Research Guides: COMM 100: Fundamentals of Oral Communication: Research tools

Background Research

The following databases are helpful for choosing speech topics and background research:

Recommended databases to start with:

Credo Reference E-Book Collection This link opens in a new window
Reference e-books on a wide range of topics. Sources include dictionaries, encyclopedias, key concepts, key thinkers, handbooks, atlases, and more. Search by keyword or browse titles by topic.
General One File This link opens in a new window
This general periodical database contains over 12,000 periodicals, newspapers, reference books and multimedia sources, over half of which are full text. The backfile extends nearly 30 years. Subjects include humanities, education, environmental issues, technology, health care, politics and more.

Politics and current events summaries:

Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
Contextual information and opinions on hundreds of social issues. The resource includes continuously updated viewpoints, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio and links to vetted websites.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
In-depth reporting on current controversial issues, with an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources.
Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window
More than 900 timely, in-depth articles on current issues. Features include pro/con statements, timelines, news updates, editorial cartoons, statistics, and more.

Academic or Scholarly Articles:

Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window
This multi-disciplinary database provides full text for more than 4,600 journals, including full text for nearly 3,900 peer-reviewed titles. PDF backfiles to 1975
Academic OneFile This link opens in a new window
Academic OneFile is the premier source of peer-reviewed full-text scholarly content across the academic disciplines. With millions of articles available in both PDF and HTML full-text, Academic OneFile is both authoritative and comprehensive.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. Forsyth Library provides licensed access to the following collections in JSTOR: Arts & Sciences I, Arts & Sciences VII, and Biological Sciences. These collections include hundreds of different titles across 71 different disciplines. Need tips on searching?

Newspapers and magazine articles:

Access World News Research Collection This link opens in a new window
This is a full-text news resource offering coverage of over 8,200 local, regional, national and international sources from over 200 countries. Browse replicas of popular local newspapers' like the Topeka Capital Journal and Kansas City Star, with full-color layouts of all news articles, graphics, advertisements, classifieds, weather reports, box scores, puzzles, cartoons and more. Available as soon as print editions.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Contains a lot of newspaper articles both U.S. and foreign. Full text materials. Dates vary.

Not finding what you need?

Search Strategies
Having trouble using our databases? Take a look at our Search Strategies guide!