Overview

In order to be a credible speaker, you must first accumulate all the information you need to present your speech. You need to evaluate sources carefully to make sure they are reliable and relevant to your topic. A reference librarian can answer your questions and guide you in your research efforts. The Internet can also be useful, provided you find reputable sites with trustworthy information. Books, periodicals, almanacs, atlases, biographies, and encyclopedias are also excellent sources of information.

Whenever you find a book that is applicable to your subject, you should look through the table of contents, which outlines the general plan of the book, and the index, which tells the exact page(s) on which you can find particular information. You should take notes in an organized way so that you can easily incorporate your notes into your speech. Regardless of your note-taking method, it is critical to avoid plagiarism, which is copying or imitating another person’s language or ideas and presenting them as your own original work.