1. A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking
Sixth Edition
CHAPTER 9: Finding Credible Sources in Print and Online
Copyright © 2019 Bedford/St. Martin's. All rights reserved.

2. Use a Library Portal to Access Credible Sources
Electronic entry point into library’s holdings
Resources selected by trained professionals
Reliable and credible information
Part of the deep web
Inaccessible by search engines

3. Typical Resources Found on Library Portals
Full-text databases
General reference works
Books and monographs
Archives and special collections
Digital collections
Video collections

4. Recognize Propaganda, Misinformation, and Disinformation (1 of 2)
Data presented in an understandable context
Example: vital signs
Propaganda
Information presented to provoke a response
Example: military posters encouraging enlistment

5. Recognize Propaganda, Misinformation, and Disinformation (2 of 2)
Something that is not true
Example: urban legends
Disinformation
Deliberate falsification of information
Example: doctored photographs

6. Investigate a Mix of Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary sources
Provide firsthand account or direct evidence
Secondary sources
Provide analysis or commentary
Not directly observed or created

7. Explore Primary Sources: Consider Personal Knowledge and Experience
Sharing personal experiences can increase authenticity and credibility.
Personal knowledge can play a small or large role in your speech, depending on how directly involved you are in your topic.

8. Explore Primary Sources: Access Digital Collections
Most libraries have digital collections that include the following:
Oral histories
Letters
Newspapers
Photographs

9. Explore Primary Sources: Conduct Interviews (1 of 4)
Prepare questions in advance.
Word questions carefully.
Avoid vague questions.
Avoid leading questions.
Aim to create neutral questions.

10. Explore Primary Sources: Conduct Interviews (2 of 4)
Establish a spirit of collaboration.
Express respect for the interviewee’s expertise.
Summarize your topic and informational needs.
State a reasonable goal.
Establish a time limit.

11. Explore Primary Sources: Conduct Interviews (3 of 4)
Use active listening strategies.
Don’t break in.
Don’t interject with leading comments.
Paraphrase the interviewee’s answers where appropriate.
Seek clarification when necessary.

12. Explore Primary Sources: Conduct Interviews (4 of 4)
End by rechecking and confirming.
Check that your topics were covered.
Positively summarize what you learned.
Offer to send the interviewee the results.

13. Explore Primary Sources: Distribute Surveys
Conduct surveys.
Tool for investigating audience attitudes
Primary source material
Effective source for topics focused on the attitudes and behaviors of people in your immediate environment

14. Explore Secondary Sources
Most likely secondary sources
Books, newspapers, periodicals, government publications
Reference works (encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.)
Internet sources (blogs, social news sites)

15. Wikipedia Material on Wikipedia is unreliable.
Anyone can edit Wikipedia at any time.
You can use Wikipedia as a jumping-off point for further research – as long as you evaluate the credibility of articles to which it links.
Never cite Wikipedia as a source in your speech.

16. Blogs and Social News Sites
These sites can be unreliable.
You should only cite blogs and social news sites that are affiliated with reputable organizations.

17. Evaluating Web Pages (1 of 3)
Seek out the most reliable websites on the topic.
Examine the domain of the web address.
The suffix at the end of the address that tells you the nature of the site.
Examples: government (.gov), education (.edu), military (.mil), business/commercial (.com)

18. Evaluating Web Pages (2 of 3)
Tilde (~) in the address indicates a personal page.
Check the date when the page was placed on the web. See if current.
Websites without dates may contain outdated or inaccurate material.

19. Evaluating Web Pages (3 of 3)
Check for trustworthy sources.
Verify the information found with at least two other independent, reputable sources.