LBCC LIBRARY COMMUNITY UPDATE LCU 15 November 24, 2003 by Henry DuBois

Opposing Viewpoints: A Stimulus for Learning and Discussion

Gay Marriage Islamic Fundamentalism Gangs Hate Crimes Bioethics Controversial topics for debate and writing projects, but where do students find up to date, authoritative information to support their arguments and positions on these and other topical issues? Where can they get the essays, magazine and newspaper articles, statistics, and primary documents to construct a well documented and convincing speech or paper? The Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center has all this and more. Students can explore this online subscription database in one of the library's Research Centers at LAC, on one of the library computers at PCC Library, or "anytime, anyplace" from any web-enabled computer through the LBCC Library web page http://lib.lbcc.edu. Obtain passwords and user id's from any LBCC Library reference desk. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center draws on the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources to provide a complete one-stop source for information on social issues. Besides the full-text documents it provides on dozens of "hot topics," the Opposing Viewpoints database invites students to link to a "Toolbox" where they will find advice on constructing their paper or argument. Toolbox advice includes "How to choose a topic," "How to write a topic sentence," "How to write an outline," and "How to write a thesis statement." Find out why Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center has become one of the library's most popular information resources. For more information contact: Henry DuBois, hdubois@lbcc.edu