This webpage provides resources to help you find information about your selected debate topic.
Most of the databases on this page are restricted to UW students, staff and faculty. These are marked with a lock
. To connect to these databases from home you will need to first click on the Off-Campus Access button in the upper-right hand corner and login with your UWnetid. It may be easier to install the proxy bookmarklet that will allow you to access UW Restricted materials with one click.
Have questions or need research help? Please contact Jessica Albano, the communication studies librarian, via email at jalbano@u.washington.edu
Start Here to Find Background Information
Encyclopedias and other reference sources provide background information and be used to identify key people, events and dates which can then be used as search terms for finding additional information. More importantly, because reference sources often cover the major issues surrounding the subject, they can help you narrow your research from a broad "who, what, where, when" topic to a "how or why" question. Many also provide a jumpstart on your research by listing related readings.
Search and find encyclopedias including:
- Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health
- Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy
- Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery
- Encyclopeida of World Poverty
- Wikipedia
Start Here to Find Current News
The most current information often appears in newspapers, magazines, web sites, and other sources published or updated frequently.
Since most newspapers are local in scope, there is good coverage of local issues. Sometimes local newspapers provide the only coverage of truely local events/issues.
- The Daily of the University of Washington
- UW News
- University Wire
Searchable through
- The Hill
Also searchable through
magazine and journal articles on most subjects
Washington State, U.s., and international newspapers
Washington State and major U.S. newspapers
newspapers, magazines, and journal of the alternative and independent press
diverse literature of the left
- More news databases ...
Start Here to Find Academic/Scholarly Articles
Academic articles, those published in scholarly journals, are the bedrock of most academic disciplines. They provide an indepth analysis of narrow topics. Prior to publishing, articles are vetted through a process called peer-review.
Most academic articles and books include footnotes or a bibliography which can lead you to additional sources on a topic.
Search tip: Don't forget about Google Scholar
articles on most subjects
health, medicine, nursing
education
environment
environment
- PubMed
health, medicine
social work, social welfare
family and social welfare, poverty and homelessness, social development, and more
politics, public policy
society, sociology
- more databases ...
Start Here to Find Government and Organization Information & Statistics
More and more government news and information is posted online each day.
All of the people, agencies, councils, offices, etc. that form our local, state, and federal governments have web sites where they post current news, policy information, reports, laws, and more.
The information available is vast and so are the ways of finding it. You can go to specific web sites, search library databases that consolidate the information, or search google.
Google search tips:
- Search Google and Google Scholar
- Enter: keyword(s) AND site:.gov
Search tip:
For the best help with govpubs and stats available in the UW Libraries, visit the librarians in Government Publications
- Office of the President Mark Emmert's Blog
- UW Office of the Vice Provost for Planning and Budgeting
- Seattle City Council
- Seattle Channel
- Access Washington
- Governor Chris Gregoire
- Washington State Legislature
- U.S. House of Representatives
- United States Senate
- The White House Policies and Initiatives
- National Coalition for the Homeless
- National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
- Science.gov
Start Here to Find Public Opinions / Public Arguments
Seattle Times April 8, 2009 A13Public opinion polls are surveys or inquiries into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people.
Public opinion polls provide an opportunity for citizens to be heard and influence public policy.
Search tip: Search newspaper databases for letters printed on newspapers' opinion / commentary / editorial pages.
polls taken around the world since 1935
polls taken around the world
- PewResearchCenter numbers, facts and trends shaping your world
- More public opinion sources ...
Start Here to Find Books
Non-fiction books can provide both an overview and indepth analysis of a topic, event or person. Many books will include footnotes and bibliography that can lead you to other research/writings on the topic.
Book reviews can be useful when evaluating a book or to get a quick synopsis.
Search tip: Start with the UW-Only Catalog (UW Libraries Catalog)
- UW Libraries Catalog - holdings of the UW Libraries. Best used for known-item searching especially journal titles and ebooks and when you want to find just what is available on campus or in a specific branch of the UW Libraries.
- UW WorldCat - Mega-catalog that simultaneously searches the UW Libraries Catalog and other libraries in the region and worldwide, also includes some citations to articles. Best used for topical searches and for requesting books from other libraries.
Created by: Jessica Albano
Last modified: Wednesday April 22, 2009 (jalbano)
