Quick Links
Related Links

Pro & Con Sources on Social Issues


Internet Resources

These suggested websites break down social issues by topic and provide you with links to Internet resources that are specific to that topic. As always, it is up to you to determine whether or not the content is accurate and appropriate for your research needs!

Best Information on the Net. Hot Paper Topics. 2004. St. Ambrose University. O’Keefe Library.
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm
DMOZ. Open Directory Project . 2004. Netscape Communication Corporation.
http://dmoz.org/Society/Issues/
Homework Center. Social Issues. 2004. Multnomah County Library.
http://www.multcolib.org/homework/sochc.html
Librarians’ Index to the Internet. Society & Social Issues. 2004. Librarians’ Index to the Internet.
http://lii.org/search/file/society
Public Agenda. The Issues . 2004. Public Agenda.
http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/issuehome.cfm


Finding Articles


There is no perfect way to find articles that support or contest an issue. You must be creative and resourceful. Here are a few suggestions when searching in periodical databases and indexes:

Create Boolean searches that include the names of organizations that are known to advocate a particular view on a topic. You may also use their acronyms. To discover which organizations hold a particular view, try the DMOZ website listed above, or the keyword index of the Encyclopedia of Associations located in the library’s reference collection.

Examples: "gun control" and "National Rifle Association"
“stem cell research” and “American Association for the Advancement of Science”
“single sex education” and NASSPE

Use language/phrasing that implies a certain slant to the issue. There may be certain terms used exclusively by one side or the other of a debate.

Examples: pro-life vs. pro-choice
right to choose vs. right to life
gun violence vs. second amendment rights
right to die vs. assisted suicide

When in doubt, ask a librarian for help.