Library Guides: English 251: Social Issues

 http://www.cos.edu/library/libraryguidesenglish251ramirez.htm

For English 251 Gregory Ramirez
Developed by  Librarians: Connie Fly, Kathie Lewis & Gina Haycock

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:

For Statistics:
Statistical Abstract of the United States    #R317.3 Un58    This resource is also available online at the following URL:    http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
The World Almanac and Book of Facts    #R317.3 W927

Subject Encyclopedias: (a small sampling of what is available)

Encyclopedia of Terrorism    #R303.625 K97
Encyclopedia of the American Armed Forces    #R355.00973 A969
Global Warming in the 21st Century    #R363.73874 J65
Encyclopedia of Hair    #R391.509 S553
 

Circulating  books:
COS Library owns about 170 titles of a series called Opposing Viewpoints that cover current controversial topics. Here is how you search for this series in the Online Book Catalog.

First Select Simple Search as shown on the screen below.

In the search box type "opposing viewpoints" in quotes to find all the books in the series.  The quotes tells the computer to look for your words as a phrase. To narrow the search add a keyword or another phrase.

This screen shows you a list of the books in the Opposing Viewpoints Series that have the phrase global warming.

This screen shows the complete record on the first book listed.

However, through the Electronic Resources link on the COS Library’s Web Site, a student can locate indexing and many full-text periodical articles regardless of whether the LRC subscribes to the source. Because these indexes are part of what is known as the Invisible Web, that is, proprietary databases, they are available by subscription only; the LRC pays fees so that COS students can use them. If a student is off campus, passwords are necessary to access these databases. Passwords are available for COS students at the COS LRC Information Desk or by calling (559) 737-6179. Below is a list of the Periodical Databases the COS Library makes available by subscription for COS students:

• InfoTrac  is a periodical index database that works well when using a subject search. When entering a subject search, you can use broad terms, because the index will automatically help to narrow the search. This index is not completely full-text.

• Academic Abstracts is a periodical index database that works well when using a key-word search. When entering a key-word search, you need to use precise words and the more words you add, the narrower the search becomes. This index is not completely full-text.

• Fresno Bee and Los Angeles Times are databases that provide access to the full-text articles of these two newspapers from 1985 forward. These databases are particularly good for finding information concerning the San Joaquin Valley and the rest of California.

• Lexis/Nexis is a database that provides access to full-text articles from newspapers across the nation and some international newspapers. It is also an excellent source for finding specific court cases.

• CQ Researcher is a company that creates a database of original reports concerning current and controversial topics. The reports are generally unbiased and  almost always have statistics and other brief facts. The reports average 25 pages in length. It can be searched by key word or subject (topic)

• SIRS (Social Issues Research Series) is a database of full-text articles mainly from magazines and newspapers with emphasis on current and controversial topics. It can be searched by key word or subject.

When using an electronic database it is important to know the difference between subject and key word searching. In subject searching, you can begin with broad topics of possibly one or two words, and the indexing will help you to narrow your search. The table below gives you some example of subject headings and key words to use in the database search boxes.

Subject Searching:   In subject searching, you can start with a broad topic and you will be guided to more specific results. 

Here is an example of a subject search looking for magazine articles in the Infotrac Database on adoption by gay couples

The screen below tell us the that there is a subject heading for gay couples that has 765 articles.  You always want to click on Narrow by subdivision.  This allows you to look for more specific aspects of your topic and will reduce the number of articles you will browse through saving you time.

Since we are looking for articles about Gay Couples adopting children selecting the subdivision "family" with 11 articles should give us some good sources.

This screen lists several articles about gay adoption.

Key Word Searching:  Another way of searching in indexes is key word searching. The more key words that you enter, the narrower, that is, the more specific the search becomes. A good example of this type of searching is in a database called Academic Abstracts Here is an example of a  KEYWORD search in Academic Abstracts on the topic of troop withdrawal in Iraq. Notice the terms are connected by and which is a Boolean operator that narrows the search.

CQ Researcher is a database known for its pro and con coverage of controversial issues. It can be searched by subject, keyword or highlighted new reports.
Here is an example of a  keyword search in CQ Researcher on gay adoption

This is a list of reports that have the keywords gay adoption.

SIRS is a database with full-text coverage of current social and controversial issues. It also provides pro and con arguments. It also can be searched by subject, keyword or by highlighted, recent topics.

• CNN    http://www.cnn.com/
• National Public Radio    http://www.npr.org/
• Justice Talking    http://www.justicetalking.org/
• COS Library Web Sites By Topic: Hot Topics    http://www.cos.edu/library/subject/hottopics.htm
• Yahoo Issues and Causes    http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Issues_and_Causes/
• Librarian's Index to the Internet: Society and Social Science    http://search.lii.org/index.jsp?more=SubTopic14
• Education Debate Association    http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/
• Best Information on the Net    http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm
• Public Agenda    http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/issuehome.cfm

This page was created: April 2004   This page was last updated: 02/28/2007
For Questions and Comments, please mail to ginah@cos.edu