If your topic is very current you may not find it discussed in booksand may need to go directly to articles. Decidewhat level of scholarship you must have for your speech or paper. Consult DistinguishingScholarly Journals From Other Periodicals for help. There is also a print list ofour holdings at the reference desk. A referencelibrarian will be able to help you .
Statistics strengthen a speech or paper by quantifying the sizeand scope of a problem.
The Library reference and government documentscollections are a good source of data. Definitions provide a common base of reference. Look in thegeneral and specialized dictionaries located in reference. Quotations can add interest and strength to almost any speechor paper. They often serve as effective attention grabbers and can summarizethe theme of your topic in a few words.