Library Guides: English 251 Persuasive Essay on Current Topics

Janet Lynch,  Instructor
 Gina Haycock, Librarian
The address of this page is:  http://cos.edu/library/libraryguideseng251lynch.htm

REFERENCE BOOKS:  Located on the first floor of the library behind the Reference Desk.  These books must remain in the library. Reference books include dictionaries, almanacs and encyclopedias. Specialized or subject encyclopedias (concentrating on a particular subject instead of covering all knowledge) are excellent starting points for research. They are focused on a particular topic, cover the major concepts of the topic, are written by experts in the field, and often have bibliographies or other references. Examples of Reference books in the COS library are as follows:

Talking Terrorism    #R 303.603 H538
Encyclopedia of Terrorism    #R 303.625 K97
Encyclopedia of North American Immigration    #R 304.87 P883
Encyclopedia of Criminology    #R 364.03 E56

CIRCULATING BOOKS: Located on the second floor of the library. Our newest books are, for the most part, in the areas of science and social issues, and current topics, because we try to build the collection to the type of assignments given to students. Some subject headings and key words to use in searching are in the table below:

In the COS Library there are a series of books called "Opposing Viewpoints" which give pro and con arguments on a variety of issues. To find these in the catalog use a "simple search" and type in "opposing viewpoints".

The results can be sorted by title or by subject.

PERIODICAL DATABASES FOR CONTEMPORARY ISSUES:

NEWSPAPER DATABASES FOR CALIFORNIA ISSUES:

WEB SITES:

Scientific Research:
A special report from New Science.com discussing the politics behind stem cell funding.
Stem Cell Information FAQs from the National Institutes of Health.
NOVA Science Now: The Politics of Stem Cells: The Value of Federal Funds
California Three Strikes Law:
A Primer: Three Strikes: The Impact after more than a Decade
Families to Amend California's Three Strikes
Terrorism/Civil Liberties/Military/War:
Homefront Confidential: How the War on Terror Affects Access to Information and the Public's Right to Know
American Civil Liberties Union presents articles on the Patriot Act.
Debating the Patriot Act from National Public Radio.
U. S. Department of State site: Response to Terrorism
What Happens in a Draft?
The Insurgency
Immigration:
Public Agenda Issue Guides: Immigration
Education:
The Real Cost of Education report from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
A report from the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction on the CAHSEE
Critical Issue: Beyond Social Promotion and Retention, a site sponsored by NCREL, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping schools and students, provides a discussion of social promotion and retention.
Held Back an article from Time Magazine discussing social promotion.
Pupil Promotion and Retention  FAQs from the California State Department of Education.
Position Statement on Student Grade Retention from the National Association of School Psychologists:

Current Issues:
Justice Talking is broadcast on National Public Radio and provides debates on current issues. Justice Talking is produced by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, a think tank at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communications.
Librarian's Index to the Internet provides hundreds of annotated sites on the above topics

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This page was created September 2006. This page was last updated: 04/25/2008
For questions and comments, please mail to:  ginah@cos.edu