Research at Your Fingertips
Around this time, kids are getting ready to finish up the school year and turn in final papers and projects. When students come in for help with research and you don’t have what they need on hand, refer them to our databases, especially Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
This database is great for research. It is an authoritative resource that uses over 300 primary source documents. Source citations are provided in lots of styles that can be saved, downloaded, emailed, shared via social media and more. Its user-friendly interface makes it really easy to search and browse.
This database is unique in that it allows students to explore topics from all perspectives. It offers pro and con essays for current topics and is great for debaters.
Besides articles, Opposing Viewpoints in Context incorporates news and a variety of multimedia, including images, audio/video files and NPR podcasts. This variety encourages students to evaluate content in diverse formats and media.
Opposing Viewpoints includes interactive maps. Images can be downloaded in PNG, JPEG, PDF and SVG Sector formats. CSV data can also be downloaded. Statistics and charts providing empirical data are also available and easily accessible. Source citations are provided for everything.
Students can also access Gale’s Research Toolkit: Help with Research and Reports for High School Students. This site offers various tips and worksheets to help students judge information, choose a topic, make an outline and more.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context is a very rich, easy-to-use database. Don’t hesitate to recommend it to your patrons – they will love it!
PS – You can access a You Tube video of recent staff training right here on the Virtual Lexicon that will show you how to use library databases and downloadables.
Lisa DeLucia, Upper St. Clair Library