Skyline College
Library

 

Research Links for Speeches

Resources for Informative Speeches
Databases for Persuasive Speeches
Additional Resources on Social Issues & Current Events
Transcripts & Recordings of Speeches


Resources for Informative Speeches:

I. General reference databases and websites:

Encyclopedia Americana
Online version of Encyclopedia Americana, a college-level encyclopedia.

Access Science
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology plus updated content

HowStuffWorks.com
Simple, clear explanations of how things actually work

Gale Biography Resource Center
Database of biographical articles on famous people.

Gale PowerSearch databases
Articles from popular magazines, academic journals, newspapers and reference books; excellent set of general periodical databases. 
To narrow searches, combine topic concepts with AND.
- PLEASE NOTE: When search results are first displayed, only magazine articles are shown, if available for your search.
Click on: the “Academic Journals” tab to display magazine articles; "Books" tab to display book articles; "News" tab to display all news articles.

Statistics: Web Databases & Resources


II. Subject-specific web resources:

Medical resources 

Historical resources


III. Searching for books

Go to the PLS Online Catalog

You might find some relevant books by entering the following phrase in the search entry box, then click "SUBMIT."

how AND (work OR works OR process OR made)

You can also narrow the search by adding your subject to the phrase. For example, if you wish to inform your audience on how the Supreme Court works, you may use the following phrase:

how AND (work OR works OR process OR made) AND Supreme Court


IV. Some relevant books:

How to dunk a doughnut : the science in everyday life
Fisher, Len
QC162.F53 2003

Where stuff comes from : how toasters, toilets, cars, computers, and many others things come to be as they are
Molotch, Harvey Luskin
TA148.M65 2003

How things work : the physics of everyday life
Bloomfield, Louis 
QC21.2.B59 2001

How to motivate everyone : family, friends, co-workers, (even yourself)
Arthur, Jay
BF503.A77 2001

 

Databases for Persuasive Speeches:

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center on campus or off-campus w/ library card
Database of viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles on social issues.

  • Click on the list (at right) of many social issues to choose from or search for a specific topic not on the list.
  • After clicking on a social issue or doing a search, you will see links to "Viewpoint essays" on that issue. Additional documents on the issue-- including Reference articles, Statistics, Magazine articles, Primary documents & more-- are available by clicking on the appropriate tabs at the top of the page.

Gale PowerSearch databases - on campus or off-campus w/ library card
articles from academic journals, popular magazines and newspapers; excellent set of general periodical databases. 

o        To narrow searches, combine concepts with AND.

§         For differing viewpoints on an issue, after entering search words for the issue, add AND "pro or con"

o        PLEASE NOTE: When search results are first displayed, only academic journal articles are shown, if available for your search.
Click on the “Magazines” tab to display magazine articles "News" tab to display all news articles; click on the "Reference" tab to display reference articles.

Ethnic Newswatch on campus or off-campus w/ library card
Full-text articles from about 200 newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press, in English and Spanish.

  • Click on Advanced Search tab (near the top of the search page)
  • Enter specific search word(s) for your desired topic in the "Words in Articles" search box, e.g. Iraq AND military
  • [Optional:  To try to limit your search to opinion or editorial articles, Scroll down to the search box labeled "Type of Article" and enter "Editorial"]
  • Click the Submit Search button

Alt-Press Watch  on campus or off campus w/ library card
Articles from about 175 magazines, newspapers & journals from alternative and independent presses.  info

InfoTrac Newspapers on campus or off-campus w/ library card
Full-text articles from N.Y. Times, S.F. Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, L.A. Times, Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Seattle Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Times (London, England), Guardian (London, England), Manila Bulletin (Philippines), Korea Times, International Herald Tribune, La Opinión

  • From the initial search page, click on "Advanced Search" on the task bar at the top of the page.
  • In the first search box, enter search words for the topic on which you want to find opinion or editorial articles
  • [Optional: To try to limit your search to opinion or editorial articles, in the next search box, enter the words: opinion OR editorial ]
  • Click the Search button

Lexis Nexis Academic Universe on campus or off-campus w/ library card
Full-text articles from one of the largest databases of news, business & other publications.

  • Click on News at left of home page
  • In the box for: "Step One: Select a news category", select: General News
  • In the box for: "Step Two: Select a news source", select: Major Papers
  • In the first entry box under: "Step Three: Enter search terms", enter word(s) for your desired topic, e.g. Iraq AND military
  • [Optional: To limit searches to opinion & editorial articles, in the second entry box under: "Step Three: Enter search terms", enter "opinion OR editorial OR op-ed OR letter" or enter "speech"]
  • Click the Search button

Newspaper Websites
Links to directories of newspaper & news websites from around the world.


Transcripts & Recordings of Speeches:

 

 

 

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last revised: 9-23-08 by Eric Brenner;
Informative Speeches section created by Kim Lim;
Skyline College, San Bruno, CA