Ron Canady
ENC 1102
English Composition 2

Controversial Issues
Choosing a topic | Reference Sources | Circ. Books | Finding Articles | Internet Resources | PCC Library Home Page

Choosing your topic

As you may already have discovered this is often the hardest step in the research paper writing process. It is also a very important step. If you choose a topic that is very broad - "Poverty" - you will be over whelmed with information and you will have difficulty organizing your ideas and findings into a manageable, cohesive paper. If you choose a topic that is very narrow - "Gifted Children Living in Poverty Benefit From Having Pet Fish" - obviously, you will have trouble finding enough information sources to support your paper. Take time to focus your topic. If you can, try to choose a topic that truly interests you. The tables of contents and indexes of some of the general social science resources are good places to look for ideas (this also gives you an idea about the availability of information); some of these resources are listed below.

Books in the Reference Collection
(You can't take them home with you, but that also means they will always be here for you - isn't that nice)

CQ Researcher
REF H35 .E35


The CQ Researcher provides weekly briefings on social, political, economic, international, and scientific trends and issues. Each report provides an overview, pros & cons, stats & graphs, and a bibliography for leads to related resources. The index to this resource is located in the current issues binder (it's blue). CQ Researcher is also available in electronic form from the Library Workstations.

*CQ Researcher is also available electronically through PCC's "Remote Access Databases"  - anytime/anywhere.

 

Statistical Abstract of the United States
REF HA202 .A35 1999 (back to 1950's)

Summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Compare education, income, teen-pregnancies...for different race groups, states, economic levels...

  

Taking Sides
REF H33 .T3997


This multi-volume (the last volume is the index) set is great for research ideas, background information, pros & cons, and leads for further research

 

The Social Science Encyclopedia
REF H41 .S63 1996

A one volume resource - good for general background information and definitions.

  

...and you may not be able to use a general encyclopedia as an official reference source for your paper (most instructors don't like that), however you can use a general encyclopedia to give you ideas for search terms, to give you back ground information and even to give you hints about how to lay out your paper.
Take a look at the "How To" guide: "How to take advantage of Encyclopedias"

Finding Books in the Circulating Collection
(These are the ones you can take home for 3 weeks)

There are many books in the Circulating Collection that will get you well on your way to uncovering some interesting and valid research. Remember, if you find a really great source, check the sources they used. Most books that include research information will include footnotes and a bibliography. Check the index of the books you find some may have specific sections dedicated to economic considerations.

Also, take a closer look at the LINCCSearch catalog record for books you find valuable. The catalog record will list the subject descriptors used by the cataloger to describe this book. You can use them to find similar books - the descriptors are even hypertext so you can link directly to books under that heading.

By the way, have you used LINCCSearch lately? It changed a bit this year. If you haven't used it this term take a minute to play with the new features - and remember, you can search for books at the Winter Haven, Lakeland and any Florida Community College (and other library materials as well) on your home computer, in the TLCCs or any where you find Internet access.

This is the Basic Search screen for LINCCSearch
When your feeling really frisky try the expanded search

 

May I suggest some Social Issues for you?

The library has quite a few series that deal with social issues.
Take a look at the Opposing View Points, Turning Point, or Current Controversies series.
You can search for these series by putting the series name in the search field and searching by title.

Defense Spending
Energy Regulation
Foreign Policy
Illegal Immigrants
Medicare
Homeland Security
Political Advertising
Swift Boat Controversy
Taxes
Terrorism
Texas Guard Memos
War & Conflict

 

 

Finding Articles
in newspapers, magazines, and journals 

You may already have some articles in mind that you want to get because you were paying attention and looked at the bibliographies and footnotes in the books and reference sources that you found before, or because you found some great articles in the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature or in the New York Times Indexes, (The green and red indexes on the 1st shelf in Reference) or maybe you have nothing yet - not because you didn't look at the suggested bibliographies and footnotes and such, but because you chose a very tricky topic that will require extra researching - right?

To find articles in newspapers, magazines, and journals you can use a print index tool or an electronic indexing tool (a database). I suppose you could try your luck and just browse the shelves and hope a great and relevant article falls on your head, but that would take a very long time and I'm sure you have better things to do.

Print Indexes - don't let them scare you.
(you may appreciate them one day when the Internet Connection is down)

The print indexes are fairly simple to use
(you can even read the page or two of instructions at the beginning of the indexes if your really want a clue)

1. Pick the year you want to search

2. Look for your topic in the alphabetically arranged index

3. Copy down the complete citation information

Sometimes you get redirected because what you may call "guns" they may call "fire arms" but basically it works out. The most important thing to remember about using the print indexes is to write down all the information completely (or make a copy if you like).

By using the print indexes you are able to get a feel for the subject headings (future search terms) that are used for your topic.

Another nice thing about the print indexes is they go back many years; the electronic resources are working on that, but generally they go back 5 or 10 years tops. If you have found some recent articles using the print indexes you may be able to find them and print them out for free - by using on of PCC's electronic resources.

Electronic Indexes - Databases: Electronic access to articles, books, images, statistics...
(Faster, stronger, smarter - well, maybe sometimes)

The PCC Libraries have many electronic resources (databases) that will let you search for newspaper, magazine, and journal articles by just about any subject. You can also search by author, date or source of publication. They all work in a similar fashion, like the LINCCSearch online catalog (which is just another database - it's just that it is for books, not articles) there is usually a box where you type in what-ever it is that you are looking for (you can adjust the dates or sources if you like) and then you click on search and the clever thing gives you a list of compatible results - it's kind of like computer dating only the computer is matching you to an article not your future spouse.

Where are they?


 You can access many of the PCC Library databases through the
PCC Library Web Site: http://www.polk.edu/it/library

Click on
"Remote Access Databases""

 


Most of the remote access databases
(the ones you can use from outside the library)
will ask if you are a real live PCC student.

Your Borrower ID is your Student ID
Ask a Librarian for assistance if you are prompted for a "User Name" and "Password"

Where to begin? Which resource to Choose?
Some of PCC's electronic resources only index articles
(you'll get a citation like you did in the Reader's Guide to Periodical literature, and then you have to go fetch the article yourself).
Some resources will index the articles and provide a link to the actual text of the article.
Some provide a copy of the article with the graphics and everything.
There are resources for:
- Images
- Statistics
- Newspapers
- Literary Criticisms
- Websites
- General Resources for newspaper, magazine and journals
- Subject specific resources (articles on education, art, or science...)

One of the biggest problems students often have is finding the right tool for the job they need done.

What's a good general resource for articles?
(you can always get more specific later if you like)
Try 
Academic Search Premier 


Access Academic Search Premier by going to the
Library Web Site
click on "Databases", then click on "Remote Access Databases" 
and connect to the database you would like to use.

The Academic Search Premier 
search page looks like this:



Experiment with several searches using the different fields and limiters.

So, that was one database you have many more to explore if you wish.
Remember, they all work kind of the same, just read the screens and take your time.

 

Some other databases you may find useful...

Access these databases and more through the Remote Access Databases link on the Library's Web Site


Internet Resources

You can find anything on the Internet - right?
Well, maybe and maybe not.

Be very choosy about resources you find on the Internet.
One of the great things about the Internet is that anyone - ANYONE - can post information to the Web;
your sister, my sister (very scary), PHD's, precocious 4 year-olds...anyone.


How do you know what's good stuff and what's your next door neighbor's 2nd grade science project?
Guess what? We have a web page for that too, its' called
"How Do You Find Reliable Information on the Internet?"

 

A web site suggestion...

Public Opinion Online: http://www.publicagenda.org/

LexisNexis' Campaign News 2004:  http://www.lexisnexis.com/campaign2004/

Project VoteSmart: http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php

 

Use those same great terms you used for books and articles

PCC's Internet Search Engines Page

Note: it is sometimes helpful when looking for reliable sources on the Web to look for Universities
(real ones, of course)


Search term idea: throw in the term "research" along with your topic - poverty economics
research

Still have some energy to use up?
We have a several website bookmarks for statistics that should be fun
(it's like this class guide only different) .
Statistics & Demographics

We also have a Sociology bookmarks, and Law and Politics too.
 

 

Well, I certainly hope you are have a fruitful search and you're feeling secure in the fact that you will certainly get an A.
If you would like further library assistance,
we are here waiting for YOU Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 9:00,
Friday from 8:00 - 4:00 and even on Saturdays from 9:00 - 1:00.

If you are having trouble researching at home feel free to call us at 297-1040(WH) or 297 1042(LK).

 

Good Luck - CCF

This Page was prepared by C. Fullerton
Summer 2002
last update 10/2004
Please send comments and typo alerts to cfullerton@polk.edu