Speech 101 Orientation  -  L. Rhi
October 29 & 30, 2007

• Intro & welcome
   

• Reference books and journals on cart

• Library Web site -  your "research portal" with access to the catalog, online databases, subject guides, & many other features

• How to find books - the best place to get overviews, background information, and in-depth treatments of your topic.
   

  1. Library Catalog (Sirsi)

     • Series searches for Opposing Viewpoints, At Issue, Current Controversies

     • Title searches for Taking Sides, Debatabase

     • Subject searches for critical thinking, reasoning, persuasion (rhetoric)

     • Individual topics:

       • Stem cells

       • Same-sex marriage

       • Terrorism and civil rights
          

  2. Gale Virtual Reference Library e-Books **

• How to find articles in online databases -  the best places to get specific information about events or topics; can range from short and very localized reporting to substantial analyses and commentaries. Can be very current or retrospective.   [off-campus access] **
   

  1. SIRS
      

  2. Issues & Controversies from FACTS.com
      

  3. ProQuest 
     Select More Search Options to search for your topic and Article Type (Editorial) and Publication Type (Newspapers)

• How to find authoritative web sites:
   

  1. Rio Hondo College Library Subject Guides
      

  1. Other sources of subject guides

     • Argumentative Topics -  from Glendale College in Arizona

     • Subject Guide for Hot Topics Supersites - from San Diego State University
        

  2. Web directories

     • Librarians Index to the Internet
        

  3. Selected individual Web sites:

     • Public Agenda Online
     • Controversial Topics - from Santa Ana College Library
     • Editorials/Opinion pages from U.S. newspapers

• Tour of Library

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