1. Chapter 7
Gathering Materials

2. Using Your Own Knowledge and Experience
Focus on topics you know something about or are deeply interested in.
Touch of personal salience can go a long way

3. Library Research Librarians Catalogues Reference Works Encyclopedias
Yearbooks
Quotation Books
Biographical Aids
Beware of the “recency” of many encyclopedia entries

4. Library Research Newspapers and Periodicals Academic Databases
Be cautious with abstracts
Use abstracts to your advantage, but do not cite a source based purely on the abstract
Journal articles – peer review

5. Searching the Internet
Search Engines
Specialized Research Resources
Virtual Libraries
Government Resources
Wikipedia
Use quotation marks and addition symbol when searching
Use Wikipedia as starting point

6. Searching the Internet
Evaluating Internet Documents
Authorship
Sponsorship
Recency
No peer review on internet
Sponsorship – objective source. Check the reputation of your source
Recency – do not base your presentation on dated information

7. Interviewing Before the Interview During the Interview
After the Interview
Before – define purpose, decide who, arrange it, record it?, prepare questions ahead of time – avoid leading or hostile questions
During – be on time and dress appropriately, repeat purpose, record if necessary, keep interview on track, listen carefully, don’t overstay welcome
After – review notes ASAP, transcribe them

8. Research Tips Start Early Preliminary Bibliography
Efficient Note taking
Think about materials as you research
Use whatever style manual works for you… typically MLA or APA
Notes – take plenty, record consistently, DISINGUISH B/W DIRECT QUOTES, PARAPHRASES, AND YOUR OWN IDEAS
At first you might let your research take you in new directions

9. Oral Source Citations
One of the significant differences between formal papers and speeches
Meant to provide credibility for speaker and evidence
Unique structure
Paper: “…” (Congalton, 2014, p. 35).
Speech: “According to a 2014 article in the Quarterly Journal of Speech written by communications professor Jeanine Congalton…”