Liaison Librarian
Getting Started with Research for COMM101
- Need a review of Hekman Library basics? Check out 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).
Two helpful interdisciplinary databases:
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Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Balanced academic and media coverage of contemporary social issues.
Resources for News and News Evaluation
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Newspaper Source Plus (EBSCO)
Newspaper Source Plus: Full-text major news articles, transcripts, including Washington Post and USA Today. -
New York Times (ProQuest)
New York Times: Searchable full issues from 1851 with recent 1-month embargo.
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Media Bias ChartChart you can use to identify the potential bias of a media news outlet.
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All Sides NewsWebsite that covers media sources and identifies their different political perspectives.
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Media Bias Fact CheckEvaluates and categorizes news sources across political spectrum.
Resources for Statistics
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ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States 2022
Publication Date: 2022
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Local Demographic DataGuide created by Hekman librarian, Katherine Swart, on finding Grand Rapids and Michigan demographic data
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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
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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.
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USAFactsA nonpartisan site that draws on US government data, and covers many current topics
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Data USAAnother site that allows users to collect, analyze, and visualize shared U.S. government data.
Other Resources for a Tribute Speech
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Biography Reference Source (EBSCO)Biography Reference Center contains thousands of full-text biographies of notable people.
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!