CL 10 Debates 2009

US Library Home Scroll Down for TOPIC SPECIFIC WEBSITES

DATABASES available through GCS Library Website.	General Policy and Law Web Sites: Use the search functions in these sites to look for your specific topics	WEBSITES: Start your research with databases and then move on to the Web for supplementary research
Many of our subscription databases have “social issues” sections which cover current contentious topics. ***The links work on-campus. If you are off-campus, use this page*** Opposing Viewpoints Opposing Viewpoints is a good starting point to get background information on both Pro and Con arguments on a variety of social issues topics. Use the “Further Readings” function in the Viewpoint essays to find more articles that can give you information to support your case and attack your opponents’ cases. Facts on File Go to “Research Topics” for Right to Die, Same-sex Marriage, Stem Cell Research, Gun Control, and Capital Punishment Proquest Platinum Periodicals Journals, Magazines and other print sources in electronic form. This is your best bet for finding articles that other sources make reference to.	US Court System (http://www.uscourts.gov/) THOMAS (http://thomas.loc.gov) Legislative information from the U.S. Congress. Includes text of current legislation. USA.GOV (www.usa.gov) Citizens’ portal for government information. See especially the Data and Statistics section. FindLaw (http://www.findlaw.com) Mainly a portal to legal information and advice, but sometimes provides summaries and information regarding current law and policy. Cornell Legal Information Institute (http://www.law.cornell.edu) Information about current and historical laws. Go to “Law About…” and browse for your topic, or information related to your topic Stateline.org (http://www.stateline.org) “Politics and Policy News, State by state.” Up to the minute news on states’ policies. Almanac of Policy Issues (http://www.policyalmanac.org/) An index of “Background information, archived documents, and links on major U.S. public policy issues.”	Librarian’s Internet Index (http://www.lii.org) Index of high-quality, librarian-selected websites. Use the subject index to find your topic as well as related topics. Use the search function as a second option. One handy location is Society & Social Science > Social issues . Social Issues (http://www.multcolib.org/homework/sochc.html) compiled by the Librarians of the Multnomah County, Oregon library. Highly detailed sections on your debate subjects. With links to opinion sites as well as current legislation and policy. Best Information on the Net – Hot Paper topics (http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm) Compiled by the O’Keefe library of St.Ambrose University. Does not have every debate topic, but does provide another good starting point for most topics.

Maryland Government and Law sites

Maryland General Assembly home page

Maryland General Assembly search page

Maryland Legal Codes (from Michies)

Maryland Statutes search

Maryland Constitution

TOPIC SPECIFIC SITES:

Capital Punishment (see also Death Penalty, Criminal Justice, etc.)	Same-sex Marriage (see also gay marriage, homosexuality, etc.)	Euthanasia (see also Assisted Suicide, Doctor/Physician Assisted Suicide, Right to Die, Death and Dying, etc.)	Gun Control (see also Firearms, Second Amendment, etc.)
Maryland State Information 8^th Ammendment Information from FindLaw MegaLaw – Death Penalty and Capital Punishment Bureau of Justice Statistics 2001 Department of Justice review	Same-sex Marriage information at FindLaw.com State by state Same-sex marriage policies from Stateline.org Defense of Marriage Act (text) DOMA Watch Same-sex Marriage at National Conference of State Legislatures Current Maryland bills	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Aging Euthanasia.com – (has an anti-Euthanasia bias)	Almanac of Policy Issues – Gun Control Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – Firearms Jurist – Gun Laws, Gun Control and Gun Rights Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence National Rifle Association Current Bills in Maryland
Abortion (see also Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Right to Choose, Women’s Rights, etc.)	Drug Legalization (see also marijuana legalization, drug laws, etc ) note: Google searches tend to pull up pro-legalization sites first.)	Stem Cells (see also Embryonic Stem Cells, stem cell research, etc. )	Genetic Engineering (see also biotechnology, genetics, bioethics, etc.)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Women’s Health Center for Disease Control – Reproductive Health United Nations Population Division – Abortion Almanac of Policy Issues -- Abortion Current Maryland bills	US Drug Enforcement Administration US DEA: Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization Department of Justice, “Controlled Substances Act” Schaffer Library of Drug Policy (pro-legalization) Report on MD sentencing policies --- more reports	National Institue of Health (NIH) Stem Cell Basics Stem Cell Debate at CNN.com	U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Biotechnology U.S. Department of Agriculture – Biotechnology FAQ Biotechnology Lexicon Center for Genetics and Society

GENERAL DEBATE RESEARCH TIPS

-Keep a list of synonyms for your topic, as well as a list of key search terms.

-Make sure to research the opposing side to your topic in order to anticipate arguments against your case and strengthen your own arguments.

-Use the bibliographies of articles you have read to identify further information and articles you might want to read. “Chaining” though bibliographies in this manner can lead you to primary documents and original statistical reports, policies, legislation, etc.

-Be prepared to do some digging. There is a great deal of information available and this website is only a guide to suggested starting points. It is a tool, not a definitive solution.