Controversial Issues Databases
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Proquest SIRS Issues Researcher (trial)
Login to all of these with the username and password on the back of your ID card. All should provide MLA citations.
Search Engines
"Google alone is not always sufficient, however. Not everything on the Web is fully searchable in Google. Overlap studies show that more than 80% of the pages in a major search engine's database exist only in that database. For this reason, getting a "second opinion" can be worth your time. For this purpose, we recommend Yahoo! Search or Exalead." (University of California Berkeley Libraries)
Still having trouble finding what you want? Try Noodlequest. Noodletools will help you fit your research needs to the correct search engines.
Searching Strategies
Basic Searching
The strategies below are from the University of Maryland's Libraries.
ALL or ANY Keywords
Most search engines look for ALL the words in a search. For instance, in a search for dog canine puppy , only sites that contain ALL WORDS will be retrieved.
To complete a search with ANY keyword returned, include an OR between words. For example, dog OR canine OR puppy will return sites that contain one, two, or three of the words.
OR means MORE results.
Capitalization
The capitalization of a letter does not matter in most search engines.
Whether you search for Napoleon Bonaparte, napoleon bonaparte, or NaPolEON boNaPArte, your results will be the same.
Common Words
If you enter short, common words, such as a, and, the, who, how, and in, a search engine or directory will eliminate those words from your search.
If you need to include these words, see "search for a phrase" in the table below.
Advanced Search Features
Below are some of the common advanced search features in many search engines. Check the Advanced Search or Help Section of the search tool you are using to see if these features are available.
| Feature | Symbol | Example | Action |
| Include a keyword | + |
+intellectual +property +patents
|
Finds Web sites where the term after the + appears in the results.
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| Exclude a keyword | - | +intellectual +property -patents |
Finds Web sites with intellectual and property, but not patents.
|
| Search for a phrase | " " | "four score and seven years ago " |
Finds Web sites which contain the exact phrase.
|
| Search within the title of a Web site | title: | title:mortgage | Finds Web sites with mortgage in the title tag. |
| Search within a site domain | site: | cherry site:www.pepsi.com |
Searches within the site www.pepsi.com for the keyword cherry
|
| Search using truncation | * | finan* planning |
Finds Web sites with finance, finances, financial, etc.
|
| Use Boolean operator AND | AND | montana AND camping | Finds Web sites with both terms. |
| Use Boolean operator OR | OR
|
montana OR camping | Finds Web sites with either term. |
| Use Boolean operator NOT | NOT | montana NOT camping | Finds Web sites with montana, but not camping. |
| Search using nesting | ( ) | (college OR university) "bookstore" |
Finds Web sites with college OR university, and bookstore.
|
Evaluating Sources
From Writing with Style:
"Many sources, particularly on the Internet, aren’t legitimate for research use. Some are out-of-date; others come from non-expert sources; still others are created for shock value.
Use the following checklist to evaluate the quality of the sources you’re using:
- Is the information up to date?
- Is the information complete?
- Is the information accurate?
- Is the source a qualified expert?
- Is the source objective or biased?"
Evaluating Web Sites -- Criteria and Tools from Cornell, UC Berkeley, John Hopkins and others.
Primary Sources
Definitions:
- "Firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation" (Yale University Library Primary Sources Research Colloquium).
- "Work that was written at a time that is contemporary or nearly contemporary to the period or subject being studied" (Cantor and Schneider, How to Study History). For example using Mein Kampf to study Hitler's influence on the German people in the 1930s and 1940s.
Primary Source Formats:
- Oral transmissions: speeches, music, interview, ballads, legends.
- Written transmissions: diaries, letters, newspapers, census data, laws, government documents.
- Visually transmitted sources: photographs, cartoons, videos, architecture, artifacts, maps.
Most of the subscription databases and the Internet resources listed on this page contain primary sources.
MLA Citations
- Revised Writing With Style MLA format for sources.
- Noodletools
- OWL at Purdue
Citing Images examples from Simon Fraser University Library:
Maps or Charts from Diana Hacker's Research and Documentation
Cite a map or a chart as you would a book or a short work within a longer work. Use the word “Map” or “Chart” following the title. Add the medium and, for an online source, the sponsor or publisher and the date of access.
Examples:
Joseph, Lori, and Bob Laird. “Driving While Phoning Is Dangerous.” Chart. USA Today 16 Feb. 2001: 1A. Print.
“Serbia.” Map. Syrena Maps. Syrena, 2 Feb. 2001. Web. 17 Mar. 2009.
Cite a Web Site or Article on a Web Site from Writing with Style
Basic Format:
Author(s). "Title of the Page." Title of the Overall Web Site. Publisher or Sponsor of the Site( if not available, use N.p.),
Date of Publication (day, month, and year, as available; if nothing is available, use n.d.). Web. Date of Access . <URL if requested or necessary to locate website>.
Web Site Example:
F. Scott Fitzgerald Centenary. University of South Carolina, 7 Jan. 2002. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. <http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/>.
Article on Web Site Example:
"Ranch-Raised Fur: Captive Cruelty." PETA Factsheets. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), n.d. Web. 13 May 2002. <http://www.peta-online.org/ mc/facts/fswild3.html>.
Internet Resources
Primary Sources
- American Memory Collection Locate documents, sound recordings, images, maps, and other American primary sources
- National Archives
- Library and Archival Exhibits on the Web Search for online exhibitions around the world selected by Smithsonian librarians
- The American Presidency Based on the Smithsonian's traveling exhibit. Includes all presidents and artifacts and information about their era in history.
- Making of America "Primary source materials reflecting American social history dating from the period before the Civil War through reconstruction (roughly, 1830-1902)" from the Univ. of Michigan digital libraries.
- AMDOCS Documents for the Study of American History, from Univ. of Kansas, part of CARRIE network.
- History Matters Primary source documents, weblinks from City University at New York and George Mason University.
- American Cultural History: The Twentieth Century From the Kingwood College Library
- Primary Sources of American Popular Culture by the Authentic History center complete with artifacts and sounds.
Controversial Issues
- Glean Comparison Search -- A specialized search engine developed by Public Learning Media Laboratory that helps you explore differing points of view about a topic
- ProCon.org -- a nonprofit, aiming for nonbiased, educational resource. Like the 1-Minute overview and Historical Timeline features.
- Debatepedia -- the wikipedia of debate, sponsored by International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
- Homework Center: Social Issues--created by Multnomah County Library, this site includes many controversial issues. It is organized by a listing of mega-sites, pro and con links, and related resources (i. e. Supreme Court decisions).
- Public Agenda Online--this nonpartisan page was created to, "(h)elp citizens better understand critical policy issues so they can make their own more informed and thoughtful decisions."
- Hot Paper Topics--part of the O'Keefe Library at the University of Ambrose, this web page lists several topics and links to reviewed websites.
- DEBATABASE -- online debate topic database--useful resource for student debaters
- San Diego State University Hot Topics -- created by SDSU libraries, scroll down to the weblinks and don't miss the Hot Topics Supersites
- Internet Public Library- Social Issues and Social Welfare
- Internet Public Library - Issues and Conflicts-- annotated and updated links to evaluated websites by topic.
Polling Resources
- Gallup -- Statistics and articles based on this polling company's research.
- Polling Report -- Search Engine for Polls
- Roper Public Opinion Research -- Topics at a Glance
- Pew Research Center -- Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping the World
- Youth At Risk -- The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is great resource for finding recent and relevant statistical data about risky behaviors that students engage in, which are often some of the controversial issues about which students write. The YRBS site includes statistics about drug use, sexual behavior, and other negative behaviors that could affect health (like seatbelt wearing and attending PE classes every day). Ms. McMillan's suggested resource.
Government Documents and Statistics
- USA.gov -- Public's portal to government information
- FedStats -- "... making statistics from over 100 agencies available to citizens everywhere."
- American FactFinder -- Demographic statistics about the United States.
- Explore Government Documents -- Statistical resources from the University of Michigan Libraries, national and international resources.
- BLS Statistical Sites on the WWW -- National and International.
Have a Good Source to Add?
Click here and add the URL and what you have used it for in your research. Thanks for taking the time; this will help your fellow students, future APELites and your librarian.
Password Suggestion
ATTENTION JUNIORS: It is time to select the database password for your upcoming senior year. Submit your password suggestions by clicking on the Password button. All juniors will vote on the suggestions in May. 