Using Opposing Viewpoints In Context Website
Multnomah County Library web site: www.multcolib.org
Opposing Viewpoints In Context is a database available through the Multnomah County Library with a library
card. Use this database to find:
• Pro and Con arguments about a social issue like genetic engineering, censorship, endangered species, and
terrorism
• Background material on the topic (biographies of social activists, court cases, profiles of government
agencies
• Images
• News media coverage of a topic.
• Links to websites featuring articles about the topic.
How do I get to Opposing Viewpoints In Context?
1. Start at the Multnomah County Library web site: www.multcolib.org
2. Click on the Homework Center link
3. Click on the link at Homework databases
4. Click on Social issues (Opposing Viewpoints). Click on this link.
5. Type in your Multnomah County Library card number and PIN. (Your PIN is usually the last 4 digits of your
telephone number.)
Select a topic to explore. For example Guns and
Violence (a subtopic of Law and Politics) is a topic that
may have high interest appeal. The depth of topics and
articles becomes apparent.
Law and Politics:
Guns and Violence: This overview article goes into
several subtopics. By choosing “Video Games” one
can narrow the topic to this grade appropriate issue.
In the VG you’ll find an overview article. Again, three
separate subtopics are described with a set of three
supporting essays for each: Video Games and
Academic Achievement; Video Games and Violence;
and New Generation of Video games. Although the
topic overview document is advanced, the supporting
essays are intermediate level. Both the “listen”
feature of the site and the “high interest” aspect of
the topic will ameliorate the difficulty of the topic
overview document.
Scroll down to see Videos, Images, Audio,
Interactive Map, and Related topics as well as the
Expert Picks.
The Tools menu, on when
viewing an article,
translations into 8 languages
besides English!
To find more essays/opinions scroll down to link to
View Points, Reference, News, Magazines,
Academic journals, Statistics.
Another great feature is the Interactive Map included with many topics shows
statistical representations of some issues. To scroll all interactive maps, use the
black menu bar:
How to use this website for differentiated instruction:
The features of this site that lend themselves to differentiating for content acquisition include:
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-For articles all text read aloud or highlighted portions to be read back, or download an
MP3
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Translation tool-(Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and
Koran); can also be printed
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Multimedia (images, video, audio podcasts, interactive maps with poll ideas, content level
designations for the essays);
Content Level:
Online access is available for home use www.multcolib.org
Content levels (advanced, intermediate, basic and low) to match student
Advanced
level through multiple resource for each topic provides all different
Intermediate
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Basic
Instruction strategies for differentiating content, environment and process
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Pre-assessment-know your student-The number of resources to help teachers choose from can meet
the needs of students (interests, style, readiness…).
Use interactive read aloud with
o essays with content levels above student level
o high interest issues
o whole group activity
Use sentence frames and question starters in all discussion/interactive situations for English language
learners which is any student who is learning academic or basic language skills
Manage level of questioning for any point in the learning process using question starters
Very user friendly site for easy access for students
Get help http://multcolib.org/contact/ including “live” help
Get Help“Social issues (Opposing Viewpoints” Arguments and analysis of more than 1,000 controversial
topics. For help using this database, click here.”
http://multcolib.org/homework/handouts/Opposing%20Viewpoints%20in%20Context%202010.pdf
Interaction/Engagement Techniques will engage students through a myriad of processes