Online Resource of the Month - April 2003

Each month, your SDPL features one of our online premium resources, paid for by SDPL, and available at the locations indicated.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

What is it?
This database has content from the popular social issues series published by Greenhaven Press. In addition, the contents include other core reference content from some Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources. The goal is to offer a complete one-stop source for information on social issues, primarily aimed at students and a great resource as well for teachers.

The database includes materials like point-of-view articles, topical overviews, issue statistics, links to other content, primary documents, links to selected Web sites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

You will find the Opposing Viewpoints database contains:

• more than 2,000 viewpoint articles (from 170 titles)
• more than 24 complete titles from the Information Plus reference program
• more than 3,000 statistical tables, charts, and graphs
• over 1,000 topic overviews
• more than 700 court-case overviews
• nearly 800 hand-selected images
• full-text articles from more than 30 periodicals and newsletters, updated daily.

When should you use it?
Start here for research and information on social issues, particularly for controversial or difficult public and social issues. When you need to present differing viewpoints, covering different sides of an issue, this is a good resource to use. It is also targeted for both teachers and students, who often debate and discuss current and historical social issues in their classrooms.

How do you use it?
The database begins at the home page, and offers five types of searches. You can also select the topic from the long list shown on the home page.

• Subject Search
• This searches subject terms that are assigned to each article.
• Type a word or words in the search box.
• Use the dropdown menu and select Search by Subject.
• Select SEARCH.

• Keyword Searching
• Allows you to match words within the articles, not just Subject Terms.
• Type a word or words in the search box.
• Use the drop down menu and select Search by Keyword.
• Select SEARCH

• Full Text Searching
• Similar to keyword search, results do not include the additional subjects in the display.
• Type a word or words in the search box.
• Use the drop down menu and select Search by Full Text.
• Select SEARCH

• Dictionary Searching
• Select this method to look up the definition of terms.
• Type the term in the search box.
• Choose the dictionary to use for the search.
• Select SEARCH.

• Advanced Searching
• Allows you to build complex search queries.
• Type information into the fields, select the type of search (Title/Headline, Source, Author, Subject, and Full Text).
• Use the Boolean operators (like AND and OR) to broaden or narrow the search.
• Enter Date of Publication if known
• Enter the Document Type and/or number if known
• Select SEARCH.

Search Operators and Wild Cards

• Combining Terms - Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.
  Example: Mexican-american or latino
• Connecting Terms - Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search. Example: physician and doctor
• Removing Terms - Use NOT to remove separate concepts. NOT narrows your search. Example: java not coffee
• Truncating Terms
  o Use the asterisk (*) to replace one or more characters at the end of a search term. Example: libr* retrieves library, librarian, etc.
  o Use the question mark (?) to replace one character within a search term. Example: wom?n retrieves woman, women.
  o Use the exclamation point (!) to indicate one character at the end of a search term, may use multiple ! if needed. Example: analo!! will find analog, analogs, and would not find analogous.

• Proximity Searching
• Use n# to find terms within a specified number(#) of words of each other regardless of the order. Example: west n2 virus would retrieve west nile virus or virus west nile.
• Use w# to find terms within a specified number(#) of words of each and in a specific order. Example: Israeli w2 conflict retrieves Israeli Palestinian conflict.

Using Results
Records matching the last search are automatically displayed for your use. A sample results' screen is shown below to demonstrate the results' display.

· Use the scroll bar to move through the list.
· Select the PAGE NUMBER to display more entries.
· Select an entry to display the matching full record.
· Use the scroll bar to move through the record.
· Select RESULTS LIST to return to the list of results.

Results Page, Search for "race" as Subject, Opposing Viewpoints

• Select in the checkbox next to the title on the Results List.
• Select UPDATE MARK LIST.
• Select VIEW MARK LIST to display the list of selected records.

• Display the record to be printed.
• Select your browser's FILE menu and select PRINT PREVIEW.
• Make sure the pages are what you want to print.
• Select PRINT.
• Select OK.
• Select BACK to back up.

1. Display record to be downloaded.
2. Insert a formatted disk into a floppy drive, where permitted.
3. Select your browser's FILE menu and select SAVE AS.
4. Type the disk drive, the filename and .txt in the FILE NAME box.
   Example: a:myfile.txt
5. Select SAVE.

1. Display record to be e-mailed.
2. Select EMAIL.
3. Type your (or other) e-mail address in the MAIL TO box.
4. Select SEND.
5. Select BACK to back up.

1. Click in the search box at top of page and enter a new term.
   Or, select a search option below the name of the database.

• How to distinguish fact from opinion and bias from reason
• How to distinguish between primary and secondary sources
• How to evaluate information sources
• How to recognize deceptive arguments
• How to recognize ethnocentrism and stereotypes
• How to prepare for a debate or discussion using OVRC viewpoints

In addition, the Research Guide offers practical advice for analyzing the articles, including:

• Reviewing the author's credentials and affiliations
• Identifying the main ideas and viewpoints
• Identifying the author's supporting material (including use of statistics, scientific reports, anecdotes, analogies, and experiences)

• How to Judge Information
• How to Make a Concept Web
• How to Choose a Topic
• How to Write a Topic Sentence
• How to Make an Outline
• How to Cite a Source
• How to Organize a Report
• How to Build an Argument
• How to Write a Conclusion
• How to Write a Thesis Statement
• How to Create Visual Representations of Data (charts, graphs, etc.)