Opinions on Controversial and Current Social Issues
Controversial issues and social problems are topics on which many opinions
will be expressed. Some opinions (such as those of an expert witness giving
testimony at a Congressional hearing) are based on in-depth knowledge and
facts, but many opinions are not. Always evaluate
the quality of the source of the opinion, whether it is in print or
appears on a webpage. Is this the opinion of a knowledgable expert? Who is
the author and on what information is the opinion based? Consider credibility
and accuracy or bias.
Where are opinions published?
Jump to: Newspapers / Advocacy groups
/ Testimony / Speeches / Public
Opinion Polls & Surveys
Newspapers
Editorials in newspapers
- Editorials on File
(Recent are on Reference Room Table 2)
- Fulltext newspaper databases (Oviatt Library subscriptions)
- Proquest
Newspapers (Tip: Editorial is a document type in this database,
which makes it easy, using the search boxes and pull-down menus, to
construct a search that will find the subject you want and retrieve
only editorials).
- Lexis Nexis
Academic
- Ethnic
NewsWatch and Ethnic Newswatch: A History (Tip: Editorial is a document
type in this database, which makes it easy, using the search boxes and
pull-down menus, to construct a search that will find the subject you
want and retrieve only editorials).
Letters to the editor and other comment articles
- Fulltext newspaper databases (Oviatt Library subscriptions)
- Proquest
Newspapers (Tip: Letter is a document type in this database; Commentary
is also a document type. This makes it easy, using the search boxes
and pull-down menus, to construct a search that will find the subject
you want and retrieve only letters to the editor or commentary).
- Lexis Nexis
Academic
- Ethnic
NewsWatch and Ethnic Newswatch: A History (Tip: Letter is a document
type in this database; Commentary is also a document type. This makes
it easy, using the search boxes and pull-down menus, to construct a
search that will find the subject you want and retrieve only letters
to the editor or commentary).
- Use the website of the newspaper of your choice. Tip
for CSUN
students: In some cases you will end up at a specific newspaper's
site that may let you see part of the article for free but will charge you
some amount of money for viewing the full text of an article. Check the
CSUN List
of Electronic Periodicals and/or the full-text databases listed before
spending any money to see an article full-text. (The Oviatt Library has
already paid for CSUN students to have access to articles from thousands
of newspapers, so save your money. Switch to the full-text databases and
search for the newspaper and title/author of the article you want to read).
Advocacy groups
Testimony given at Congressional Hearings
The Oviatt Library owns copies of most hearings Congress has held in the
last 50 years (and some that are even older). Since Congress has considered
what to do about all kinds of problems and Congressional committees have the
power to require people to testify at hearings, these hearings can be a great
source of expert opinion (often with supporting facts included as well). Many
recent hearings are listed in the Library
Catalog and are available online as well as on microfiche, the format
used for many older hearings. Ask
a Librarian for help if you have questions about how to use effectively
the CIS Index or the other sites/indexes for hearings listed below and/or
how to locate a specific hearing. (Not all hearings are listed in the Library
Catalog, but the library may still own or have access to the hearing).
- Congressional
Hearings offers several years of recent hearings that are searchable
online and available full-text.
- Congressional Committee sites
compiled by the Law Librarian's Society of Washington, D.C.
- CIS Index (recent
years on Reference Room Table 5) indexes hearings held by Congressional
committees. Indexing is by subject or by the name of the person testifying
at the hearing.
Speeches
Vital Speeches of the
Day is a great source for recent speeches.
Public Opinion Polls and Surveys
Public opinion polls and surveys measure attitudes and public opinion on
specific issues. Use the Public Opinion Polls research
guide to find these polls and surveys.
Created and maintained by Mary M. Finley
Questions or comments: mary.finley@csun.edu
Links checked: 22 August 2008
