English 103 - Critical/Argumentative Writing - Professor Morrison: Reference Books

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Gale eBooks is our best collection of online, academic encyclopedias and reference books.  There are many different subject areas included from medicine to sports to literary criticsm.

I would use Gale eBooks if you are looking for basic, general information about a topic like zombies or bariatric surgery. These are encyclopedia articles, not peer reviewed journal articles.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context is unique because it provides "opinion pieces" or "editorials."  These articles have a point of view and they are making an argument.  These are not neutral news articles nor peer reviewed journal articles.  That database tries to provide "viewpoint" pieces on each side of an issue (pro gun control and anti gun control).  This database is best when you are trying to understand the arguments around an issue.

Although you probably started with only a broad idea of what you wanted to write about, after testing your topic and doing background reading you should be able to narrow your focus and write your thesis statement. Here are two examples of narrowing a broad topic to come up with a thesis statement:

Capital Punishment

• Capital punishment and human rights
  • Every being has certain basic human rights, the most fundamental of which is the right to life.
    • Governments must not be given the authority to deprive a person of any human rights, particularly the most basic right of all, the right to life.

Death Penalty

• Death penalty as related to jury verdicts and judicial sentences
  • The risk of putting an innocent to death is high and real
    • Despite the best intentions of law enforcement, judges and jurors, innocent people have been convicted and sentenced to death. Therefore, the death penalty is not justifiable.