Step E: Issues & Controversies on File

Introduction
This online database contains all of the print periodical, Issues & Controversies, as well as some enhancements. Formats include chronologies, maps, tables, statistics, and bibliographies. One special feature is the Bill of Rights in Debate menu, in which the first ten amendments are linked to relevant articles.

"Issues & Controversies helps researchers understand the crucial issues we face today, exploring more than 800 topics in business, politics, government, and popular culture. Updated weekly, with links to a 12-year back-file, Issues and Controversies offers in-depth articles made to inspire thought-provoking debates. This database is great for research papers and debate preparation."

To find the Issues & Controversies database, go to the library home page and click on "Databases." From there, scroll down the alphabetical list until you see Issues & Controversies.

Home Screen

On the left side of the screen you will see Search Options. Although it does not say so on the screen, this is a keyword search. Unlike the book catalog and Gale databases, you cannot search by subject. The default search is for keywords in story and title text. However, you can narrow your search by checking the box for search title text only.

We can also choose our Options For Results List. The default search is by Relevance and Rank. Instead, we can choose to search by Story Date.

On the screen shown above we have already entered the topic animal rights and have checked the box for Search Story and Title Text and the box for Relevance and Rank.

Search Results

Above the article results list you have four tabs. They are Featured Articles, Editorial Cartoons, By the Numbers, and Reference Shelf. We are currently viewing 77 Feature Articles with the keywords animal rights in either the story or title. The first 25 articles appear on this screen. Click on Next to see 25 more. Articles are numbered and  titles are in blue. In the right hand column you see the date of the article.

Let's click on the first article, titled "Animal Testing."

Full-Article View

Here you see the full-text of the article.

Printing
Above the article on the right side you see the issue date. Above the issue date you see a printer icon.

Click on the printer icon to format the article for printing.

The article opens in a new window. Click on the printer icon in the toolbar at the top of the page.

Citing
At the bottom of the article you find sample citations in both MLA and APA styles. For writing English papers the MLA style is standard.

You may use this sample citation as a guide, but be aware that certain information is missing that you will need to use in your own MLA citation. The extra information you need to include is: Virginia Western Community Coll., Brown Lib., Roanoke. Also, be aware that we have shortened the publisher's name to Facts on File instead of Facts on File News Services. See the complete citation below.

English 111 Assignment
For Step F, find one article from the Issues & Controversies database and make an MLA citation for it. Here is an example:

"Animal Rights." Issues and Controversies 2 Sept. 2000. Issues & Controversies. Facts on File. Virginia Western Community Coll., Brown Lib., Roanoke. 16 May 2008 <http://www.2FACTS.com>.