I just finished working with a Speech class (COM 103) this afternoon. We were working on finding current, interesting, & exciting speech topics. I wanted to share some of the resources that we used. (Note: you must have a valid MVCC Student ID that is in the library’s system to view these from off campus.)

1. Opposing Viewpoints: This link will take you a keyword search in our Library’s online catalog. The Opposing Viewpoints series of books offers short essays on current topics from differing points of view.
2. CQ Researcher Pro/Con: This is a list of CQ researcher’s pro/con articles covering a range of current topics.
3. SIRS Researcher: When you visit SIRS, you will see a “leading issues” section in the center of the page. These provide summaries of the topic and then a list of published articles on these topics.
4. NewsBank Hot Topics: When you visit this page, you will notice a link that says “hot topics” on the left navigation of the page. This lists keywords that you can use to get information on topics in these news sources.

The library has released a new episode of its Check It Out Podcast that focuses on the books in the library collection by Barack Obama and John McCain. You can listen to the MP3 here.

The library subscribes to the CQ Researcher database. It is an excellent source for broad views on new topics. So, if you are working on a paper or speech about a new topic, visit CQ to get grounded in the current debate on that topic. One of the new features that CQ offers is a Pro/Con on Major Issues. This is really useful for recognizing the multiple sides to a debate.

We are happy to announce that the library has added the GreenFILE database to our online information resources. This can be accessed at our online database page (look under G on the list). You need to enter your name and barcode found on your student ID to access this from home.This database provides a range of new resources that focus on sustainability and environmental issues. For instance, here is a link to a review from BioCycle magazine of Garbage Land: NAVIGATING THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE STREAM.Here is the official description of this database from EBSCO:EBSCO proudly offers GreenFILE, a freely accessible research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment, with well-researched but accessible information on topics ranging from global warming to recycling to alternate fuel sources and beyond. Comprised of scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports, GreenFILE offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the ecology.

The New England Journal of Medicine is one of our country’s most prestigious medical publications, and in the August 21st, 2008, issue, the NEJM published Jonathan Oberlander’s article, The Partisan Divide — The McCain and Obama Plans for U.S. Health Care Reform, which is available in print in the library or by following the link to the NEJM’s Web site. This article is a useful review of the differences between these two candidates and to the underlying philosophical differences between our two major political parties.From my reading of the article, the McCain plan emphasizes the need to support market forces and use them to impact our health care system, while the Obama plan starts with the understanding of shared responsibility to cover individuals. But, don’t take my word for it. Read the article for yourself.

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have both authored memoirs and books on their political philosophies. Several are currently on display in the library lounge and available for checkout.John McCain’s include:

Faith Of My Fathers

Hard Call: Great Decisions And The Extraordinary People Who Made Them

Worth the Fighting For: The Education of an American Maverick and the Heroes Who Inspired Him

He is also interviewed in the award-winning documentary Why We Fight

Barack Obama titles include:

The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream

Dreams From My Father: A Story Of Race And Inheritance

Make your vote count in November!

Price of Oil
This BBC News feature page on the price of oil includes articles, analysis, maps, and charts.  This could be especially useful for students who are topic shopping for a paper.  This page provides a great starting point into research on oil prices and some of the complexity in the oil markets.