CM 101: Public Speaking: Home

OneSearch (Search for books, articles, and more)- allows you to search most of the library's resources in a single search.

Library Catalog - online local catalog for books, DVDs, and selected e-books.

Databases - searchable collections of online resources.  May be multi-disciplinary (JSTOR) or limited to a subject (Vogue Archive).  May include articles, e-books, or images. If prompted, login with your single sign-on.

Journal Finder - use this when you have an article citation and want to know if it's at SU.

E-Reserves/Course reserves - use these when your instructor has asked the library to hold books, journal articles, DVDs and other things just for the students of this course.

Advice on choosing a topic: don't choose one that has been done over and over again! Pick something you are interested in, and your enthusiasm for the topic will come through in your speech. You also won't mind doing the research if you are fascinated by the topic.

The Issues and Controversies database will give you some great ideas for timely topics for speeches. Each article gives an overview of an important issue and then presents both sides with equal weight (useful for persuasive speeches). The bibliography at the end of each article directs you to further study. You can also try some other sources on this page to look for ideas. Scroll down for more suggestions.

It's important to pick a topic that is manageable -- not too broad and not too narrow. A speech about the Vietnam War is too broad for a 10-minute speech. You might focus your topic on the effects of the war on the mental health of soldiers.

If your topic is too narrow, you may have trouble finding research. For example, it might be challenging to find source material on the history of water pipe construction in Towson.