Skip to Main Content

SPE151 Introduction to Speech

Search Tools for Your Persuasive Speech

Library Databases

To learn more about the topic of your persuasive speech and find keywords to help you do more research, these library databases will be good search tools to start with. 

In addition to Opposing Viewpoints and Credo Reference, learn how you can use these library databases to find different types of sources.

Academic Search Complete (article database)

Find evidence from popular and scholarly sources to support your argument. Filter results by full text, peer-reviewed, and date range. TIP: If you're stuck finding keywords, use the Subject Terms tool to get a list of database keywords for your topic.

Statista

Statistics add value to your speech and may help you persuade your audience through the use of credible data. Tip: Filter results by location, industry, date, content type, and more.

Remember to browse our full list of databases to see if one is a good fit for information on your topic. You can sort databases by Subject (like Psychology) and Type (eBooks, articles, images, and more). Refer to the A to Z Databases tab for our full list of databases.

Google

Google can help you quickly find information about current news and events, local issues, government sources, and more. Use these search tips for better search results:

  • Use "quotation marks" for phrase searching (for example, "plastic straw ban")
  • Search a specific domain (for example, plastic pollution site:.gov)
  • Search a specific site (for example, site:EPA.gov plastic pollution)