Informing your Audience

Writing your Informative Speech

Your informative speech should rely on communal wisdom. For example, I might talk about racing in sailboats. I would talk about the various rules, what types of boats are involved, and what the parts of the boats are called.

I might look to professional and club organizations to find pictures to support my presentation.

Discovery
A research tool that searches many DelVal databases simultaneously. Contains books, ebooks, dvds, online videos, journals, magazines, newspapers, conference proceedings, and more.

Persuading your Audience

Looking at Both Sides

When writing a persuasive speech, it is important to understand both sides of an issue. The databases listed below help provide a more complete picture so you can effectively present your points and refute the other side.

Pro/Con: The Leading Source for Pros & Cons of Controversial Issues
Source: ProCon
A series of websites including pro/con arguments and background information, including relevant data, court cases, etc. on nearly 40 current controversies.

Other Interesting Resources

Book/DVD Catalog
Access the Library's many books, eBooks, audiobooks, and DVDS.
Brookings Institution
Source: Brookings Institution
A nonpartisan private research institution that publishes analysis and commentary, research reports, and policy briefs on a broad range of topics.
Public Agenda
Source: Public Agenda -- A non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts opinion research in an effort to bridge the gap between the political debates of an issue and the public’s view.

Statistics

International Statistical Agencies
Source: U. S. Census
Contacts for International Statistical Agencies around the world and links to their websites.
United Nations Data
Source: UN
Website allowing the cross search of numerous databases, tables and glossaries containing over 60 million data points.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Source: WHO
The World Health Organization's website provides access to data and analyses for monitoring the global health situation.
Pew Research Center
Source: Pew Research Center
Nonpartisan American think tank which provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world.

Setting up RefWorks

RefWorks

RefWorks is a new way to collect, manage, and organize research. You can read, annotate, organize, and cite your research as well as collaborate by sharing collections.

From simple bibliographies to papers formatted with in-text citations or footnotes, RefWorks handles it all. To learn more about RefWorks, use our RefWorks research guide.

To create a RefWorks account:

Go to the link below and click Use login from my institution
Fill in your information, making sure to use your DelVal email address.
Go to your inbox and click the email link to complete the activation process.

Already have an account? Just go to the link below and click "Log In"

RefWorks
Citation generation service covering hundreds of styles including Chicago Scientific (Author-Date), Journal of Animal Science, and Council of Scientific Editors (Name-Year).