Web Site: COM 103 Public Speaking: Finding Library Sources

Persuasive Sources

For your persuasive sources, use databases that focus on controversial issues.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context The 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 Primer 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.
Issues and Controversies Issues & Controversies covers more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Updated weekly, with links to a 12-year back-file, Issues & Controversies offers in-depth articles made to inspire thought-provoking debates.

Books, Books, and more Books

Parkland Library Catalog

Books, eBooks, Videos, and more!

EBSCO eBooks

Online Occupational Outlook Handbook

Free online source. Type in your career choice in the search box on right side.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, Online

Look through all categories in your career:

Nature of the Work
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Employment
Job Outlook
Projections
Earnings
Wages
Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information

Informative Sources

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 Credo 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 Multi-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.
EBSCO eBooks

A greater range of databases can be found on this page.

Use these to find newspaper articles:

Newsbank - Access World News A comprehensive full-text database with sources from more than 200 countries and all 50 U.S. states. This database includes same-day access to The News-Gazette articles and other local papers as well as newspapers from around the world.
Nexis Uni Nexis 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.
New York Times Access to The New York Times. Use this link for instructions.
Wall Street Journal
Newspaper Source Newspaper 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.
U.S. Major Dailies “U.S. Major Dailies provides access to the five most respected U.S. national and regional newspapers, including The New York Times and Washington Post, co-exclusive access to The Wall Street Journal, and exclusive access to Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. The titles offer researchers thorough and timely coverage of local, regional, and world events with journalistic balance and perspective. The content is available by 8am each day and provides archives stretching as far back as 1985. This database is available on the ProQuest platform.”

News Gazette The Champaign-Urbana area newspaper website.

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COM 103 Public Speaking: Finding Library Sources

Persuasive Sources

For your persuasive sources, use databases that focus on controversial issues.

Books, Books, and more Books

Online Occupational Outlook Handbook

Informative Sources

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.

Contact Jane

General Questions and Reference Assistance

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COM 103 Public Speaking: Finding Library Sources

Persuasive Sources

For your persuasive sources, use databases that focus on controversial issues.

Books, Books, and more Books

Online Occupational Outlook Handbook

Informative Sources

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.

Contact Jane

General Questions and Reference Assistance

Okta Verify

Library Materials

Services

Programs & Collections

Faculty & Staff