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Potomac State College

ENGL 102 Research Guide: Pro & Con Articles

Tips and tricks from librarians! Contains videos, tutorials, and other resources to help you write a great research paper.

Why Use Articles?

PSC Library Search Bar - Databases Tab

Articles are often more current than the information in books. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find a range of opinions. The Library has several databases that specialize in controversial or debatable topics.

  1. To locate databases, go to the PSC Library Portal.
  2. Click on the Databases tab.
  3. Type in the name of the database you want to use.
  4. If you are not sure which database to use, click on View All Databases.

Points of View

Points of View Logo

Points of View Reference Center (Courtesy of WVInfoDepot.org) is a database of modules introducing various controversial topics.

Each module contains at least:

  1. An Overview of the topic with definitions of terms and history
  2. A Point article promoting one position,
  3. A Counterpoint article promoting an opposing position.
  4. A Guide to Critical Analysis with questions to help you separate facts from opinions.
  5. Additional articles and photographs and charts may be included.

You can also simply search by keywords for additional books, journals, and newspapers on the topic.

CQ Researcher

CQ Researcher Logo

CQ Researcher is more in-depth than Points of View. The reports are written by journalists and experts in the field. The reports cover any topic that the U.S. Congress might hold hearings on or investigate.

Each Report contains the following sections:
  • Introduction
  • Overview
  • Background
  • Current Situation
  • Outlook
  • Pro/Con
  • Chronology
  • Short Features
  • Maps/Graphs
  • Bibliography
  • The Next Step
  • Contacts
  • Footnotes
  • About the Author

 

Subject Databases

If you want more subject-based databases, you can use View All Databases to locate databases on your particular subject.

Examples:

  • Education Research Complete: "common core" debate
  • Agricola: gmos benefits; gmos risks  (GMOs = genetically modified organisms)
  • Health Source - Consumer Edition: CTE; chronic traumatic encephalopathy; brain injury football

Other Databases

To find more articles you can also search general or subject databasesEBSCOhost Logo.

For example, Academic Search Complete is a general database that covers almost every topic. Search using the keywords or subjects that worked best in WorldCat or the other databases.

Examples:

  • abortion debate
  • abortion pro choice
  • abortion pro life
  • abortion pro-choice vs pro-life