COM 103 Speech: Finding Library Sources
Multi-database search
Books, Books, and more Books
Using the Library Catalog will locate books, videos, and more. PLUS, if we don't have the book you're after, request it for FREE using I-Share.
Informative Speech
For your Informative Speech, look for unbiased articles or books that introduce a topic.
Use the links below to find different types of sources on a wide range of topics. We may have more specialized tools for specific subject areas--ask a librarian if you aren't having success.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowCredo Reference provides access to a large number of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and other reference books. Subjects covered include art, biography, history, literature, music, religion, and science and technology.
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new windowMulti-disciplinary database providing information for nearly every area of academic study. Includes an enormous collection of the most valuable peer-reviewed full text journals, as well as additional journals, magazines, newspapers and books.
- Associates Program Source Plus This link opens in a new windowAssociates Programs Source Plus contains more than 1,700 full-text journals as well as more than 200 full-text books. This database is designed specifically for the research needs of two-year colleges, and provides comprehensive coverage of the most relevant associates program level content.
- Nexis Uni This link opens in a new windowNexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis Academic) provides access to more than 17,000 news, business and legal sources from LexisNexis. Nexi Uni has three primary collections: 1) full-text access to thousands of news sources in the U.S. and abroad back to the 1970s; 2) aggregated economic data on businesses, corporations, and industries in the U.S. and abroad; 3) full-text legal documents, including U.S. Federal and State court cases, and law reviews from the late 18th century to present.
- Newspaper Source This link opens in a new windowNewspaper Source provides full text access to more than 40 U.S. and international newspapers; select full text for more than 370 U.S. newspapers, and full-text television and radio news transcripts, including CBS news, CNN, Fox news, NPR and more.
- News GazetteThe Champaign-Urbana area newspaper website.
Persuasive Speech
For your Persuasive Speech, it can be useful to look at databases that focus on controversial issues.
These often contain examples of persuasive writing.
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new windowThe Opposing Viewpoints in Context database covers current controversial social subjects, with articles that offer informed, differing views on both sides of each issue.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowPrimer for "hot topics" in culture and politics. Each issue provides a comprehensive overview and background essay, data tables and graphs, chronology, pro-con starter, and list of major research and advocacy groups. Includes extensive lists of sources and hot-linked footnotes throughout.
Tips
Useful Tips
Research is an iterative process...you search for information, take it in, assess it for whether it covers your topic and meets your research needs, then you take what you learned from the first time and search for information again. Repeat as necessary.
Look beyond the first 10. The database tries to pull the most relevant results to the top, but the quality of that sort will vary by how well you've done your searching. Look around a bit, check out key words the database seems to be using, and get a better feel for your topic before you give up.
When you see something good, READ IT—look at the subject terms and abstract. Can these help you do a better search?
Click on the Subject Terms to narrow your results, use two subject terms to pull materials for both concepts together.
Email yourself the article, even if you also print it. In most databases, the citation will also be emailed, and you can't lose your research!
What if I can’t link to full text?
See a librarian! It may be in a different database, available in our paper subscriptions, or available from another library. We can help you navigate those choices.
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