Now that you've selected a topic, it's time to research! Start by looking for background information on your topic. Once you have a good grasp of the basics, you can look for statistics, examples, pros and cons, and other evidence for your speech.
Use our catalog to find books, videos, and other resources in our collections. Books can be a great place to find background information on your topic. You can also use the table of contents to come up with subtopics for your speech.
Begin your research with an overview of the topic—this will give you a better understanding of the size and scope of the topic and help you develop a focused research question. Wikipedia is a great place to start (take a look at the table of contents to get ideas for subtopics), or try one of the databases below:
Credo Reference provides access to a broad selection of dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, quotations, and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific titles. Includes a built-in mind map to help students brainstorm search terms. Credo is a great place to start your research.
Gale in Context: College provides support for papers, projects, speech assignments, and presentations. Including thousands of overview essays, critical analyses, biographies, timelines, and multimedia elements in five core subject areas: history, literature, biography, science, and social studies. This is a great place to start your research.
Whether you're looking for a speech topic or seeking a concise introduction to one of the many important issues covered in these databases, our current event/controversial topic databases are a great place to start your research for a persuasive or argumentative speech.
CQ Researcher contains in-depth articles on selected current and controversial issues. Topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, and science and technology. This database is great for speech assignments, research papers, and debate preparation.
Issues & Controversies provides accurate, accessible, and authoritative information about current issues, exploring more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. This is an excellent database to explore pros/cons and multiple sides of an issue and is great for research papers and debate preparation.
Mark Twain is said to have declared that “facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.” Statistics are data that can provide convincing information when you provide interpretations for your audience. For additional information on using statistics to make effective arguments, see the University of North Carolina's Writing Center.
Statista provides statistical data on many topics including media, business, politics, society, technology, and education. Sources include market reports, opinion research institutions, trade publications, scientific journals, and government agencies. Charts can be downloaded or embedded for assignment purposes.
Public opinion is collected through polling and interviews by a variety of organizations. Data associated with public opinion can support persuasive arguments by demonstrating majority or minority opinions, or the shift of general beliefs over time.
Examples help illustrate your point and can serve to clarify complex issues. Use a specific example to create connections in your audience's mind between ideas and concrete instances of people, places, or events. Newspaper databases can help you find specific cases that support your argument.
The New York Times Digital Edition includes access to the Newspaper, the Magazine, the Book Review, the Learning Network for Educators, and a variety of newsletter selections, as well as a variety of images and videos created for the newspaper.
Create an account with your COD email to access this resource.
US Newsstream offers exclusive access to The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune as well as many other key national and regional news sources from the United States. Coverage: 1980-current.
International Newsstream provides information from more than 660 of the world's top newspapers, including The Times (London), The Bangkok Post, El Norte, Financial Times, The Guardian, Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, The Daily Telegraph, Asian Wall Street Journal, and the BBC Monitoring series of publications.
Provides indexing and full-text coverage of the Chicago Tribune from 1989-present.
Provides full-text access to the Daily Herald. Coverage: 1997-present.
Evidence gathered by known experts carries a great deal of credibility. Remember that the people cited should be perceived as experts by others in the same field of expertise. Evidence should come from unbiased, third party sources. For example, the maker of a particular drug may not be an unbiased source on the attributes of that drug.
Selected Article Databases
A picture speaks a thousand words. Incorporating a visual aid into your presentation can provide rhetorical support to your argument. Infographics, charts, and maps can bolster support for your argument, while the right photograph can provide an emotional hook for your audience.
Looking for art images?
Resources for finding images relating to Art, Architecture, and Photography; History; Religion; Science; and other subjects.
Looking for images you can modify, adapt or build upon?
CC Search offers convenient access to search services provided by Flickr, Google Images, Wikimedia Commons, and more.