FSS125 - First Semester Seminar: Fall 2020

Search Opposing Viewpoints

 

What is Opposing Viewpoints?

Ever been in class, talking to friends, or scrolling through the news and come across a heated debate on a topic that you don't know that much about? Opposing Viewpoints is a great place to start. It takes controversial topics and highlights the main points, then pulls relevant articles, statistics, news, and more that work as good examples of both sides of the argument.

Tips:​

• This is a great place to get a feel for the main sides of a controversial topic, but sometimes the information is a little dated. For some topics, an article that's 5 years old won't make a difference. For other topics where cutting edge information is crucial, 5 years is ancient history. Consider your topic and check for currency when using Opposing Viewpoints.
• Most current information will have a "NEW!" or "UPDATED!" tag on the topic link.

Search Google Scholar

 

Why use Google Scholar?

Google Scholar takes some of the guesswork out of your research. Instead of wondering if the article you're reading is scholarly or comes from a reputable source, Google Scholar makes sure of it. You still have to do some legwork, but the quality of the information you have to work with is much higher. This is a great place to start academic research when your instructor says you need to find scholarly articles.

Tips:

• If you're not sure where to start, keep your searches broad at first. Slowly add additional keywords (or swap them out) when you get an idea of how you want to specify your question.
• Do you have an article citation and want to know if we have the full text? Plug the article title in and, if we do, chances are good you'll see a [PDF], [HTML], or "Full Text @ Alverno" link appear to the right of the search results.
• Always use the link on the library homepage (or on this guide) to get to Google Scholar, this will give you better results as it's synced with our databases.

Use this handout to determine if an article is considered scholarly: Is it a scholarly article or isn’t it?

To find more information and scholarly articles about "Mindfulness Strategies," do searches on Google Scholar, Opposing Viewpoints,  Academic Search Premier, or GenderWatch.  You can access these databases via the Databases A ot Z list.
Here is a link to it: https://libguides.alverno.edu/az.php

To get started finding information, try some of these topics in your search. There are many more; a librarian can help you.

• Educational Leadership
• Leadership AND Gender Roles
• Leadership in Women
• Leadership--Social Aspects
• Woman Empowerment
• Women AND Activism
• Women AND Indigenous AND Leadership
• Women AND Leadership AND Africa
• Women AND Leadership AND Asia
• Women AND Political Leadership
• Women AND Political Participation
• Women Executives
• Women Heads of State
• Women in Leadership
• Women in Politics
• Women Leaders
• Women Politicians
• Women's Leadership
• Women's Rights AND Leadership

Some Additional Recommended Sources

Web Pages

Distinguished Women of Past and Present
This site has biographies of women who contributed to our culture in many different ways. There are writers, educators, scientists, heads of state, politicians, civil rights crusaders, artists, entertainers, and others.

National Women's Hall of Fame
Use the menu at the top to find a link to Women of the Hall.  You can use this link to search by name, date, or achievement to find biographies of inductees.

Fast Company: Strong Female Lead
You can browse this page to find articles about women leaders in many different industries.

Center for American Women and Politics
The Center for American Women and Politics is a leading source of research on women and politics.  Use the Research and Scholarship links to find reports.

Lean In
This organization, founded by Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg, is dedicated to women's issues and empowering women.

Books

Citing Sources

The library has a comprehensive Citation Guide to help you accurately cite your sources.

More information on citing sources is on the right side of the main FSS guide.

CSI: Crime Scene Issues

Use this guide to find resources for forensic science in popular culture. Your library liaison is Dolores Skowronek

Dolores Skowronek
Questions? Please contact me...
dolores.skowronek@alverno.edu
(414) 382-6184

Finding Fictional Forensics Books

There are a handful of authors who write fiction books portraying forensic scientists in action. Here is a partial list of authors and books provided by Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/forensic-fiction

The Alverno Library has a small selection of fictional books and graphic novels featuring forensic science. But, public libraries typically have larger collections of fiction books. For example, the Milwaukee County public libraries offer a wide selection of books and other resources for its residents. Here is more information on obtaining a Milwaukee County public library card: https://countycat.mcfls.org/help# 

For students who have a Milwaukee County public library card, search CountyCat to find books available for checkout: https://countycat.mcfls.org/

Looking for Alverno Fiction Books? 

Scroll to view a sampling of fiction books that you can check out from the Alverno Library. Click the image for more information.

Looking for Alverno Non-fiction Books?

Scroll to view a sampling of non-fiction books that you can check out from the Alverno Library. Click the image for more information.

Or, try a search in TOPCAT. Any of these search terms will get you started: Forensic Science, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Anthropology, Criminal Investigation, Crime Laboratories, DNA Data Banks, Genetic Privacy, Forensic Genetics.

Looking for Non-fiction Ebooks?

Scroll to view a sampling of non-fiction ebooks available through the Alverno Library. Click the image for more information.

Or, try a search in Ebook Central. This video will help you get started with ebooks. Here are some suggested search terms: Forensic Science, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Anthropology, Criminal Investigation, Crime Laboratories, DNA Data Banks, Genetic Privacy, Forensic Genetics.

Challenge: Do More Research

So, you want to dig deeper into your topic? A good strategy is to start with databases like Academic Search Premier - which is found on the Alverno Library's Databases A to Z page. Another good choice is the Alverno Library's Google Scholar search tool.

When searching, it is always a good idea to try different search words and phrases. Think of synonyms and alternate spellings. If one search term isn't working - try again with another. Here are some suggestions to get you started.... Can you think of others?

Children's Literature: Tough Topics

Use this guide to find resources for tough topics in children's literature. Your library liaison is Dolores Skowronek

Starting Your Research

We'll start by using a variety of resources that are available through the library.

Academic Databases are good for finding scholarly journal articles, book reviews, and sometimes news stories. (You will find a complete database list here). Google and Wikipedia can quickly lead you astray, but we know you'll use them... so consider using the library's Source Evaluation Guide for tips on evaluating the information that you find on the "free web".

Answering some questions...   What were concentration camps like? In EBook Central or TOPCAT try searching: Germany Concentration Camps or Holocaust. Branching out: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Voyage of the St. Louis Use the Source Evaluation Guide to make sure this is reliable information.   Why were people rioting in Cuba in the 1990s? In Google Scholar try searching: Balsero Riots or Cuban Raft Crisis. Branching out: World Factbook for information on Cuba and its people. Branching out: New York Times "Times Machine" (limit years and search: Cuban raft exodus).  Use the Source Evaluation Guide to make sure this is reliable information.   What did Aleppo look like before the war? What happened to the Syrian refugees? In Academic Search Premier try searching: Syrian Refugee Resettlement or Arab Spring. Use the the date limit to find recent articles. Brancing out: By the numbers: Syrian refugees around the world Branching out: BBC or Atlantic before & after; FRONTLINE documentary series on Syria; Pilot Guides/Globe Trekker "Syria: Before Civil War". Branching out: NYTimes Group Pass for New York Times articles and commentary. Use the Source Evaluation Guide to make sure this is reliable information.

Banned & Challenged Books

Books are constantly being challenged by people who believe that the books (or the ideas within the books) are offensive, dangerous, unsavory, or obscene.
Banned Books Week celebrates these books and pushes back against what the American Library Association, booksellers, educators, and others view as censorship and a challenge to our freedom of speech.

Some useful links on banned & challenged books:

• ALA Top Ten Most Challenged Books
• TeachingBooks: Frequently Challenged Children's Books
• TeachingBooks: Frequently Challenged Young Adult Books
• Opposing Viewpoints: Book Banning topic page
• Opposing Viewpoints: Censorship topic page
• Opposing Viewpoints: Freedom of Speech topic page

Starting the discussion about books...
Teaching Books has background information, discussion questions, author interviews, and additional resources for children's and young adult books.
See what they have on Refugee.

Click an image to view information on these banned or challenged books found in the Alverno Library.

                             

Sustainable Living

Your library liaison is: Ben Teel

Ben Teel

Email Me

Contact:
Alverno College Library
Office FO 237
(414) 382-6174

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Use this handout to evaluate websites and other sources for credibility - Ask yourself: How does the URL end? Can I hold this author/organization accountable for this content?

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Search terms & keywords

Try any and all combinations! Keep track of your searches to repeat the best keyword combos in other databases/search engines!

Quotation marks around two or more words will only show results with those exact words in that exact order!

Some terms to try:

• "sustainable life"
• "sustainable living"
• "sustainable diet" etc.

Asterisks - the * stars above the keyboard number 8 - can save you a lot of work! Using an asterisk in place of a word's ending is called truncation. For instance, since "sustainability" and "sustainable" are both relevant keywords but are slightly different words, place a * after the parts of the word they both share in common. Searching for:

• "sustainab*
  will give search results including:

  • sustainable

  • sustainability

  • and any other words that share only those letters in common

A few ebooks from eBook Central and Alverno Library's TOPCAT catalog to consider:

Recommended (very general!) Databases

We sort our database alphabetically and by subject

Recommended LibGuides

which are like Wikipedia pages written by librarians

Including:

• General Resources
• Air
• Animals
• Energy
• Environmental Health
• Global Warming
• Invasive Species
• Plants
• Toxic Substances
• Water

a little out of date, but still helpful!

includes:

https://libguides.alverno.edu/earthday2016/transportation

• Why should I take the bus? Don't responsible & successful people drive cars?
• Reports on public transportation

https://libguides.alverno.edu/earthday2016/vegan

• Resources
• Labels/logos
• Body positivity

Recycling in Milwaukee

In Milwaukee City limits, any plastic recyclable item with codes 1, 2, and 5 can be recycled!

What can I recycle?

• Curbside Recycling Guide
• Recycling Directory (by object)
• Things to know

Use the resources in this tab for your class assignment. Your library liaison is Larry Duerr

The following E-Books are great places to start researching a topic:

Sara Shutkin

Email Me

Contact:
Alverno College Library/Archives
Office CO B8
(414)382-6202

Use this handout to determine if an article is considered scholarly: Is it a scholarly article or isn’t it?

To find more information and scholarly articles about "Love & Gender," do searches on Google Scholar, Academic Search Premier, Gender Watch, or Opposing Viewpoints. To find film reviews do searches on Academic Search Premier or in the New York Times. You can access these databases via the Databases A ot Z list.

Here is a link to it: https://libguides.alverno.edu/az.php

Also there is a special LibGuide to help you access the New York Times. Here is a link to it: https://libguides.alverno.edu/nytimes

To get started finding information, try some of these topics in your search. There are many more; a librarian can help you.

• Gender and Romantic Love
• Gender and Romantic Relationships
• Meaning in Romantic Comedies
• Romantic Comedies
• Romantic Comedies AND Class
• Romantic Comedies AND Ethnicity
• Romantic Comedies AND Gays & Lesbians 
• Romantic Comedies AND Gender
• Romantic Comedies AND Race
• Romantic Comedies AND Women
• Romantic Comedies Film
• Romantic Love AND Gender
• Romanticism AND Gender
• Stereotypes in Romantic Comedies
• Women in Romantic Comedies

BRAIN: Using Your Brain to Evaluate Information (from Shasta College)
http://libguides.shastacollege.edu/brain

Use the resources in this tab for your class assignment. Your library liaison is Larry Duerr

Use these e-books and print books to find information on investing:

Global Travel & Tourism

Your library liaison is: Ben Teel

Ben Teel

Email Me

Contact:
Alverno College Library
Office FO 237
(414) 382-6174

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Use this handout to evaluate websites and other sources for credibility - Ask yourself: How does the URL end? Can I hold this author/organization accountable for this content?

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When starting out, be aware of Wikipedia's strengths and weaknesses:

• Saint Petersburg - Wikipedia - External Links
• Saint Petersburg - Wikipedia - Sources
• Saint Petersburg - Wikipedia - See Also

Website research: be extra critical of credibility and authorship! 

• http://www.saint-petersburg.com/
  • SOURCE EVALUATION - Is this the City's official page? Why or why not?
  • Look for Site Maps; they are indexes for websites! http://www.saint-petersburg.com/site-map/
  • If I were planning to visit I might start at http://www.saint-petersburg.com/attractions/
• https://www.visit-petersburg.ru/
  • SOURCE EVALUATION - Is this the City's official page? Why or why not?
  • https://www.visit-petersburg.ru/en/
  • https://translate.google.com/
    • Consider browser extensions - Google Translate for webpages

Other helpful resources:

• Forvo.com - A multilingual, user-submitted, pronunciation audio dictionary.

• Story Map - "Maps that tell stories."

• Historypin - "Historypin is a place for people to share photos and stories, telling the histories of their local communities."