Gathering materials for a speech is like gathering information for any project. Many resources are available if you take advantage of them. When you have personal experience or more-than-average knowledge about a topic, you can use yourself as a resource. Most of the time, however, you will need outside information, which you can get in the library, on the Internet, or by interviewing people with specialized information about your topic. Finding what you need in the library is largely a matter of knowing how to search for information. The catalogue lists all the books, periodicals, and other resources owned by the library. Databases help you find articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers. The reference section contains a wealth of resources—including encyclopedias, yearbooks, dictionaries, biographical aids, and gazetteers. If you have trouble finding something, don't hesitate to ask a librarian. When researching on the Web, you should use a search engine or a virtual library to find exactly what you need. Keyword or subject searches can be equally effective depending on the topic of your speech and the kind of information you need. Given the lack of editorial review for most documents on the Web, it is especially important to evaluate the authorship, sponsoring organization, and recency of the research materials you find there. It's also vital to cite Internet sources fully, clearly, and consistently in your bibliography and in the speech itself. You can also get information by conducting a personal interview with someone on campus or in the community. Before the interview, you should define its purpose, decide whom you are going to interview, and make an appointment with that person. You should also prepare the questions you are going to ask during the interview. Once the interview begins, be sure to keep it on track, to listen attentively, and to take accurate notes. Afterward, review and transcribe your notes as soon as possible, while they are still fresh in your mind. No matter what sources you draw upon in gathering information, your research will be more effective if you start early and make a preliminary bibliography to keep track of all the books, articles, and Internet documents that look as if they might be helpful. By learning to take research notes effectively, you will save yourself time and energy every step of the way. And if you think about your materials as you research, you may find that gathering materials is the most creative part of your speech preparation.
