Information Literacy/Library Instruction Oral Communication - SPCM 110

Susan Gaskin-Noel, MLSMercy College Librariessgaskinnoel@mercy.edu

©2010/2011

Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

A good topic should be: A current event An issue of interest to your peers One aspect of that issue Something you feel strongly about Something not too controversial Choosing a Persuasive Speech Topic

Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJbQrLHt4vY

Good and “Not So Good” Topics

Good Topics Cell Phone Use Fashion Trends Reality TV Smoking (schools) Tuition Rate Hikes

Not So Good topics Death Penalty Global Warming Legalizing Drugs Religion (schools) Terrorism

Library Resources - BooksBooks and Media Catalog

Go to the “Advanced Search” screen Type in your topic Also try “opposing viewpoints” Limit to Books (optional) Select “Dobbs Ferry” from Location and

Availability Write down the locationAsk for help finding the items on the

shelf

Example of Book Search

Topic

Type

Campus

Book Search Results

Multiple copies

Book - Table of Contents

Library Resources - Databases Current Events

▪ CQ ResearcherProvides in-depth reporting and analysis on issues and provides historical background on the topic, outside commentary, pro/con arguments, chronological information, etc.

▪ Issues and ControversiesIssues and Controversies provides background information, explanations of opposing points of view, and factual analysis of current events and issues.

More Databases for Current Events

Library Resources – Databases

General▪ ProQuest

Articles from journals, magazines and newspapers in a wide range of subject areas – full text

▪ WilsonArticles from journals and magazines in most subject areas – full text

Example of Database Search CQ Researcher – Immigration

Example of Immigration Report

Menu

Searching ProQuestImmigration AND Mexico AND Statistics

ProQuest Results

Other Search Options

Journal Locator

The Journal Locator is a browseable and searchable database for finding periodicals owned or linked to by Mercy libraries.

Periodicals include: Newspapers Magazines Journals

Do Not Use to Search for a Specific Article

Searching Journal Locator - Immigration

Journal Locator - Search Results

Click Link

Search Within a Specific Journal

Search Results

Finding Statistics

Include the word “statistics” in your keyword searching of the databases

Click on “By the Numbers” in Issues and Controversies

Finding StatisticsIssues and Controversies

Issues and Controversies – By the Numbers

Statistics

Finding Visual Aids

Books and Media Catalog

http://mercy.waldo.kohalibrary.com/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl

Google Imageshttp://www.google.com

You Tubehttp://www.youtube.com

Books and Media Catalog Search for Visual Aid

Visual Aid Results

Web Searching

Web searching should only be done after you have exhausted your libraries’ resources

Why? Millions of choices The web has no quality control Often difficult to determine

credibility

Web Searching (cont’d)

If you must use the web, check for: Domain - .edu, .org, .net Author/Authority Publishing body Currency Bias

Evaluating Internet Sourceshttp://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/index.html

Citing Your Sources - APA

APA Guidelines - Mercy College Libraries (PDF)  Guidelines and examples of APA (6th edition) provided by Mercy College Librarians.

APA Guidelines - Purdue OWL  Purdue University Online Writing Lab - citing APA style.

APA Sample Paper - Purdue OWL (PDF)Example of how to structure an APA research paper, from Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Citing Your Sources - MLA

MLA Guidelines - Mercy College Libraries (PDF) Guidelines and examples of MLA (7th edition) provided by Mercy College Librarians.

MLA Guidelines - Purdue OWLPurdue University Online Writing lab - citing MLA style.

MLA Sample Paper - Purdue OWL (PDF)Example of how to structure a MLA research paper, from Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Finding this PowerPoint

Go to the libraries’ website Under Resources▪ Select Course and Subject Guides▪ Select Speech from the drop-down menu,

click Go▪ Select Speech 110 - Persuasive (PowerPoint)

Direct URL: http://www.mercy.edu/libraries/SPCM110_Persuasive.pptx