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COMM 2338: Public Speaking: Web Sites

A course guide to library research resources for students in Public Speaking

Evaluating Web Pages

CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING A WEB PAGE:

* Identify the author and the author's expertise on the topic.

* Verify the facts, statistics, or quotes on the web page in another source.

* Identify the agenda of the page: are they selling something or promoting a point-of-view that benefits them? 

* Check to see when the page was last updated. If you can't find a date, consider using a different source.

 DO THE ABOVE BECAUSE:

* Most people don't know what they are talking about.

* Many people will make up facts, misrepresent facts, or leave out facts in order to support their position.

* People will tell you anything if money or power is somehow involved.

AND IN THE END:

* Learn to think for yourself and do not rely on gathering other people's opinions posted on the internet. 

Communication Studies Web Sites

It is not necessary to have a subscription to get in to these Web sites.

  • American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States includes speeches, movie speeches, theories, and exercises, rhetorical figures in sound, and more.
  • Communication Studies Resources is a communication studies portal from the University of Iowa. Includes resources on advertising, cultural studies, digital media, film studies, gender, ethnicity, rhetoric, journalism and media studies.
  • Digital Collections and Programs Oral histories, letters, sound recordings, photographs and other primary sources from the Library of Congress
  • Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. It was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and operates as an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.
  • Methodspace - from the About page: " Methodspace is a multidimensional online network for the community of researchers, from students to professors, engaged in research methods. Sponsored by SAGE, a leading publisher of books and journals in research methods, the site is created for students and researchers to network and share research, resources and debates. Methodspace users have free access to selected journal articles, book chapters, etc which highlight emerging topics in the field."
  • Moving Image Archive is a collection of downloadable movies, newscasts, and videos covering topics such as computers and technology, arts and music, animation and cartoons, full-length feature films and more.
  • Moving Image Source "The Moving Image Source Research Guide is a gateway to the best online resources related to film, television, and digital media" - from the Moving Image Source website.
  • World Wide Cultural E-Resources is an international culturelink network

Google Scholar

This will search for scholarly articles. If the library does subscribe or have paid access to them, then you will get access to what you find through Google Scholar.

This only works if you are on Campus! If you are off campus the best way to search Google Scholar is from our link to it.  Or you can find a link to it on the list of 'G' databases

Google Scholar Search