Gathering Materials for a Speech

There are many resources you can use when gathering information for a speech. If  you have personal experience or above-average knowledge about a topic, you can use yourself as a resource. Most of the time, however, you will need outside information, which you can get in the library, on the Internet, or by interviewing people with specialized information.

Finding what you need in the library is largely a matter of knowing how to search for information. The catalogue lists all the books, periodicals, and other resources owned by the library. Databases help you find articles in magazine newspapers, and journals. The reference section includes encyclopedias, year books, biographical aids, and books of quotations. If you have trouble finding something, don’t hesitate to ask a librarian.

When looking for information online, you need a search strategy that will help you find exactly what you need. Given the lack of editorial review for most documents on the Web, it is especially important to evaluate the authorship, sponsoring organization, and recency of the research materials you find there.

You can also get information by conducting a personal interview. Before the interview, you should define its purpose, decide whom you are going to interview, and prepare the interview questions. Once the interview begins, be sure to listen attentively and to take accurate notes. Afterward, review and transcribe your notes as soon as possible.

No matter what sources you draw upon in gathering information, your research will be more effective if you start early and make a preliminary bibliography to keep track of all the books, articles, and Internet documents that look as if they might be helpful. By learning to take research notes effectively, you will save your self time and energy every step of the way. And if you think about your materials as you research, you may find that gathering materials is the most creative part of your speech preparation.

Review Questions

After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions:

Why is it important to draw on your own knowledge and experience in gathering materials for your speeches?

What are five resources for finding what you need in the library?

What are three criteria for evaluating the soundness of research materials that you find on the Internet?

What are the three stages of a research interview? What should you do in each stage to help ensure a successful interview?

Why is it important to start your speech research early?

What is a preliminary bibliography? Why is it helpful to you in researching a speech?

What four things should you do to take research notes efficiently?