Assembling the Persuasive Argument Search for books related to your topic in the ISU Online Catalog. Books can contain everything from general background information to very detailed and specific information. Search for articles using Periodical and Newspaper indexes. Articles are frequently more current than books, which is especially important if your topic is a current issue. Look for statistical sources of data to support your position.
Statistics also make good visuals.
Government Documents are great sources for statistics as well as official governmental positions on issues as reflected in reports, legislation, and law. Use these biographical sources to find information on a person's life and ideas. Style Manuals Choose the style related to your major area for practice with citation style. Don't forget proper citation of electronic and Internet resources. This is a quick guide for citing electronic sources.