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COMX 111: Introduction to Public Speaking

Welcome! This is a guide designed for students enrolled in COMX 111.

Get Started with Library Research

For your Informative and Persuasive Speeches, you need to cite:

A minimum of 3 published sources, with one published within the previous 3 months.

The databases below will help you find articles on your topic. Search using the keywords you have developed, and be prepared to use both broader and narrower search terms to refine your results.

Keep Track of Your Citations

  • Remember to keep track of the sources that you find for future reference using Refworks. Good research relies on the belief that the work of others is ethically cited...practice this routinely as part of the scholarly process!
  • Be sure to record important information like title, author, year of publication, volume and issue, page numbers, publisher and URL. You will need this to build your bibliography. 

Analyze Sources

Authority:

  • Who is the speaker or writer?
  • What are his/her credentials?
  • Who, if anyone, sponsors the information?
  • What is the reputation of the publisher?

Recency:

  • Is the information reflective of current knowledge?
  • Is the recorded date reflective of the information?

Objectivity:

  • What is the author’s self-interest, bias or opinion?