue: Immigration
• Understanding the Issue
• Discussion Guides: Three (3) perspectives on the issue along with pros and cons of each approach

ASSIGNMENT IN CLASS: Find three (3) sources on your chosen topic for your next speech. Write down the bibliographic information on the back of this sheet. Show your results to the Faculty Librarian teaching this class session or to your professor for this course.