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Speech Resources

• Types of Speeches
• Find a Topic
• Find Sources
• Organizing and Delivering the Speech
• Famous Speeches

Types of Speeches

• Informative Speech
  Speaker teaches his/her audience by conveying information and facts about objects, processes, events, or concepts.
• Persuasive Speech
  Speaker takes a stance on an issue and uses arguments to convert the audience to his or her point of view.

Find a Topic

Think of something you know a lot about, like a hobby, or something you want to learn more about. Keep in mind that finding sources is much easier if your topic isn't obscure. Read a newspaper or watch the news to find out what issues are hot and talked about a lot.

Additional Resources:

• Speech and Term Paper Topics - get ideas for a speech topic.
• Opposing Viewpoints - books on current topics like abortion, the death penalty, gambling, and much more. Search CUNYPlus for books to check out.
  
• 10000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, Reports and Speeches
  Call Number - LB 1047.3.I35 1998

Find Sources

Books
It takes time to research, write a book and get it published, so it is difficult to find a book on a very current subject. For example, it is extremely unlikely that you could have found a well-researched book on the events of September 11th as early as December 2001.

• CUNYPlus - books
• NetLibrary - electronic books
• NetLibrary guide

Articles
Articles in magazines and journals are published on a weekly or monthly basis, or in the case of newspapers, even daily. This means it is much easier to find articles on current topics.

• Most of the library's journals are available in databases. The databases can be used in the library and off campus.
• The library also subscribes to many journals and magazines in print. For help finding articles go to the Periodicals room in the back of the library (S-400).

Websites
Anybody can publish on the Web. Just because a Website exists doesn't mean the information in it is reliable. Therefore, it is important to evaluate Web content before you use it in a speech or paper.

Images

• Academic Search Complete
• Google
• Speech and Term Paper Topics

News

• Lexis Nexis Academic
• Newspaper databases

Statistics

• CQ Researcher (BMCC Database)
• Information Series on Current Topics (BMCC Database)
• Statistics: Databases by Subject
• Statistical Abstract of the United States
  Call number HA 202.A38

Organizing and Delivering a Speech

Web Resources

• Structure and outline an informative speech.
• Five-step method for improving your speech delivery.
• Tips for stage presence and gestures when delivering a speech.

Books

• Curso de Oratoria: como Apprender a Hablar en Publico en Diez Horas
  Call Number: PN 4128.D35 2000
• The Elements of Public Speaking
  Call Number: PN 4121.D389 2000
• The Art of Public Speaking
  Call Number: PN 4121.L72 2001

Famous Speeches

• The American Reader: Words that Moved a Nation
  Call Number: E173 .A753 1990
• Voices of Multicultural America: Notable Speeches Delivered by African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans
  Call Number: PS 663.M55 V64 1996
• CUNYPlus