Finding Information for Persuasive Speech

Using the HFHS Library Homepage

Once you have logged on to the library’s homepage, click on “Class Research Guides” to access this document. Doing so will provide you with live links to the resources discussed. Below are a few of the resources we suggest you use for your research.

E-BOOKS

Electronic books are available on the library homepage. Access the Gale Virtual Reference Library here. A variety of sources dealing with contemporary as well as historical topics are accessible in electronic format. These are actual books, some of which you will find living on our shelves, which have been digitized so you can access them electronically, 24/7, at school or from home.

DATABASES

Also from the library homepage, access a variety of subscription databases filled with information from published, reliable sources like reference books, magazines and journals, as well as newspapers. The following databases would work best for this assignment:

Controversial and Contemporary Issues

Facts.com Issues and Controversies~~~~~~ In-depth and objective information on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center~~~~~~~~~ Comprehensive information on leading social issues and pro/con topics.

SIRS Pro vs. Con Leading Issues~~~~~~~~ Targeted resources for researching today’s leading issues.

If you go back to the library homepage and click on the “Online Databases and E-Books” button, you will find even more databases, organized by subject as well as alphabetically, that may be useful to you, depending on your topic.

LIBRARY CATALOG                                                                                                                            On the library homepage, click on the “Library Catalog” button to search for books by author, title, subject, or keyword. The Library Catalog is also a great way to find reliable and authoritative web sites about a variety of topics. Go to the library's online catalog and in the search box type "internet sites about ……" (insert your topic) and click "Title" then, "elec. access." Browse through the list of sites linked to our catalog. REMEMBER, not every topic has sites selected by the catalog.        

CITING SOURCES                                                                                                                            

Click here for links to several citation composers that will help you with your bibliography.

IMPORTANT TIP: When looking for topics in our online catalog or in the databases, you will find more results if you search by KEYWORD rather than subject. Try using similar or related words and phrases to find information. Also, be aware of any suggestions, descriptors, or related terms the databases offer to help you zero in on your topic. See library staff for passwords.