- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- Opposing Viewpoints
- CQ Researcher
Go to: www.lib.utexas.edu > Research Tools > Find Articles Using Databases > G > Gale Virtual Reference Library
(or: … > Find Articles Using Databases > Resources by Type > Encyclopedias > GVRL)
Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) searches over 100 different and subject-specific reference sources (encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries) at once. In addition to a general overview of the topic, the entries are divided into subtopics; this is a good visualization tool to help students narrow down their topic. They can see the different subjects within the topic. If they already have a topic, and they don't seem to be finding information in GVRL, they may be searching too specifically. By researching a broader topic (college sports), they will, in most cases, find more specific info (commercialization in college sports) in those sub-topics.
Tips on Use
- On the search screen, students can search by document title or keyword. They can select either or both from the drop down list.
- Document title will only bring back results that have the search terms in the title of the entry.
- Keyword will search everywhere.
- Once you've selected an background article, there are some pieces that might be helpful to point out for your students, specifically on how to "read" the article entry. As mentioned earlier, most broader encyclopedia articles are broken down into smaller sub-topics. These are helpful for students when trying to decide on a paper topic.
- You can also point out the See also at the bottom of each entry, which will help students find info related to their topic without having to search.
- There are a number of ways that you can keep your articles for later. You can download it as a PDF file, print it, email it to yourself, or download it to your computer or flash drive.
This database specifically contains articles on controverisal topics from differing points of view. Students can find newspaper articles, op-eds and articles from multiple perspectives. It's useful to let student explore this database to show that there are multiple points of view on a controversial topic, not just two.
Go to: www.lib.utexas.edu > Research Tools > Find Articles Using Databases > O > Opposing Viewpoints
Tips on Use
- The search for Opposing Viewpoints is standard, especially if you are looking only for background information. You can search by subject, keyword, or the entire document. A keyword search is standard, however, if you are getting too many results, you can switch to a subject search. There are other ways to limit your search (by experience level or by content), which are helpful if you are using O.V. to find actual articles.
- Opposing Viewpoints automatically defaults to show you results for Viewpoints, or opinion essays -- since they assume that's why you're in there in the first place. But since we're looking for background info, click in the Reference Tab. This will instead give you all the results for articles that are overviews of the topic. This is your background info.
Go to: www.lib.utexas.edu > Research Tools > Find Articles Using Databases > C > CQ Researcher
CQ Researcher is a database that controversies in the news, over time. Articles are written by journalists and experts, and each topic is an in-depth report that is divided by chapter into background information, current state of affairs, pros/cons, cited resources, chronology, bibliography, and more.
Tips on Use
- The search area for this database is slightly hidden and some students might be tempted instead to browse it by subject or topic. This might be helpful for students who are really stumped on even finding an issue, but is really time consuming. Point out the basic search box for students and go from there.
- If you are broadly subject searching, you'll find a list of matching in-depth articles from which to choose. You can sort this list to see your results alphabetically, chronologically, or by relevance (which is the default). Each topic on that list is a full report on an issue. //
- The full report contains:
- introduction
- overview
- background
- current situation
- outlook
- pro/con
- chronology
- short features
- bibliography
- the next step (annonated bibliography of articles organized by sub-topic)
- footnotes
- You can save parts of the report or the whole of it, by either emailing it to yourself or printing it. Use the drop down boxes at the top of the article page to select it. It's a bit confusing, so just to note:
- If you want to email yourself part of or the whole report, select the part or the whole in the Email dropdown. (see image at right)
- If you want to print part of or the whole report, select the part or whole in the Print dropdown.
