Chapter 8
Topic Research: Gathering Materials and Evidence
By Boundless
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Gathering information can help speakers gain credibility and make their speech current and relevant.
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When you begin the research process, explore a variety of sources to discover the most useful information.
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Start the research process early, consult a bibliography to find credible sources, and evaluate those sources critically.
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Internet search engines are powerful tools for delivering easily accessible sources of information in the research process.
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The Internet can provide you with a wealth and variety of resources for your research process.
Given the widespread authorship of the Internet, carefully evaluate all Internet sources for credibility, reliability, bias and accuracy.
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Prepare for your interview by researching your interview subject and coming up with a list of prepared questions.
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Listen to your interviewee, ask questions, respect boundaries, avoid leading questions, and don't interrupt to ensure a successful interview.
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Content analysis is an essential part of the follow-up, in order to summarize who said what and when.