Researching an Informative Speech
Print Sources
Encyclopedia – World Book (easier to read – less information)
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Start by looking in the index.. It may be covered under another topic
Look for it under the letter it starts with
Biographical Research – look for the name in the index
Encyclopedia – Britannica (more academic for those who like a challenge)
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Red label is micropedic – or less information
Black label is macropedic – or more information
OPAC – online library card catalog (list of books)
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It’s a list of titles, not an online search
Type in your general topic and search. Then narrow it using advanced search
(for example, type in Greek – then advanced search Greek chorus)
Find the call number and then find the book on the shelf (it will look
something like REF 938 SAC)
EBSCO (electronic database)
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Use the Student Research Center
o Unclick areas that you may not need
o You can be more specific while searching here
o Look for your lexile range
o Citations can be saved or emailed
o You may use pdf for full screen
Google Books – Books in print that have been digitized
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Find on the left hand bar of Google or you may need to click “more”
Search for your topic – you can be specific here
Publishers may allow varying amounts of information to be available
o Part – a “snippet view” is available
o All – “preview available”
o None – no preview is available – only a description of the book
Your search term will be highlighted. You can click on the highlighted word
to bring up the page. Scroll to the bottom of the page for author, publisher
and ISBN numbers. With this information you can use easybib.com to get the
citations.
Internet Sources
ABC-Clio (Social Studies Database)
o Select your database/s
o Type in your search word/s and click on the articles. Citations are listed at
the bottom in MLA format
o Individuals are listed in the side bar
Britannica Online (easier to use)
o Search all levels, rather than limiting yourself to middle school
o Type in your search word and click on the article. Citations are listed at the
bottom.
Google (best when you’re looking for something specific)
o Start with your search word
o Most popular sites are listed at the top. It’s easy to waste time, so stay
focused on what you need to research.
o Use the “sites with images”, which will give you information in addition to
pictures, rather than just “images”
Wikipedia (social encyclopedia)
o The most updated information by experts, however, anything can be posted.
Therefore, any information you find on Wikipedia must be verified by
another source. You may not use Wikipedia as a citation.
Access to Online Resources
Database
Username
Password
ABC-Clio
kamehamehahs
warriors
Britannica Online
kamehameha
imua
Discovery Education
pauahi
hawaii
FollettShelf
kamehameha
imua
Gale Virtual Reference
(none)
learning
Novelist
kamehameha
warrior
Teen Health & Wellness
kamehamehahi
warrior
Tumble Readables
kamehamehams
login
Hawaii Tribune Herald
52682
8089820643
West Hawaii Today
52424
8089820009
Star Advertiser
dawolff@ksbe.edu
password
Proquest (Honolulu papers)
kamehameha
imua
E-Newspapers