A typical assignment you might have in CMTH 102 is to write and present a persuasive or argumentative speech on a topic of your choice, with your ideas about it supported by sources and information you have found through research.
Your sources should be cited orally in your speech, formally in your outline, and in a bibliography or reference list. The number and types of sources you will need varies by professor. Check your assignment instructions to be sure you are meeting their requirements.
When picking a topic, consider:
Remember, you may need to revise and make adjustments to your topic as you start to find information about it.
Need some inspiration? Some of our library databases offer suggestions:
To develop your topic and find your focus, do some brainstorming to break it into smaller pieces. Ask these questions:
It might also help to think about:
You may need to do some preliminary searching for introductory or background information and overviews about your topic to help you at this point. Books, reference books, magazines, newspapers, and web sites are useful for this. Some of our library databases might help too -- learn more about which ones and how to search them on the Articles in Library Databases page of this guide.
As you look for information, pay attention to anything that may help you later: