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.
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: Discrimination in America
(Keywords: Discrimination; Race; Nationality; Ageism; Sexism; Sexual Orientation; America; United States
5. Find out what kinds of sources you can use: books, e-books, magazines, journals, websites…
Library Website: www.epcc.edu/library
Articles
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Go to the library website.
Click on “Online Databases.”
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 (Controversial Issues; General Interest; Newspaper/Current Events)
5. Good databases to try for your topics:
Controversial Issues
o Opposing Viewpoints in Context – Great to use for controversial issues. Provides essays that show
both sides of the issue. Also contains magazine, journal, and newspaper articles as well as websites and
statistics.
 Two easy ways to search:
 Click on “Issues” to see a listing of topics.
 Topic: Occupy Wall Street
o Select “Occupy Movement” from the list of topics provided
 Search by keyword or subject of your choice.
 Topic: UFO’s
o Using the keyword box in upper right corner: UFOs
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CQ Researcher Weekly in depth studies of "hot" topics which include charts, graphs, and a pro-con
feature.
 Search by advanced search:
 Topic: Health Care Reform
 Enter keywords: Health Care Reform (Click on “Health Care Reform”)
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SIRS Knowledge Source – Provides magazines, newspapers, reference materials, and images,
 Search by topic. Under “Pro vs Con” on right side, click on “More Issues”
 Topic: Human Trafficking
 Click on “Human Trafficking”
 Database opens to a subject search--- Can also select a keyword search.
 Topic: Homeless Veterans
 Select a keyword search and enter: Homeless Veterans
General Interest
o Academic Search Complete – Provides journals, magazines, newspapers from 1887-Present
 Topic: Stop Online Piracy Act
 Keywords: Internet Piracy; Intellectual Property; Freedom of Speech, PIPA, SOPA
 Enter Keywords: Online Piracy and Internet (Checkmark Full Text)
Newspaper/Current Event
o LexisNexis® Academic – Full text world-wide newspaper articles – including the El Paso Times.
 Topic: Violence in Mexico
 Enter keywords: violence and Mexico
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 Next to “By source type,” can leave as is or select “All News”
Select the database by clicking on the title. (If off-campus, click on “Off-campus access.”)
Enter your keywords in the search box.
Checkmark the Full-Text box (limits to articles with article attached)
Click on search.
Find the article you want to read and click on the title.
To read the article, click on pdf or html full-text link provided.
You can e-mail, print, or save the article.
If you don’t find what you need or get too many hits, try changing the words in the search box. ASK FOR HELP!
Books
1. Go to the library website.
2. Click on “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.
 Violence and Mexico
 Tuition and Cost
o Subject – Enter the main idea of your topic.
 Death Penalty
 Terrorism
o Title - Enter the title of the book you want to find.
 The Politics of Same Sex Marriage
 The Meltdown Years: the unfolding of the global economic crisis
o Author - Enter the name of the author (last name, first name)
 Pope, Hugh
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 a few days).
5. Write down the call number of the book so you can look for the book on the shelf.
E-books
1. Click on “eBook Collection.” Then when prompted click on “ebook collection” again or “off campus” if at
home.
2. Enter your keywords in the search box. Checkmark “full text” and click on “Search.”
3. Click on the title of any of the books you would like to read.
4. Click on “ebook full text” on the left side of the page.
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? Does the person have a degree in the topic they are writing about? With
whom is the person affiliated ? (Look for author’s 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 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 Advanced Search—Click on “advanced search” (next to search box).
 Find “Search within a site or domain”
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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.
 St. Ambrose University – Hot Paper Topics –Links to Full-text articles, laws, statistics, on controversial issues
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm
Bibliographic citation help:
 Research and Documentation Online (Diana Hacker): http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/
 The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
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