Library Guides: CAS 215: Argumentation: Background Resources

Librarians

Jeff Knapp, Larry and Ellen Foster Communications Librarian

or Your Campus Librarian

Encyclopedias

Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) This link opens in a new window
Subject specific encyclopedias to give you an overview of your topic
A collection of over 1000 reference resources.
CQ Electronic Library This link opens in a new window
Scroll down to see the list of subject encyclopedias included within this collection. All focus on areas of public policy and law.
A reference source for research in American government, politics, history, public policy, and current affairs. The suite includes the online version of --CQ Weekly --CQ Researcher --CQ Congress Collection, --CQ Voting and Elections Collection --CQ Historic Documents Online
SAGE Reference Online This link opens in a new window
A gateway to those reference publications (encyclopedias and handbooks), published by SAGE, that Penn State has acquired.
A gateway to those SAGE reference publications (encyclopedias and handbooks) Penn State has acquired.
Oxford Handbooks Online: Scholarly Research Reviews This link opens in a new window
Excellent set of handbooks from various disciplines for reviews of important scholarly themes.
The complete texts of the Oxford Handbooks in multiple disciplines and subject areas. These Handbooks contain in-depth, high-level articles by scholars at the top of their field. Handbooks are an excellent source for reviews of literature around major themes. PSU subscribed subjects include Business & Management, Classical Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics & Finance, History, Linguistics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religion.

Pro-con arguments

Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
Research and background information on social issues; supplemented by statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center provides research and background information on social issues. The database contains the essays from the Opposing Viewpoints series, supplemented by statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles. Keywords: hot topics, current events, social issues, social trends, English 15, CAS 100, background information, general interest, contemporary issues, overviews.

Finding Arguments using Opposing Viewpoints
Strategies to get the best out of using this database.

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Collection of reports covering political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy
The CQ Researcher is a collection of reports covering political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. Keywords: hot topics, current events, social issues, social trends, archive, English 15, CAS 100, background information, general interest, contemporary issues, overviews. CQ Global Researcher (formerly a stand alone DB) content was merged into CQ Researcher.
Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window
High quality, non-partisan analysis of issues before the US Congress
Research papers written by the Library of Congress for the use of Congress. Provide objective, non-partisan analysis of public policy issues before the legislature. Full text PDF of reports.

ProCon.org
Free website with pro-con arguments on major issues.