Background Information Sources

Examples of books that are available in the library's reference area:

Books

Search the library catalog for books on your subject using keywords such as:

Newspaper, Magazine, and Scholarly Journal Articles

• CQ Researcher: Comprehensive articles on current topics.
• InfoTrac: Academic One File:Lots of full text and scholarly articles.
• Academic Search Premier : Lots of full-text and scholarly articles.
• LexisNexis: Supplies scholarly, magazine and newspaper articles from the past 10 years.

Internet Resources

Several internet resources have been selected below. Additional links are available from Web Resources page.

Current Issues Websites:

• ProCon.org http://www.procon.org/
  over 1,000 questions on controversial issues with over 7,500 pro, con, and not clearly pro or con statements •date and source information for all research cited .
• Best Information on the Net http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm
  Library guide offers an extensive list of websites pertaining to a broad range of topics.
• Controversial Issues
  http://www.sac.edu/students/library/nealley/websites/controversial.htm
  Links to websites on Controversial Issues Topics. Complied by Santa Ana College Library

Look at specific interest group websites, for example:

• American Civil Liberties Union http://www.aclu.org/
• Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org/
• National Organization for Women http://www.now.org/

Professional research organizations ("think tanks") also offer info on various social issues:

• The Brookings Institution http://www.brook.edu/
• The Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/
• The Urban Institute http://www.urban.org/

.....And more

• Supreme Court of the United States http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
  Website of the U.S. Supreme Court, see “Recent Decisions” for this year’s rulings.
• The Hill http://www.hillnews.com/
  Non-partisan news organization that covers events in Congress.
• National Institute of Health http://www.nih.gov/
  Federal medical research group, see “Health Information” and “News & Events.”

Tips for Finding a Discipline Specific Website

• Link to Controversial Issues Websites listed below under Internet Resoures on this Guide.
• Many articles found in the CQ Researcher database contain a Contacts section that lists suggested Websites.
• Try an alternative to Google: Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/ and INFOMINE: http://infomine.ucr.edu/

Updated: 3/9/11, RM