This online research guide was developed in collaboration with your instructor to assist you in finding resources for your persuasive essay assignment. It provides valuable information about print and electronic library materials, website resources, and citing style guidelines.

How to Choose and Narrow a Topic

Some suggestions for getting started:

• Visit the Choosing & Defining a Topic MCC Library guide for tips on selecting a topic and doing research. The guide also contains a list of possible topics.

• Review "Newsbank's "Current Events - Hot Topics" and "Special Reports" - These features are available in the left hand column of the introductory search screen of the "Rochester Democrat & Chronicle" library article database. To access the article database visit the MCC Libraries Find Articles and Other Information web page. If you are on-campus, select the "Newspapers" link, then choose the "Rochester Democrat & Chronicle" link. If you are off-campus, first click the "Connect to EZProxy" button then follow directions to log-in.
   
  • "Current Events - Hot Topics" is updated each month, and provides search terms to use to find articles on these topics.
     
  • "Special Reports" focus on topics of current interest covering issues and events throughout the world. Report profiles may include current and background information, statistics, images, maps, suggested search terms, and recommended websites.

• Visit the following sites for ideas on possible persuasive essay topics:
  • Best Information on the Net: Hot Paper Topics - From O'Keefe Library at St. Ambrose University this site provides a list of topics and links to evaluated websites for further research.

  • Hot Paper Topics - From B.D. Owens Library at Northwest Missouri State University this site provides ideas for topics and thesis statements.

Back to Top

Gather Background Information

Reference Books

Atlases, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks, and other specialized reference books provide background information and are often a good place to start your research. Since Reference books are not part of the Libraries' circulating collection, they cannot be checked out. You can photocopy pages from books in the Reference collection. Photocopies are 10 cents per page.

The Reference books listed below profile a number of important social issues. Search the Library Catalog to locate additional Reference and Circulating books in our collection that contain information on your topic.

• Current Issues Ref HN 59.2 .C87 Vols. 1-4 2003
  This resource provides overviews and background information on many current issues of the 20th Century. Some entries have charts, graphs and photos.

• Encyclopedia of Social Issues Ref HN 57 .E59 Vols. 1-6 1997
  This reference source profiles a wide range of controversial issues pertaining to the 20th Century. Use the Index located in Volume 6 to look up a topic.

• Social Issues in America: an encyclopedia
  Ref HN 57 .S264 Vols. 1-8 2006 and City Ref Ref HN 57 .S264
  A tool for researching the historical and contemporary details of major issues confronting American society. Use the Index located in Volume 8 to look up a topic.

• CQ Researcher - Published weekly, this resource provides in-depth reports on current "hot" topics and issues that are in the news. Reports also include charts, graphs and photos. The Library owns this title from 1991 to present. Current year's issues are located on the Current Periodicals shelves. Older issues are located in the Bound Periodicals section on the Main Floor of the Brighton Campus Library. This resource is also available as an online database.

• Statistical Abstract of the United States Ref HA 202.U5
  This resource contains a collection of statistics on social and economic conditions in the United States. The most recent version of the Statistical Abstract is available online at: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Back to Top

How to Find Books

To see what books and other materials we own in our collections you need to search the MCC Libraries Catalog. You can search the MCC Library Catalog by keyword, subject, author, or title.

Books held in the circulating collection at the Leroy V. Good Library (Brighton campus) that have call numbers beginning with letters A - P are located on the 3rd Floor, while books that have call numbers beginning with letters Q - Z are located on the 4th Floor. Books held in the circulating collection at the Damon City Campus Library have "City" in front of their call number.

Back to Top

How to Find Articles

Select one of the databases listed in the chart below to get started. These databases are considered full-text resources. This means that in most cases, you are able to retrieve the entire article directly from the database.

Other Databases

Remember that in addition to the databases mentioned above, you can always search a subject specific database to locate information on the topic you are interested in. For example, to find information on health related topics try searching the databases listed in the "Health" category such as the "Health Reference Center Academic," or the "Gale Health & Wellness Resource Center."

Back to Top

Website Resources

The following websites serve as portals to information on controversial topics. For tips on how to evaluate information found on websites view the Criteria for Website Evaluation online brochure and the Evaluating Websites online tutorial.

Back to Top

Citing Your Sources

The following tools are available to assist you with the citing process:

Library databases such as Academic Search Premier, CQ Researcher, Custom Newspapers and the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center allow you to create citations for chosen articles in MLA and other style formats. Be sure to check the citations generated from within these databases, and from any free web-based citation helpers as they may require further editing!

The MCC Guide to Writing Research Papers provides examples from the Modern Language Association (MLA Style) on how to cite articles you find in library databases, information you find on the Internet, and in books.

The Citing & Writing Resources page also provides links to information on various citing styles (MLA, APA, CSE) and on the writing process. For more information on these and other citing styles, refer to the print style manuals available in the MCC Libraries collection or check with your instructor.

Back to Top

Need Additional Help?

The Library website contains links to numerous publications, research guides and tutorials developed by MCC Librarians to assist you with your research needs. To access these library help guides online visit the Publications, Research Guides & Tutorials web page.

Contact a Librarian

If you need help in locating resources on your topic contact MCC Libraries Reference/Distance Learning Librarian, Pam Czaja at (585) 292-2308 or by e-mail at pczaja@monroecc.edu for further assistance.

Back to Top

Library Services for Students who are Exclusively Off-Campus

MCC Libraries provides distance learning library services to students who are currently enrolled in an MCC SUNY Learning Network (SLN) fully online course, and are not taking any on campus courses at either the Brighton or Damon City Campus, or any hybrid or web enhanced classes using CourseSpace. Visit the Who Qualifies for Distance Learning Library Services page for further information.

The Distance Learning Library Services & Resources website provides links to additional information on how to find books and articles, access to research guides & tutorials, and other SLN Course Web Links pages.

Back to Top

Contacting the Teacher

Elizabeth Johnston teaches ENG 101 College Composition. Students taking the ENG 101 course online through the SUNY Learning Network (SLN) can contact her through the "Communicate" link available in their SLN ANGEL Course Map page, and by telephone (585) 292-3383.

P. Czaja, 3/2008, http://www.monroecc.edu/go/library