Getting Started with Research for COMM101
- Need a review of Hekman Library basics? Check out this "Get Connected" guide or browse our Hekman Library YouTube channel.
- If you're off-campus, remember to start at the library homepage when connecting to databases and ebooks, so you'll be recognized as a Calvin user (when you're prompted to login, enter your Calvin username and passphrase).
- Need help with your citations? You can try a quick citation-generator, such as the ones found in our library databases, KnightCite, or EasyBib. Another great option for collecting and managing citations is Zotero.
- For even more help, see the library's longer Citation 101 guide or try using Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab).
- Looking for APA style help specifically? - Check out Purdue OWL's page on APA.
Resources for Background Info
To explore scholarly library reference sources, check out the suggestions in the library's subject guide(s) related to your speech topics. You can also ask me or another librarian for a suggestions of relevant encyclopedias!
Two other options in Primo would be to limit to "Reference Entries" as a source type, or search for your topic by keyword and one of these limiting terms: encyclopedia, dictionary, reference, handbook.
Tips for finding background info on the web:
- If you do use Wikipedia as a starting point, check the references and only use those that are credible and authoritative.
- Look for a major (and unbiased) organization, association, or governmental website related to your topic.
Recommended Databases for Articles
In addition to using our Primo search tool on the library's homepage, you may want to focus your search in a subject-specific database (choose a relevant subject area in the drop-down menu) or one of our interdisciplinary databases, which may focus on certain source type (peer-reviewed articles or pro/con topics).
Resources for News and News Evaluation
- Newspaper Source Plus (EBSCO)
Newspaper Source Plus provides a full-text digital collection of the world's major news content. It includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires and news magazines. In addition, it offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from popular news sources. Primary full coverage newspapers are The Washington Post and USA Today.
- New York Times Academic Pass
Access The New York Times online via nytimes.com. Select Calvin University and Seminary when prompted to choose your school. First-time users must create an account.
- Media Bias ChartChart you can use to identify the potential bias of a media news outlet.
- All Sides NewsWebsite that covers media sources and identifies their different political perspectives.
Resources for Statistics
ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States 2022Publication Date: 2022
- Local Demographic DataGuide created by Hekman librarian, Katherine Swart, on finding Grand Rapids and Michigan demographic data
- Pew Research CenterStudies and surveys on a number of social and political topics, including the environment, global attitudes/foreign affairs, immigration, internet and technology, legal, news media, politics and elections, and religion
- MSU Data and Statistics GuideCompiled by a Michigan State University librarian, this guide points to statistical resources for different topic areas (e.g., education or the arts). Note that some sources recommended in the guide are only available to the MSU community; others are free on the web.
- USAFactsA nonpartisan site that draws on US government data, and covers many current topics
- Data USAAnother site that allows users to collect, analyze, and visualize shared U.S. government data.
Other Resources for a Tribute Speech
- Biography Reference Center (EBSCO)
Biography Reference Center provides thousands of reliable full-text biographies, including the complete full text of Biography Today and Biography, plus narrative biographies not available in other databases. In addition to keyword search, users can locate biographies by subject occupation, nationality, activity, gender, lifespan and more.
Additionally, we have many encyclopedias and biographical resources in the library's print Reference Collection (4th floor), and there may be biographical sources in our regular collection too. Try searching Hekman's catalog for your person's name, look at the suggested background sources in the library's Subject Guides (choose a subject related to your topic), or ask a librarian for other recommendations!