DSPR 0800:  Research for Persuasive Speech

Assignment:  Prepare a presentation to support your argument regarding a controversial topic.
     (Someone must disagree with your position.  Otherwise, your topic is not controversial!)

Find evidence to support your position.

• Should employers use Facebook or MySpace profiles to decide whether or not to hire a person?

• Should juveniles be tried as adults?

• Should college students use credit cards?

• Should companies be allowed to mine coal using mountaintop removal?

• Should children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants be granted U.S. citizenship?

• Should Congress restore the Pay/Go budget law to help slow the growth of our national debt?

Try Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center to get ideas for a topic.
 

Finding articles

    MasterFILE Premier database 
        ...for magazine, journal, and newspaper articles     

 Off-campus access for currently enrolled students requires a Username and Password.
Please do not share this password information with anyone not currently enrolled at Chattanooga State.

Use "and" between search words and phrases
        E.g.  bottled water and environmental
        The phrase "bottled water" and the word "environmental" must both appear in the articles.i

       Add (controversy or controversial or debate) to focus on the controversial issues of your topic.
                 E.g.  global warming and (controversy or controversial or debate)
 

       Add more specific keywords
                 E.g.  mountaintop removal and coal

Find evidence to support your view.  Copy and paste this phrase into your search:  (statistic or number or percent or percentage)
        E.g. motorcycle and helmets and (statistic or number or percent or percentage)

For longer, more informative articles, "Limit your results" by:

 

How do I cite my sources?
        An MLA citation for an article from an electronic database will usually include:        

Let the MasterFILE database create most of the citation for you!  Find out how. 
Go to the MLA Citation Examples for more samples.

Speak out!

    Get advice on public speaking from helpful books in the PN 4100 section of the library or in the NetLibrary eBook Collection.
        Sample eBooks:

The Lost Art of the Great Speech:  How to Write It, How to Deliver It
Presenting with Power:  Captivate, Motivate, Inspire and Persuade

Questions or comments?  Call 423.697.4436 or email reference@chattanoogastate.edu
Created 2003 by Sandra Williford.  Revised with T. Houck 02.27.07  Last update 09.17.07