Subject Librarian
How to Use This Guide
How To Use This Guide: Use the "Getting Started" box to become more familiar with your topic. When you have more information, move on to the sources in "Find Current News". Consider the publications in order to find reliable reporting. When you need specific evidence or numbers, search for "Data and Statistics".
Get in Touch: If you have questions about research or finding good articles, please email me!
Keywords: Watch the video below for some tips on finding good Keywords for your topic.
1. Getting Started
Start your research process by looking into background information on your topic. You want to understand a little bit of history and context surrounding any current or controversial events. Below is a video on using the Issues & Controversies database to create an outline for your paper.
- Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new windowExplore hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Presented in a balanced, pro/con format, each article presents the key facts, arguments, history, and current context - a great starting point for research.
- Opposing Viewpoints In Context This link opens in a new windowContains overviews and pro/con essays on current controversial issues. Also includes recent newspaper, magazine, and journal articles.
- Vox ExplainerVox breaks down current events with background info and links to other relevant articles.
- WikipediaWikipedia is a great source for overviews and background info, especially on topics that aren't covered as much in the mainstream press. Use it as a jumping off point, and be careful with articles that have very few references.
- ProCon.orgProvides pro and con perspectives on more than 80 issues. Procon.org is a non-profit, non-partisan charity.
2. Find Current News & Analysis
Once you understand the basics of your topic, you want to look for information on recent developments. Pay attention to the source (publisher) or your article and mostly stick to major news outlets.
- Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowGeneral database good for all subject areas. Contains newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles.
- ProQuest Central This link opens in a new windowGeneral database that covers all major subject areas. Great for current news searches. Also find magazines, trade and scholarly journals.
- Google NewsSearch a wide spectrum of news stories on a topic. Remember that Opinion or Editorial articles are more slanted and different from straight reporting.
3. Data & Statistics
Below are some sites to find data & statistics and a pre-formatted Google search. Searching in Google for [site:.gov voter registration and data] gives you just government sites with data on voter registration. Substitute a different topic for voter registration to find statistics on other issues.
- Tips on using Statistics in your Research PaperHelpful info on using statistics to make your argument as strong as possible.
- US Data & StatisticsGovernment website with demographic, population and economic data.
- Pew Research CenterIndependent fact center that does original research on issues facing the world.
- Statista This link opens in a new windowContains statistical data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas. Easy to download graphs and charts for powerpoint presentations.