Opposing ViewpointsSullivan University Library

Opposing Viewpoints is made up of two comprehensive, full-text databases providing differing points of view on current social issues, such as affirmative action, censorship, ecology, and mental health.

What is Opposing Viewpoints?

Information may include:◦Essays offering different points of view from

more than 170 titles of the print Opposing Viewpoints and other Greenhaven series.

◦Government data, court cases, and statistics.

◦Organizational profiles.

◦Newspaper and magazine articles.

◦Links to subject-related web sites.

What is the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center?

1. Go to the Sullivan University Library web page at http://library.sullivan.edu

2. Click Articles and E-Books.3. Click Login to Databases.4. Using the instructions below the link, enter

your login information (off-campus only).5. Click Opposing Viewpoints.

How to Get to the OVRC

You can find sources by:◦ Performing a search◦ Selecting a topic from the list of popular topics

OVRC – Critical Thinking

A basic search allows you to search by:◦ Subject◦ Keyword◦ Entire document

OVRC – Critical Thinking

A basic search is performed by:◦ Placing search word(s) in the Basic Search box.◦ Selecting SUBJECT, KEYWORD, or ENTIRE

DOCUMENT.◦ Clicking the blue SEARCH button.

OVRC – Critical Thinking

After a basic search of any type, a listing of articles (or documents) will appear.

The TAB above the results indicates what type of data the documents are.

OVRC – Critical Thinking

The data types from a Basic Search include:◦ Viewpoints◦ Reference◦ Statistics◦ Web Sites◦ Images◦ Other Types of Data◦ Magazines & Newspapers

NOTE: If a tab is grayed-out, that data type is not available.

OVRC – Critical Thinking

The results of a SUBJECT or KEYWORDS BASIC SEARCH also include a listing of SUBJECT TERMS on the left-side of the page.

OVRC – Critical Thinking

The Boolean operators:◦ AND◦ OR◦ NOT

…can be used in a BASIC SEARCH

OVRC – Critical Thinking

An Advanced Search is very similar to a Basic Search but allows you to search fields.

Fields include:◦ Document Title◦ Keyword◦ Subject◦ Place Name◦ Person Name

OVRC – Critical Thinking

To go to the Advanced Search screen, click on the blue ADVANCED SEARCH button.

OVRC – Critical Thinking

The OVRC main screen provides a listing of topical issues that can be selected.

This list is located beside the BASIC SEARCH box .

By clicking on an issue, you can conduct a Basic Subject Search on the selected Issue (Topic).

OVRC – Critical Thinking

Toolbox: Provides outlines, worksheets, and other resources on how to choose topics and organize information.

Also Available From OVRC

Help Menu: Contains information about OVRC.

Also Available From OVRC

Several dictionaries can be accessed from OVRC. These include:◦ The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary◦ The Merriam-Webster’s Biographical Dictionary◦ The Merriam-Webster’s Geographical Dictionary

Also Available From OVRC

Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints in Context provides an alternative interface for searching the Opposing Viewpoints databases.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Opposing Viewpoints in Context Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints in Context

provides an alternative interface for searching the Opposing Viewpoints databases.

Users can search find resources by Issue or do a simple keyword search.

Like Opposing Viewpoints: Critical Thinking, results are divided into Viewpoints, academic journals, and other selected formats.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context

The Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) is a very useful database for information on current social issues.

Please ask the library staff if you have any questions about OVRC.

Conclusion