How do I get started?
1. Choose a topic. Your instructor might give you a topic or ask you to choose one.
2. Learn more about your topic and what the different sides of the issues are by finding background information in
dictionaries, encyclopedias and books.
o World Book Encyclopedia (Ref AE 5.W55 2008) – Good place to start for most topics
o Opposing Viewpoint Series (Multiple books on different topics) – Provides information on both sides of
issues
o At Issue books (Multiple books on different topics) – Provides information on both sides of issues
3. Write your topic on a sheet of paper.
4. Break the topic down into keywords. Think of as many words as you can to describe your topic.
o Example: Legalization of Marijuana
 Keywords: Marijuana; Drugs; Legalization; Law; Medical Marijuana
5. Find out what kinds of sources you can use: books, e-books, magazines, journals, websites…
Library Website: www.epcc.edu/library
Books
1. Go to the library website.
2. Click on “Search Library Catalog.”
3. Search for books by Keyword, Subject, Title, or Author.
o Keyword – Enter the keywords that describe your topic. Use the word “AND” in between words.
 Obesity AND Children
 Oil spill
 Immigration and Arizona
o Subject – Enter the main idea of your topic.
 Endangered Species
 Global Warming
 Eating Disorders
o Title - Enter the title of the book you want to find.
 Opposing Viewpoints Series (Series of books on various issues)
 At Issue (Series of books on various issues)
 CQ Researcher (Congressional Research Reports)
o Author - Enter the name of the author (last name, first name)
 Prentice, David
4. Check the location of the book (campus where it is located). You can request that another campus send the book
to your campus (takes about 2 days).
5. Write down the call number of the book so you can look for the book on the shelf.
E-books
o If the book is an e-book, click on the title. Then click on the link to the electronic book.
o Click on “View e-book.” You can turn the pages at the top right using “previous” or “next.” You can also
use the table of contents and index down the side to jump to another section in the book.
Articles
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to the library website.
Click on “Search Magazine, Journal, and Newspaper Articles.”
These are listings of databases. Databases are just magazine, journals, and newspapers on the computer.
The databases are divided up by subject. Choose the subject closest to your topic.
o (Social Science; General Interest; Newspapers)
5. Good databases to try for your topics:
o S.I.R.S. Knowledge Source (Social Science) – Provides topic overview, pros and cons of issue, articles
from magazines, journals, newspapers, images, timelines, global impact information, and statistics.
 Search by subject or keyword (Look also at top 10 issues on right side. Click on “more issues” at
bottom right to see more topics)
o Opposing Viewpoints (Social Science) – Provides viewpoint essays which discuss different sides of the
issues. Also provides articles from journals, magazines, newspapers, websites, reference books, and
more.
 Search by keyword or select a subject from the list provided.
o
o
o
CQ Researcher (Social Science) – Provides overview, outlook, pros and cons of issue, timeline, and
maps/graphs.
 Search with keywords using “Quick Search” box at top or you can “Browse by Topic” on left side.
TOPICSearch (General) – Provides magazine and newspaper articles, government documents and
opinions on topics.
 Search with keywords. Checkmark “Full Text” box on left side to find articles with full-text
attached.
NewsBank Database (Newspaper) - Provides newspaper articles from over 1300 newspapers.
 Search by clicking on “Newsbank Popular Periodicals”
o Look at the topics listed at bottom and see if any match your topic.
o If not, use the box to enter your keywords.
6. Select the database you would like to use by clicking on the title. (If you are off-campus, click on “Off-campus
access.”)
7. Enter your keywords in the search box.
Examples:
o Television and violence
o Steroids and sports
o Smoking ban
8. Checkmark the Full-Text box (limits to articles with article attached)
9. Click on search.
10. Find the article you want to read and click on the title.
11. To read the article, click on pdf or html full-text link provided.
12. You can e-mail, print, or save the article.
13. If you don’t find what you need or get too many hits, try changing the words in the search box - - add more words,
take words away, use different words. ASK FOR HELP!
Internet
The Internet has a lot of great resources. It is important, however, to evaluate the website to make sure it has reliable
information before using it in your paper.
Author: Who is the author of the website? Do they have a degree in the topic they are writing about? Who are they
affiliated with? (Look for author name, “about us,” “who we are,” etc… for this information)
Date: How old is the information? Has it been updated recently? (Look for the publication date somewhere
on the page.)
Bias: Is the information biased? Are they taking a side of the issue and trying to push their opinion or trying to sell you
something? Is it fact or opinion? It is important to use unbiased sources for informational papers.
Sources listed: Did the author list where they got their information?
Google: www.google.com
o Enter your keywords in the search box.
o Place quotations around the words to keep phrases together.
o Advanced Search—Click on “advanced search” (next to search box).
 Find “Search within a site or domain”
 Enter .gov .edu .org or .mil to help you find reputable websites
Websites:
 ProCon.org – www.procon.org - Provides Pros and Cons of controversial issues
 IDEA – International Debate Education Association – http://www.idebate.org/ Provides online database of
topics with their arguments.
 Social Issues Research Guide from Multnomah County Library http://www.multcolib.org/homework/sochc.html Provides links to websites on a multitude of topics.
 Quotations and Speech Resources - www.sc.edu/library/webquote.html Provides links to quotations.
 For Oral Citation Help - https://www.lib.jmu.edu/gold/secure.aspx - Go to module 7
 APA Style Sheet (EPCC) - APA Citing , APA Citing - Online Databases (6th ed.)
ks - Speech- Summer 2010