LOCATING SUPPORTING MATERIAL

RESEARCH/SUPPORTInformation taken from material of fact, or opinion, used to support your speech.

1. Enhances Credibility2. Gives Credit where Credit is

due!

STEPS TO RESEARCHSpecific/DirectedFree Flowing/Flexible

1. Brainstorm Ideas2. Brainstorm Places to look3. Determine a variety of key

words (search terms)4. Keep notes along the way

LIBRARYThree advantages to good old

library resources…1.Permanent!2.Credibility3.Already Organized to

help you find information.

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Books Periodicals Newspapers Magazines/Journals Government Documents Fact Books, Encyclopedias

and Other Printed Resources Interviews Surveys Websites

TESTING RESOURCES? Beware of phrases like, “I read

somewhere,” and “Experts say,”

ANYONE can create a website!1.What information is here?2.What is the motive behind the

information?3.Who is the originator of the site?

REMEMBER CARRBC-CredibilityA-AccuracyR-Recent/ReliabilityB-Bias

IS THE SOURCE QUALIFIED?Expertise: Does the source know

what he/she is talking about? Don’t forget, even experts can be wrong.

Look at education, credentials, degrees, licenses, honors, awards, peer recognition.

ACCURACYDoes the information sound true? Do you find similar information in

other documents?

RELIABILITY OF THE SOURCE? Can you trust the source? Polygraph Test? Can you trust what is on the web? Wikipedia!! Many errors have been

discovered on Wikipedia.1.David Beckham was a Chinese

goalkeeper in the 18th century.2.Kazakhstan’s entry was altered to

include information about Borat.

RECENCYHow old is your information?Some topics have foundational

pieces…this is OK!

BIASDoes this author have a bias?Does the bias help/hurt your

information?

ONLINE RESEARCHTo Trust or Not to Trust?

MARTINLUTHERKING.ORG

Attention Students: Try our MLK Pop Quiz

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

PRIMARY RESEARCHInterviews

Pay attention to appearanceArrive on time (even early!)Equipment?Brief explanation to interviewerAllow for questionsActively listen!

PRIMARY RESEARCHSurveys

Sample should be representativeSample should be largeFactor in the locationCost

USEFUL SITES FOR TESTING EVIDENCE/RESOURCES http://www.factcheck.org http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-mete

r http://voices.washingtonpost.com/factc

hecker http://snopes.com http://newsbusters.org (liberal bias) http://mediamatters.org (liberal bias)

LAMP