Argumentative Topic: Global Warming (Focusing on Corporate Policy and Responsibility)
Class: Eng 112 / Instructor: Jane Rosecrans
Scope ll Online Search Techniques ll Finding Books via the Library Catalog
Finding Articles via the Library Databases ll Off-campusAccess
Web Sites Citing Sources ll Ask a Librarian for Help
Scope:
Global warming, also known as the greenhouse effect, is the warming of the earth's surface and atmosphere due to "the release of 'greenhouse gases', such as carbon dioxide. These gases are released into the air from burning gas, oil, coal, wood and other resources which then holds heat in an action similar to the walls of a greenhouse." (pbs.org) This handout serves as a guide to research information on global warming at JSRCC Libraries.
Finding Books:
To look for books available at JSRCC Libraries, you can search the VCCSLinc Library catalog
Sample Subject Key Words to Search in Catalog:
Global warming, Ozone layer depletion, Climatic changes, Greenhouse effect, Green movement, Social responsibility of business, Environmental policy
Sub-headings: -Political aspects; -Government policy; -United States; -Research
Browse books by Call Number: QC912-999
Selected Books available at JSRCC:
Finding Articles:
You can find authoritative articles on global warming using the databases on or off-campus; you will need to login off-campus with Off Campus Access . Use "My JSRCC" login. To focus on library databases which cover global warming, look at Databases by Subject- Geography, Earth, & Environmental Sciences.
Finding overviews to understand the basics of the discussion about global warming:
CQ Researcher
CQ Researcher offers in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues. Each report is written by a seasoned journalist based on a common structure. Users may browse through articles by topics in alphabetical order, or search for articles using words, dates, or other criteria.
CQ Researcher search tips:
Type global warming in Quick Search box. You will retrieve a list of related reports on global warming.
Issues & Controversies
Presents and enhances the full backfile of Issues and Controversies On File. Provides balanced coverage of over 600 controversial topics in the news.
Issues & Controversies search tips:
Click on "Access All Topics" from "Quick Access." Then choose Global Warming from the A-Z list. You will get a balanced analysis and sidebars including key events, statistics, related articles and overviews.
Finding Viewpoints and Debates on Global Warming:
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
Provides a complete one-stop source for information on social issues. Access viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to web sites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.
Opposing Viewpoint Resource Center search tips:
Choose "Global Warming" from the "Popular Topics" list. You will find viewpoints, reference overviews, magazine, and journal articles, news, primary documents, statistics from Gallup, and NPR podcasts and transcripts.
Finding more articles on your refined topics:
Environment Complete
Offers coverage in applicable areas of agriculture... energy, renewable energy resources...pollution & waste management, environmental technology, environmental law, public policy...and more. Includes domestic and international titles going back to the 1940's...and contains full text for more than 650 journals. (EBSCOHost)
Try a Basic Search using Boolean operators and truncation. See example below:
(global warming or climate change) AND (policy or policies).
Try an Advanced Search and type the keywords, (global warming or climatic changes). Select SU Subject from the menu on the left. You can also type secondary keywords such as corporat* or united states in the 2nd and 3rd search windows. Add more search boxes/windows as needed.
MasterFILE Premier
Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary full-text database provides full text for more than 1,750 general reference publications with full text information dating as far back as 1975. Covers virtually every subject area of general interest. (EBSCOHost)
Academic Search Complete
Comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 5,500 full-text periodicals, including more than 4,600 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 9,500 journals and a total of more than 10,000 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1887, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format. Searchable cited references are provided for nearly 1,000 journals (EBSCOhost)
For more information about online search strategies, check:
http://teach.jsr.vccs.edu/library/online-search-techniques.htm
If you have the citation of an article, how to obtain the full text?
For more information, check:
http://teach.jsr.vccs.edu/library/researchguide/stepthree.htm#ILLarticle
Selected Web Sites:
Organizations for Corporate Responsibility (from CQ Researcher):
Advocates good corporate citizenship.
Organization of corporation chief executive officers that promotes corporate attention to society, environment and economy.
Think tank devoted to free enterprise and limited government; opposes CSR initiatives.
Association of major businesses that advises companies on social responsibility through its Center for Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability.
Trade association for the socially responsible investing industry.
Consulting firm that coined the phrase "triple bottom line," for businesses' responsibility to "people, planet and profit."
Alliance of major corporations and environmental organizations that lobbies for government action against global warming.
Advocacy group that pressures Wal-Mart on labor, environmental and community-impact issues.
Carries out research and education on business solutions to environmental problems.
Citing Sources:
To learn how to compile your Works Cited list in MLA, please check:
http://teach.jsr.vccs.edu/library/assistance/citation.htm
Need more help?
Visit the reference desks at JSRCC Libraries or Ask a librarian@JSRCC!
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