Chapter 7 Researching Your Speech

Researching your speech: Introduction Researching your topic and providing strong evidence for your claims can make your presentation more interesting, increase your credibility as a speaker, and help you achieve your goals.

Researching your speech: An overview This chapter will cover: Why Research? Creating a research plan Evaluating a source’s credibility Conducting library research Using the Internet Interviewing sources Presenting evidence in your speeches

Why research? Research offers many benefits. –Learn about topic before you select and develop main points –Gather evidence from credible sources that will support claims –Gain credibility with target audience who will perceive you as qualified

Creating a research plan

Creating a research plan: Inventory your research needs First decide on your research objectives. Make a list of the areas you need to research. If you have: –limited knowledge on the topic do some general background research –some knowledge, focus on specific aspects Look for information on all sides of your topic.

Creating a research plan: Find the sources you need Mix Internet research with research from other sources such as books, newspapers, journal articles, and interviews. Consult research librarian for library's resources and hard-to-find items.

Creating a research plan: Find the sources you need Analyze what different types of sources offer. –Books: broad and generally synthesized information. –Journal articles: peer reviewed by experts in the field. –Newspapers: people’s responses to historical events as they happen. –Recent newspapers and quality online sources: up-to- the-minute information. Interviews take advantage of local expertise.

Creating a research plan: Find the sources you need Make a list of keywords as you search library indexes.

Creating a research plan: Keep track of your sources Record full citation information or research details. –Name of author or authors, or organization –Title of the work –Title of the publication (for newspapers, magazines, or anthologies) –Date and volume number of the publication –Publisher, and the city and year of publication (books) –Page number of the reference –URL, date accessed, and author of the Web page or the organization that the page represents (Internet sources) –Dates and times of your interviews, and the name of the interviewer, if other than yourself

Evaluating a source’s credibility: Expertise Does source have knowledge to offer reliable facts or opinions on the topic? Look at source’s educational background, experience, and reputation in the field.

Evaluating a source’s credibility: Objectivity Be sure to check for source bias. Using biased sources is unethical.

Evaluating a source’s credibility: Observational capacity The best sources are: –close to an event –trained with required expertise

Evaluating a source’s credibility: Recency Newer, timely evidence is more reliable and accurate than older evidence. –With older evidence, ask if changing circumstances have invalidated claims. –Do not overlook classic and enduring evidence.

Conducting library research Libraries offer: –Convenient access –Broadest range of credible sources –Sources not available on Web sites –Databases with indexed collections of articles relevant to topic –Librarians who can help find what you need

Conducting library research

Conducting library research: Books Advantages of books –store huge amounts of information written by people with extensive experience in subject areas –in-depth and therefore the best place to start

Tips for using books Tip: Use the library’s electronic catalogs. Tip: Examine related books that are on nearby library shelves.

Conducting library research: Periodicals Advantages of periodicals: –Scholarly journals provide credible information. –Peer-reviewed articles in journals provide sound research. –General and specialized periodical indexes offer full text sources or abstracts.

Conducting library research: Newspapers Advantages of newspapers: –provide a journalist’s view of current events –read about events as they are unfolding Consult both general and specialized newspaper indexes. Consult library indexes for articles and editorials published in major national newspapers.

Conducting library research: Reference works Advantages of reference works –good for introductory research on a topic –Encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, and year books can help find specific facts

Conducting library research: Government documents Advantages of government documents –provide detailed and useful information on laws, regulations, and government activities –subject to peer reviews, adding to their credibility

Using the internet: Benefits of internet research Access is convenient and searching is quick. You can find an immense volume of information, including access to many quality sources at linked libraries.

Using the internet Disadvantages of Internet Research –Experts in their field publish in print not on the Internet. –Information may not be credible; any individual or group can post anything. –Self-published Web sites have no external checks on accuracy or reliability. –Information from advocacy or commercial groups may contain incorrect or biased information.

Using the internet: Evaluating the credibility of online sources If the author is identified, research her or his qualifications. Does: –the Web site have a sponsoring organization? –another credible source provide similar information? –the site present arguments on both sides of an issue? –the site have advertising on it or another economic incentive toward bias? –the site’s content have biased language?

Using the internet: Searching the World Wide Web Remember : –To use search engines –Different engines search differently. –Some search engines prioritize sponsored sites.

Using the internet: Searching the World Wide Web Metasearch engines: –search several search engines at once –the search terms must be broad –the results may be sponsored “Advanced search” makes searches more precise Use Web directories with editors who read to judge credibility and quality. Use hybrid search engines that are both search engines and directories.

Using the internet: The invisible web Access the invisible or deep Web by using specialized search tools instead of search engines –Include “database” as a key word in a search string to include databases in your results. –Use the “advanced” search feature on an engine. Use specialized “invisible Web” tools like goshme.com and libraryspot.com.

Using the internet

Tips for using the internet Tip: Be sure to use reliable sources that are credible to your audience. Tip: Be careful not to plagiarize. It can be easy to cut and paste from a Web page and as you learned in chapter 3, that is plagiarism.

Interviewing sources: Prepare for your interview Determine your information needs based on the gaps in your library and Internet research. Decide on useful interview subjects.

Interviewing sources: Set up your interview Contact interviewee in person rather than by phone or . Explain who you are and what purpose your interview will serve.

Interviewing sources: Plan your interview questions Focus on information that you cannot get from other sources. Ask open-ended questions. Consider asking a “candid” question that the interviewee might like to avoid.

Interviewing sources: Conduct the interview Start with friendly, easy-to-answer questions. Stay focused, but be open to new information. Listen carefully and maintain eye contact. Ask for permission to tape the interview.

Interviewing sources: Evaluate your notes Ensure that your notes are accurate by reviewing them immediately after the interview. Contact the interviewee for clarification, if necessary.

Presenting evidence in your speeches Citing sources in speeches may feel awkward and distracting. This attitude advocates plagiarism. Consider: –What can you do to make citations fit your sense of aesthetics? –How is documenting Internet sources both similar to and different from documenting traditional sources?

Tips for researching your speech Tip: As always, stay audience-centered when you are conducting your research. Find sources and reference material that will fit with your audience needs and expectations. Tip: Be on the lookout for good attention- getting material for your introduction as you research.