Speeches can be available in a variety of formats: print, electronic, audio or video. Here are some good starting places if you need to find speeches.
American Rhetoric
This is my new favorite site. Maintained by Assistant Professor of Communication. Dr. Eidenmuller from the University of Texas at Tyler. This is an excellent collection of speeches, some with audio and video clips, from many of the nation's "most influential and poignant speakers of the recorded age." The site even includes speeches given on film, major speeches of 9/11 and a top 100 speeches throughout American History. Very cool!
History Channel: Speech Archive This site from history channel offers an excellent collection of speeches, some with audio clips. Divided by genres such as politics and government, arts and sports and many others.
COAST the library catalog
The catalog has a number of subject headings to help you find the location and call number of many of our speech books, CDs and films.You can search for a specific speaker by doing a search for the person's name or find all types of speeches by doing a subject search. Search for Speeches in our collection now.
Speech Index
Available in print: AI3. S85 This title will point you to famous speeches given from 1900-1960
Representative American Speeches
Available in print: PS668 B3
This publication is a compilation of over 100 speeches for the time periods 1939-2003
Paper Topics Research Guide
This page links to various websites that contain lists of topics for writing papers or speeches. Use it to gain ideas and finding sources to help get your started
Opposing Viewpoints
This is a research guide put together by a former CSULB librarian. It provides you will all the resources you will need to use to find most pro/con information available via the library and on the internet.
Library Research Guides by Special Topic
This is an excellent set of subject specific research guides compiled by a colleague of mine from CSU Fullerton. You can browse the titles to get ideas and click on the links to start your research. Just remember that many links are specific to CSUF so you might need to go to Writing Speeches to get resources available to CSULB students.
No matter what your topic is you always have will have basic resources for finding information. Check out our databases by topic to find subject specific resources for articles. Consult the Communication Studies Librarian for tips on where to start if you are having problems!
There are 3 main ways to find Pro/Con information:
Here are some tools to help you do this:
Searching for pro/con articles
Proquest Newspapers
Limit your search by ARTICLE TYPE. You will see the options for limiting by opinion, editorial etc..Also try to think of terminology that will probably determine the perspective of the writer for example if you want anti-abortion material use the term pro-abortion instead of the term pro-choice.
Academic Search Elite
use this database to find articles totally about one side of an issue or magazine editorials. This contains articles for just about every discipline so you will usually find at least one article dealing with your topic. Make sure you use lots of synonyms to ensure you get all possible materials. For example, if you topic is television and kids make sure you also use the term adolescents.
Special publications that are Pro/Con
CQ Researcher
In paper until 2003 and also available online full text. Each issue is on a topic and gives both sides of the issue, a chronology, an overview of the whole issue and links to further reading.
Contemporary World Issues
Call number varies. Gives a general overview on hot issues including history of the topic, chronology and essays on both pro and con of the issue. Find in COAST with a keyword search.
Current Controversies Series
In paper and the call number varies with topic, search COAST under keyword "current controversies".
Encyclopedia of Social Issues
In paper and the call number is Reference HN 57 E59 1997 v. 1-6. "Full, informed, and unbiased discussion of the gestation of the concept, its evolution and associated debates" with a list of suggested readings; most entries are 1-2 pages long although they range from a short paragraph to 20 pages long.
Opposing Viewpoints Series
In paper and the call number varies with topic, search COAST under keywords "opposing viewpoints" for individual titles, then scroll through titles/topics alphabetically. Over 100 topics written are covered from 1980 to today.
Reference Shelf Series
In paper with the basic call number PN 4181. Over 250 issues covered, note some are not as controversial as others.
Taking Sides, Clashing Views on Controversial...
In paper and call number varies with topic, search COAST under keyword "clashing views" for individual topics. Each volume is a broad topic but contains more specific controversies inside.
Searching for Statistics to prove pro/con arguments
Statistics Research Guide
This page will point you to major sources for statistics compiled and published by the government. You can find out statistics such as the number of drug arrests in california, how many people receive welfare benefits, or how many children drop out of school every year.
Journalism Statistics Research Guide
This guide divides sources into categories: U.S. statistics, California Statistics, Crime Statistics and Business Statistics. It also shows you how to search the databases for specific statistics.
The library has a number of books that will assist you with writing/ delivering that perfect speech. Check out some of these books in the library or do a search in COAST the library Catalog for Pubic Speaking.
Speaking clearly : improving voice and diction / Jeffrey C. Hahner, Martin A. Sokoloff, Sandra L. Salisch. Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2002
A handbook of public speaking / Richard Letteri. Boston : Allyn and Bacon, c2002.
HotTips for speakers : 25 surefire ways to engage and captivate any group or audience / Rob Abernathy and Mark Reardon. Zephyr Press 2002.
The lost art of the great speech : how to write it, how to deliver it / Richard Dowis. AMACOM 2000.
Content maintained by Tiffini Travis, Communication Studies Librarian.
