RHE 398t | PmWiki / Background Information

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1. Explanation that can be used in all classroom environments:
2. Next steps - No technology in the classroom
3. Next steps - Instructor station only
4. Next steps - Hands-on/Networked classroom
5. Suggested Resources/Databases

Background Information Variations Created by AIs
AIs can use this page to upload exercises/assignments/approaches they have created or modified for their course.

1. Explanation that can be used in all classroom environments:

Once you decide on a broader controversy, you will want to locate background information on it. Background information can provide you with:

A broad overview of the controversy
Key terms and definitions related to the controversy
Names, dates and events important to the controversy
Bibliographies that can lead you to more resources
A narrower, more focused aspect of your controversy about which to write
Keywords that you can use to search for more information on your controversy
A place to identify all the aspects of your controversy so that you can then go out and find viewpoint articles in order to map your controversy thoroughly. For example, if your broader controversy is welfare, a background article will help you identify the components of that controversy such as job training for welfare recipients and child care issues for welfare mothers.

After you explore and map your broader controversy, you may want to narrow it down for the third paper when you are writing a proposal since you obviously won't be able to propose a solution to such a large controversy in a shorter paper. Gathering background information may help you narrow/focus in on one aspect of your controversy and propose a solution. To continue with the welfare example, you could focus the proposal to answer questions such as:

Should the government put limits on how long single parents can collect welfare?
Should ‘welfare to work’ programs be required of all welfare recipients?
Should funding for job training be increased at the expense of other welfare programs that use the same funding sources?

Background information can be found in reference books such as encyclopedias and almanacs. You probably know about general encyclopedias, such as Britannica and World Book. These provide concise overviews. More important for your research are subject-specific encyclopedias, which contain more in-depth entries that focus on how that controversy relates to one field of study or broad subject area. For example, there are entire subject-specific encyclopedias about work, poverty and the family which have entries about welfare.

2. Next steps - No technology in the classroom

Resources:
Explain databases useful for finding background information and how to get to them from home. Choose from Gale Virtual Reference Library, CQ Researcher and/or Opposing Viewpoints, based on your preferences. See Resources/Databases > Background Information for more information about these databases and tips for using them.

TIP for your students! When you are searching one of these databases, think about different keywords you can use to find articles on the larger topics behind your controversy. Ex: If your controversy is on ‘welfare reform in the U.S.,’ search using more general terms, such as ‘welfare,’ ‘poverty,’ or just ‘welfare reform.’

Activities:

Take-home exercise: Background Information Assignment
Since you do not teach in a hands-on classroom you can use this assignment to get students to look for background information on their broader controversies. It contains explanations and instructions which should serve to reinforce your discussion of background information in the classroom. We suggested some resources within the assignment (Gale Virtual Reference Library and Opposing Viewpoints), but AIs can easily make changes to this list. In addition, feel free to change the example if you feel this is one that your students may choose themselves.
In-class exercise: After your students have found background information at home, have them bring in their background articles and pick out as many keywords as they can find that would help them in future searches for articles/viewpoints on their controversy.

3. Next steps - Instructor station only

TIP to tell your students! When you are searching one of these databases, think about different keywords you can use to find articles on the larger topics behind your controversy. Ex: If your controversy is on ‘welfare reform in the U.S.,’ search using more general terms, such as ‘welfare,’ ‘poverty,’ or just ‘welfare reform.’

Activities:

Do a search using a sample controversy as a class using your computer, and have the students guide you through different searches until you’ve found different background information articles that would be helpful.
Find a broader controversy in Opposing Viewpoints and use the Viewpoints tab to identify all the aspects of that controversy. Have the students identify these aspects for you so they can understand how they'll need to find viewpoint articles on smaller aspects of their controversy.

4. Next steps - Hands-on/Networked classroom

Activities:

Background Information Exercise
Use this exercise after you've discussed background information. This exercise gives students the opportunity to use background information to move from a broader controversy to narrower aspects within the controversy while you are present and able to help with the process. We suggested some resources within the assignment (Gale Virtual Reference Library and Opposing Viewpoints), but AIs can easily make changes to this list. In addition, feel free to change the example if you feel this is one that your students may choose themselves.

5. Suggested Resources/Databases

See the Background Information section