A SC Discus Database
Perfect Resource for an Argumentative
Research Paper

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Today, you will know:
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◦ How to find your school’s Media Center website
Why you should use a database instead of just
Google
Where to find relevant databases for your research projects
How to use the database called “ Opposing
Viewpoints ”
How to create keywords for better searches
Tips on staying organized through the research process.

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Find the school website:
◦ (Google “ Great Falls High School SC ” and it should come up.)
◦ http://chester.gfmh.schooldesk.net/Home/tabid/84010/Default.aspx
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Then look for the “ Media Center ” tab
◦ https://gfmhschool.wixsite.com/gfmhslibrary
Bookmark this site for future use.

1.
 A) Left
 B) Right

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◦ A) President Abraham Lincoln
◦ B) President George
Washington
◦ C) President Franklin D.
Roosevelt
◦ D) President Thomas Jefferson

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An online library, available 24/7
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Provides free access to electronic subscription library resources
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For South Carolinians of all ages and interests
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Coordinated by the SC State Library

Write this information down!
Some databases ask for a user name and password on SC Discus when you are working on a computer that is not at school.
If so, use this: username: discus18 password: explore
Jot this down…

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Arts & Literature
Biography
Business
Current Events, Issues
Education
Facts & General Reference
Government & Legal
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Geography
Health & Medical
History
Job & Career
Science & Technology
Social Studies

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Opposing Viewpoints Database
Uses:
◦ Suppose you need to argue a point
◦ Show both sides of a point
◦ This is a great tool to do just this…

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Obtain numerous viewpoints, images, videos, articles, primary sources, references, statistics and SO MUCH MORE!!
Save and email articles to yourself
Easily create citations
Have information read to you
Use advance search tools to narrow your results (ie: maybe you just need peer reviewed articles, only )

Creating Effective Keywords for Better Searches
Research Question : How can teens engage in politics through social media?
Think about synonyms for your keywords (politics, teens, social media)
Eliminate non-searchable words, like “How” “can” “in” “through”
Keyword
Politics or
Government And
Keyword
Social Media
Or
Social network And
Mass media Political party
Republicans
Democrats
Keyword
Teenagers or
Teens
Youth
High school students
College students
Now search using combinations of these Keywords.
Can use “ quotation marks” for exact phrases.

 https://www.mysimpleshow.com/examples/