Speech

Speech Study Guide

©2017 of 80 search engine. As technology and internet accessibility progress, libraries are putting more and more information online. Speakers may also use for-profit websites, which are distinguished by their URL ending in “.com.” These websites may be important for finding current material. Not-for-profit websites are distinguished by their URL ending in “.org.” These websites are dedicated to issues or causes that may provide emotional appeals. Speakers may also utilize blogs, which are websites that provide personal viewpoints of the author and are created and maintained by an individual or organization. Blogs may be focused on a particular subject. Typically, blogs are biased toward the opinion of the blogger and may be a good source for finding public opinion examples and humanizing a topic. Verifying the credentials of a blog can be difficult and should be used with caution. The other most common type of website involves online social networking sites. These are websites where communities of people interact with one another via the internet. Many speakers forget, or become overwhelmed with the fact that there are more sources than internet sources. These sources include encyclopedias, books, articles in academic journals or magazines, news media, statistical sources, biographies, quotation books, and government documents. Some of these sources may be found online. Encyclopedia entries may serve as a good starting point by providing an overview about a topic. Encyclopedias may only provide overviews, so therefore, they should never be the only source consulted. Typically, encyclopedias contain short articles about a variety of subjects, but may be more focused in a specialized area (history, religion, philosophy, etc.). Reference lists and note sections in encyclopedias may serve as a useful tool to point a speaker in the right direction for more sources. Books provide in-depth information about a topic. One book’s call number (the number that indicates its location in a library) may provide the call number for another book. Articles may contain more current or highly specialized information on a topic than a book can/will. Articles tend to be published in periodicals. Information in periodicals tends to be more current due to the frequency of publication, which is typically weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Many libraries, especially if they are “connected” will subscribe to electronic databases. News media may provide facts and interpretations of contemporary and historical issues. They may also provide information about local issues and perspectives, however most authors of news media articles are journalists who are not experts themselves. As such, it is best not to solely rely on news media as the only source for information. Statistical sources present numerical information on a wide variety of subjects. When a speaker needs facts about demography, continents, heads of state, weather, or similar subjects, it is logical to access one of the many single-volume sources from the U.S. Government. A speaker may find statistical sources online. Biographies are accounts of a person’s life from thumbnail sketches. They are easily encountered in libraries and online outlets. Many famous individuals have some biographical information posted on websites. A simple keyword search is needed to find this kind of website. Quotations can be provocative and informative. When a quote comes from a respected source, it can be more effective. Quotes may come from contemporary or historical figures. No matter the method Achieve Test Prep Page 50