Answered By: Erin McDaniel
Last Updated: Sep 04, 2019     Views: 81

For articles on this topic, go to our A-Z databases guide, linked below. It can also be found on by accessing the Search databases link with the magnifying glass icon, under the Get Started section on the library homepage.

This guide organizes our databases by topic. Just select the page that best corresponds to what you are researching. In this case, select the Controversial Issues page.

There are several databases you can use to find resources on current events. 

CQ Researcher

  • You can search or browse.
  • To search, enter "global warming" into the search bar. Use the quotes so that it searches the whole phrase.
  • Use Browse by Topic, which allows you to browse all reports on all topics, and narrow the focus of your research.
  • Use Browse by Issue Tracker, which allows you to see all of the reports published on a narrowly defined topic.
  • Use Browse by Pro/Con, which lets you select a report based on the expert Pro/Con debate feature contained within each report.

Issues & Controversies

  • You can search by entering terms in the search box at the top left as noted above. Results are sorted by relevance by default, but you may re-sort results by date or titles.
  • You can limit results by using the pages above your results list: articles load by default, but you can switch to just editorial cartoons, by the numbers, or reference shelf by clicking on the appropriate page. Using the pull-down menu you can further limit by retrieving only main articles or sidebars.
  • If you're stumped, try the Issues & Controversies;Need a Research Topic? page at the bottom right. You can browse through topics until you find one you like.
  • You can also  use the Subject Index and Issues Pro and Con list on the bottom left to get ideas for topics, too.

Gale: Opposing Viewpoints

  • You can search by entering terms in the Search box at the top of the page or select a popular topic from the home page. When typing your search term, the database provides suggested terms. If you see yours in Bold Italics, click it. That takes you to all the research the database has on the topic.

  • You can also browse by selecting Browse Issues in the grey toolbar towards the top left, under the Gale icon. Locate your topic under the alphabetical list and click to obtain all articles and other resources on your topic.

  • When you've found a topic page in Opposing Viewpoints, the resources are arranged by type. If you perform a search and get a result list instead of a topic page, there won't be as many resources available. 

  • If you need pro an con articles try clicking Viewpoints above the search bar before entering your search term.

Academic Search Complete

  • Enter your search term or phrase into the search bar.
  • Refine your results offers some quick limits to save you time in your research. You can apply as many limits as you want to any search.
    • Go to the Refine your results column on left hand side of the page and Select the Full Text box.
    • If you need academic or scholarly sources, check the boxes next to those selections.
    • Use the Subject Thesaurus term option to limit by EBSCO subject. Simply click to expand, then click "Show More" to see all available subjects within the result list.

I've also provided a link to our How to Research Hot Topics guide. The homepage links to How To guides for each of the databases listed above. They contain search tips and instructions on obtaining and correcting your citations.

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