Facts on File - Literature Database Trial
Information about works of literature, authors and literary criticism.
Username: paccorinti
Password: trial
Persuasive Speech
For this assignment you will be looking for information that will support your position on a issue. You will need to find facts that support this point of view as well as information that supports the opposing view so you can refute it.
Library Catalog - The library has many books on controversial issues including some ebooks.
Online Databases - We have a number of online databases that can be accessed in the library or at home. Contact the librarian for passwords.
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center - Viewpoint articles have both pro and con articles that support different viewpoints for commonly researched issues as well as statistics and news articles.
Lexis Nexis - This database is used by researchers and debaters for finding the most current information from print and web sources.
Websites
Google - Use Google to help find the key words related to your issue. A great tool to use is Wonder Wheel. Wonder Wheel takes a search terms and creates a concept map that will include other commonly searched terms related to your issue.
ProCon.org - ProCon.org is a non-profit that provides unbiased information about controversial issues. Includes statistics from reputable sources.
FactCheck.org - This non-profit organization is sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation and provides a nonpartisan view of current events and topics.
Multnomah County Library Social Issues Guide - This webliography from the Multnomah County Library has lots of links to information on over 3 dozen current issues.
Yahoo! Issues and Causes - Yahoo has a subject directory (created by humans!) where they have put together a webliography of useful sites related to social issues.
Infotopia Social Issues - This portal contains links to many webliographies with links to pages related to social issues.
Research Links
Schmoop - Here's an alternative to Spark Notes. This website has been created by students from Stanford and Berkeley and has sections that cover literature, U.S. history and poetry.
http://www.procon.org/ - Controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, primarily pro-con format.
Writing
Updated MLA from Diana Hacker- http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_o.html - Hacker's guide has lots of examples and up to date information.
The Harvard Writing Center - http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/resources.html - Handouts that cover all aspects of writing.
Misc.
Forvo - http://www.forvo.com - "578.003 words 496.048 pronunciations 240 languages" -Type in a word and it will be pronounced for you.
Librivox - http://librivox.org - Free audio books from the public domain.
