DQ

Discussion Board #8: Informative Speech Organization Examples

LAST WEEK:  You browsed through examples of informative presentations to get a sense of the presenter's type of speech, subject choice, and purpose. Now, we'll use the organizational information introduced during the PK presentations to build your understanding of how presentations are put together. 

Organizational Examples : Review the following resource on idea organization to complete this week's post:

·

· Organizational Patterns for Informative Speaking  

THIS WEEK : Using the presentation example that  you chose to write about in DB #4  --  and using the organization strategies in the link above -- answer the following prompts to get a better sense of the techniques used to put the presentation together. Use bullet points and headers for better organization:

· Presentation Info : Give the title of the presentation, name the author, give the date and the location of the presentation, if offered.

· Presentation Production Choices : Here, answer the following:

· Purpose: What is the author's goal with this presentation? What are they trying to accomplish? (Review this from last week.)

· Content: How well does the verbal narration and any presentation aids help the author achieve their purpose?

· Tone: What is the mood of the piece and how is it achieved (e.g., language choices, delivery, other sensory choices)?

· Structure: How would you describe the organization and order of the presentation (chronological, topical, spatial, causal)?

Discussion Board #6: Finding Credible Sources

FIRST : For your final informative presentation, you are asked to incorporate  2 credible sources  into your spoken content to support your main points and ideas. We are all familiar with a basic Google search, but as a student university, you have access to much more information that will help you boost your credibility as you learn about your topic.

· Understanding Source TypesLinks to an external site. : This research tutorial from Benedictine University will give you an introduction to academic research. You will learn:

· How to define  your information need before you begin your research

· Different types of sources that can be used for your research

· What  the peer review process is and how it is important to academic research

· The  difference between academic and popular sources

Then, you will get familiar with the  DCC Library websiteLinks to an external site.  (you will need your L number to login). To do so, review the tutorial on accessing and navigating the  Academic Search CompleteLinks to an external site.  (ASC) database from the DCC Library. Once you've watched the tutorial, take some time to do preliminary research on your topic using the ASC database, making sure to find  credible  sources. Credibility can be weighed using a few strategies:

· Peer-Reviewed ArticlesLinks to an external site. : As above, make sure you understand the peer-review process and why it matters to your research. As a Delgado student, you are paying for subscriptions to this highly vetted information so it's important that you learn how to access it.

· The TRAAP TestLinks to an external site. : The TRAAP Test is another credibility resource. Make sure to review your selected sources against the TRAAP test to ensure quality information.

NEXT : For this discussion board post,  list 2 potential sources you will use  regarding your topic. The sources can be any type mentioned above, though you do want to ensure credibility.  Post your  topic choice, the  author,  title,  date, and  URL . Then,  explain what type of source  you have collected and  why you think it is credible . Here is an example:

Topic: AI's impact on the future of the job market

· Source #1: Martin Feldstein. “The Fed Can’t Save Jobs From AI and Robots.” Wall Street Journal - Online Edition, June 11, 2018.  https://delgado.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-ebscohost-com.delgado.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130089428&site=ehost-liveLinks to an external site.

· What type of source is this? This is a news article from the popular journalism source, The Wall Street Journal.

· Why is it credible? The WSJ is regarded as providing accurate and reliable information, though it does lean toward a conservative point of view.

Discussion Board #7: Citing Your Sources in MLA Format

For Review: In  discussion board post #6 , you were asked to review the  tutorial on Academic Search CompleteLinks to an external site.  and do preliminary research on your topic using the  DCC Library websiteLinks to an external site. . (*Remember that you need to incorporate  2 credible sources  into your informative presentation.)

NEXT:  For this discussion board, you are asked to create an accurate MLA In-Text citation AND Works Cited citation for 1 source that you found on your topic . Both MLA in-text and works cited citations have a specific order and formatting that keep your citations easy to read and uniform and that cross-reference each other. Information on citing in MLA format can be found using the video tutorials below, and through the EasyBib cite generator: Links to an external site.

· " What Are In-Text CitationsLinks to an external site. " (Imagine Easy Solutions, YouTube video tutorial)

· "How to Cite Any Source in MLA Format"Links to an external site.  (Mr. Messinger, YouTube video tutorial)

· EasyBib Citation Tool

Remember, when creating an in-text citation you want to  avoid "dropping" quotes into a sentence or paragraph without context or introduction. Make sure you bookend your quoted material by showing where it starts and ends.  Introduce the author, cite their work, then provide your own comments to show the purpose for the cited material. The following slideshow will help you use  Direct Quotes ,  Paraphrasing, or  Summary  Download Direct Quotes, Paraphrasing, or Summary

 to accurately cite your sources.

Below are  examples of accurate MLA citations   and what your post should look like . You can cut and paste the format from the examples below to create your own post:

Example #1 Topic: AI's impact on the future of the job market

In-text Citation (using Direct Quotation):

Many industries will be affected in varying ways, and not all of these industries are based on digital or online platforms. For instance, Harvard professor Martin Feldstein suggests, "Autonomous vehicles will put 3.5 million truck drivers at risk of losing their jobs" (Feldstein 1). In this statistic we can see that even jobs that require physical human labor are not safe.

Works Cited Citation:

Feldstein, Martin. “The Fed Can’t Save Jobs From AI and Robots.”  Wall Street Journal - Online Edition, 11 June 2018, p. 1.  EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=130089428&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Example #2 Topic: The history of Mercy Hospital in New Orleans

In-text Citation (using Paraphrase):

Like many public buildings in New Orleans, Mercy hospital has a fascinating past with diverse groups of people. As journalist Amanda Wicks reports, an order of catholic nuns named The Sisters of Mercy opened Mercy Hospital in 1924. By 1993, Mercy was the second largest hospital in the city of New Orleans. It was later sold and named the Lindy Boggs Medical Center after the famed local politician (Wicks 4). While its future is still uncertain, the building continues to hold strong memories for long-time residents who were connected to the facility for several generations. 

Works Cited Citation:

Wicks, Amanda. "Acts of Mercy: A Hospital's Life-Cycle."  New Orleans Magazine, Jul. 2010, www.myneworleans.com/acts-of-mercy/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.