Answered By Library Staff
Last Updated: Jan 14, 2025     Views: 120

  • Issues and Controversies (from Facts on File) is a great reference database to use when you're looking for an overview of a controversial issue. It will give you information about both sides in its pro/con articles, which are also listed out in A-Z, so that you can better understand why it is controversial. The pro/con articles will offer links to other related sources in the "Bibliography" and "Additional Sources." You can also find editorials from news outlets about a particular topic in this database when searching a topic. Learn about searching it in this video.
  • Issues & Controversies in History (from Facts on File) is a reference database that offers full reports on issues and controversies in overall history with subject index, editorial cartoons, primary documents, and pro/con issues. Formerly was Issues & Controversies in American History.
  • Opposing Viewpoints in Context is a database to use when you want to get an overview of an issue, but you also want to look at other types of sources that relate in some way to the issue. It will arrange sources by resource type (magazine, journals, images, etc.), and it also offers an issue A-Z list for you to browse and choose from. Their overview is a reference article similar to what you would find on Wikipedia. 

You can find both of these databases by clicking on Articles & Databases link on the Library Home page. They will be listed alphabetically on the database list.

This TCC Library video has some tips as well: