Tips on Speech Research
- Focus your topic, taking in consideration your audience and length of speech
- Look at both sides of an issue to understand talking points
- Use reliable and credible sources
- Credit your sources
- Support your presentation with statistics, quotes, facts, images, infographics, or video
Article Databases
- Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
"Explore both sides of an issue ... Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints is a rich resource for debaters and includes pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more. '--Publisher website. - Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Credo is an easy-to-use tool for starting research. Gather background information on your topic from hundreds of full-text general and subject-specific reference titles, as well as 500,000+ images and audio files and over 1,000 videos.
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window
This general database allows for academic searches in any discipline in a variety of formats. Good for broad or interdisciplinary searches to kick off your research.
- NewspapersSearch The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and other newspapers
Sources for Statistics
- PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to display a variety of data reflecting the United States through custom layered demographic maps, tables, reports, and analytics.
- Statista This link opens in a new window
Statista provides direct access to relevant quantitative facts on agriculture, finance, politics, and many more areas of interest through statistics, reports, insights, forecasts, and more.
- Statistics PageLink to several statistic resources collected by Murray Library
Visual Resources
- Google ImagesUse TOOLS and then USAGE RIGHTS to find images that can be incorporated in your speech
- Locating Creative Commons ImagesCreative Commons licensed content for images.
- Academic Videos Online (AVON) This link opens in a new window
Various video material including films, performances, recordings, and footage that cover a wide range of subject areas.