LibGuides at USA: CA 275: Small Group Discussion: Current Controversial Topics

Web Sources for Controversial Topics

CQ Researcher
Covers current controversial topics. Please logout when finished as we have only 5 simultaneous users.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Opposing Viewpoints in Context is a one-stop source for information on today's hottest social issues. Drawing on acclaimed series published by Greenhaven Press and other Gale imprints, OVRC features viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites. New to the database are Lexile reading levels for periodicals and an integrated national and state curriculum stand
Points of View Reference Source
Provides students with a series of controversial essays and presents multiple sides of the issue. Audience: high school through college, general public.

Evaluating Websites

Always review websites for appropriateness. If the website fails any of these criteria, it doesn't automatically make the website a "bad source," but the site should be critically viewed before using it for an assignment.

Purpose & Audience
- Who is the site designed for?
- Is the site scholarly or popular?
- Are there advertisements on the site?
- What is the overall purpose of the site?
Authority & Credibility
- Can the author of the site be identified? (Is the "author" an organization?)
- Is there any contact information for the author or organization?
- Do the author's qualifications show expertise on the subject?
- Is the site affiliated with a particular organization?
- What is the domain of the site (.edu, .gov, .org, .com)?
Accuracy & Reliability
- Does the site appear to be well-researched?
- Are there references supporting the site's statements or viewpoints? How well do the references relate to the site's claims? Are the references high-quality themselves?
- Is it easy to tell which references support which claims?
- Does the site include grammatical, spelling, or typographical errors?
- How does the site compare to library resources available on the topic?
Currency & Timeliness
- When was this information on the website published?
- When was it most recently updated?
- Are there dead links on the page?
Objectivity or Bias
- Does the site present many opinions or just one?
- Does the site present opinions or facts?
- What biases can you identify?
- Is the site sponsored by a company or organization?
- Are any advertisements easy to distinguish from the informational content?
Structure & Navigation
- Is the site well organized? Can you tell what content goes together?
- Is it easy to navigate between different pages on the site?
- Does the site have a search box?

Finally, ask yourself these questions:

Is this site a reliable, well-documented information source provided by a reputable author or organization?
Would this be a good source of information for my assignment?