COMM 121 - Patten
Where to find material for your speech:
Books
Several series covering controversial topics and issues are available from FLITE. You might want to try searching our online catalog, and search in the title field for these words: current controversies or opposing viewpoints. You can also do a keyword search for your topic.
Off-Campus Access
Please read Off-Campus Database Access if you want to do your searching from home. Our Distance Education librarian, Stacy Anderson, is also available for assistance at 231-591-3635, or via Email.
Finding Journal Articles for Research - Databases
Journal articles cover controversial topics and issues as well. Here are some databases that are collections of journal articles you can use to do necessary research for your presentations.
*Recommended in classGeneral
*Academic OneFile (Best Bet)
Communication Specific
Communication and Mass Media Complete
Communication Studies (Sage Full-Text) (Best Bet)
Controversial Topics
*Opposing Viewpoints in Context (Best Bet)
*CQ Researcher
*Facts on File (Check: Issues & Controversies)
Use our Find Journals service if you need to look up a specific article located in a specific journal.
Newspaper Articles - Databases
Newspapers often write on current issues. Go to Find Articles and click on "News Service/Newspaper Resources" to reach these databases and others, or use the Select Database by Title link:
*Access World News (Best Bet)
InfoTrac Custom Newspapers (120 Full-text Newspapers)
Michigan Newspapers (20 Michigan Newspapers)
Lexis-Nexis Newspapers
Online Information
FLITE's Online Encyclopedias
As an alternative to Wikipedia FLITE Library now offers two online encyclopedia collections: CREDO Reference and Oxford Reference Online. These sources offer hundreds of easily searched authoratative titles, use them anytime you would use Wikipedia.
Internet Evaluation
There are many webpages on the Internet which seem to provide quality information, but be aware that many provide less than valuable or credible information. Check out these websites for some real examples.
Citation Style Guides for Bibliographies
Whenever you are quoting or using information from a source, you must credit or cite that source. Failure to do so is plagiarism which can lead to expulsion from the University. FLITE provides a Plagiarism and Citation guide to help you learn more about this important topic. The tutorials and accompanying quizzes can help you determine what constitutes plagiarism.
The following links provide detailed information on using APA citation style:
Citation Style Guide: APA (PDF)
APA List of References
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the APA format.
New--Electronic Resources in APA format
The Internet
There are many webpages on the Internet which seem to provide quality information, but be aware that many provide less than valuable or credible information. Check out these websites for some real examples.
Help
Librarians are available to help answer research questions and provide other library assistance. You can find librarians at the Oval Information Desk located on the First Floor of FLITE, by phone at 231-591-3602, by email (netref at (@) ferris.edu), or via chat http://www.ferris.edu/library/reference/helppagechat.html. More information is available at FLITE help.
Make an appointment for a research consultation with a librarian - one-on-one personal library help for any course. More information is available at FLITE help.
Contact: Mari Kermit-Canfield / Email / Phone: 231-591-3636 / Office: FLITE 140G
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
Last update: August 31, 2010