The research step is a pretty important part of this process. Unfortunately, many students blow through this choosing to just get info to fill the page and capture the points, not seeing the larger implications of having to build a strong understanding of the topic in order to give a speech about it. This page is devoted to sharing several suggestions on how to get information and understanding from the enormity that we refer to as the internet.
1) Communication- My first suggestion is to leave the internet alone and come talk with me directly. I can sit with you for a brief amount of time and simply tell you everything I know about your topic. This could also come with recommendations on movies, books, poems, text, etc. Communication is the great solution to most problems. As a long-time student, I can also tell you that it helps to hear from the teacher what he would love to hear from you.
2) Google- Use a basic google search to get down the foundation of the topic. This could also be a good source of quotes, stats and examples. Look over five websites. Many students avoid this step saying, "It is just the same info on each site". That is what is called verifying that the material is credible or true. What you are also doing is looking for more info, the stuff that is not repeated, but new to the game. Finally, students tend to do this search and call it a day, without realizing that "Re-search" implies that you should search again.
3) Youtube- Many people do better with hearing or seeing information than reading it. Youtube is filled with documentaries ranging from 2 minutes to 2 hours. These provide good visuals and images which will not only help the speaker understand the time period, but will also enable them to paint a picture for the audience through their words. Also, documentaries are kind of arranged in the same format of a speech. They have a hook, establish the problem, share information on solutions, make connections to today, etc. Really a documentary can be a blue print to creating a good speech.
