COM ARTS 262: Theory and Practice of Argumentation and Debate (Spring 2022) : Background Information
Databases for Background Information
You may need to find background and contextual information. Books, especially subject encyclopedias, and some non-scholarly databases like CQ Researcher and Opposing Viewpoints can provide such information as well as sample propositions or arguments on policy issues. These non-scholarly databases are good for finding out more about your issue and understanding the different sides. However, these databases will not provide the bulk of your sources.
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CQ Researcher (Current Issues)The CQ Researcher contains reports on current and controversial issues written by journalists. Reports include summaries of issues, a pro/con section, and bibliographies. You can browse articles in the current issue or search for past articles using words, dates, or other criteria.
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Opposing Viewpoints Resource CenterOpposing Viewpoints Resource Center provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles related to current and controversial issues.
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Library CatalogBooks, especially subject encyclopedias, can provide background or contextual information. The Library Catalog includes books available in campus libraries and from other UW System libraries.
Library Catalog
Example: Background Information Source
McCann, Michael, ed. Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2018. Print.