1.  Using the Internet as a resource:

Laura Cohen, writing about the advantages and disadvantages of conducting research on The Internet observes that this computer mediated environment is not always an authoritative source on any topic. She reminds users that, The Internet provides access to a wealth of information on countless topics contributed by people throughout the world. On the Internet, a user has access to a wide variety of services: vast information sources, electronic mail, file transfer, interest group membership, interactive collaboration, multimedia displays, and more. . . The Internet is not a library in which all its available items are identified and can be retrieved by a single catalog. In fact, no one knows how many individual files reside on the Internet. The number runs into a few billion and is growing at a rapid pace. The Internet is a self-publishing medium. This means that anyone with little or no technical skills and access to a host computer can publish on the Internet. It is important to remember this when you locate sites in the course of your research. Internet sites change over time according to the commitment and inclination of the creator. Some sites demonstrate an expert's knowledge, while others are amateur efforts. Some may be updated daily, while others may be outdated. As with any information resource, it is important to evaluate what you find on the Internet.

To learn more about how to use the Internet for research, follow this link http://www.internettutorials.net/research.html.

2.  Accessing resources from the author and publisher of the course textbook, Essentials of Human Communication, by Joseph A. Devito, 5th Ed.: 

Follow this link http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_devito_esshumcomm_5., then use the drop down menu and the Go button to select and navigate through the chapters. You may engage in a variety of learning activities including multiple choice/true-false tests, crossword puzzles, and link to related sites. 

3.  Preparing for your informative and persuasive speeches:

Scroll down to Section III to learn how to explore lists of topics and other resources in the databases.
 

1. To open the MC Library catalog in another browser window, click here.

2. To find a book on a specific topic, look for the "Select Search Type" field and highlight the words "Keyword Anywhere or Subject Keyword."

3. To search in just one of the libraries, find the "Set One Limit" field and select a campus. To search all three campuses at once, select "None."

4. Enter a search expression (see below) in the "Enter Search Terms" field. Search expressions consist of keywords (which tend to be nouns), the Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), and punctuation (parenthesis used with OR, quotations marks for phrases):

communication AND international

communication AND intercultural

"nonverbal communication" OR "body language"

"oral communication"

communication AND (persuasion OR persuasive)

SEARCH TIPS:

• Books are especially useful when researching topics for an informative speech.
• Don't get too specific when searching for books. Realize that your topic may just be a chapter or a section in a book on "interpersonal communication" or "human communication."
• Avoid current events. It takes many months or even years to write and publish a book. Books are not useful, therefore, for researching recent news items.

Here are direct links to some of the library's databases that will be especially useful to you as you research communication-related topics.

To locate articles, you will need to construct and use search expressions. Remember, they consist of keywords (tend to be nouns), the Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), and punctuation (parenthesis used with OR statements, quotations marks for phrases):

"verbal communication"

communication AND (non-verbal OR nonverbal)

"human communication" AND "communication models"

"cross-cultural orientation" AND communication

"intercultural communication"

communication AND "second language acquisition"

Results can be sorted by date or relevance. To print, use the button within the database.

Communication

Communication & Mass Media Complete

Full-text articles from 200 scholarly journals; citations for articles from hundreds more.

Academic Search Premier

Full text articles from 4,600 scholarly publications, indexing and abstracts for 3,500 peer-reviewed publications. Covers all subject areas.

Expanded Academic ASAP

Indexes over 3,500 titles; more than 2,000 of these are full text. Covers all subject areas.

Informative Speaking (description, definition or demonstration)

Possible topics for the informative speech (acknowledgment to the Speech Department at The University of Hawai'i Community College, source of the original list).

Opinion (for Persuasive Speech)

Opposing Viewpoints

Use blue Subject Headings on opening page to search by topic. Contains information on current topics and controversial issues. Access persuasive essays, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and articles.

National Newspapers

For opinion pieces, include the word "editorial" in your search expressions.

CQ Researcher

This database covers topics that have come before Congress. Each report specifically addresses the pros and cons of the issue.

SIRS Knowledge Source

To get some ideas about possible topics for your persuasive speech, click on the "Suggested Research Topics" in the lower right corner of the screen.

Here are links to two of the library's online encyclopedias. These will be helpful as you research topics for your informative speech.

xreferplus

Provides access to a set of reference books: dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, books of quotations, and a range of subject-specific titles.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online

In addition to the Encyclopedia Britannica, includes links to Web pages and selected articles.

Essentials of Human Communication

This is the companion Web site for the text book used in SP108, Essentials of Human Communication by Joseph A. DeVito. (Pearson Education, Inc.)

The Center for Non-Verbal Studies

(privately maintained by David B. Givens, Ph.D.)

Dave's ESL Cafe

Billed as "[t]he Internet's meeting place for ESL & EFL teachers [and] students from around the world." (Privately maintained by Dave Sperling)

How Americans Communicate

A report commissioned by the National Communication Association and conducted in 1998. Its intent was to measure and study "how comfortable and effective people feel communicating amongst themselves and with others, and in different situations and by different means." (National Communication Association; Roper Starch Worldwide)

The Interpersonal Web at NVCC

Comprehensive coverage of many topics related to human communication. (Northern Virginia Community College)

The History Channel

A collection of hundreds of speeches, all available as audio files. (The History Channel)

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