9th grade English Argument Writing

The SIRS Issues Researcher database is a useful resource for argument research. The following guide addresses basic and advanced database features and offers search options that yield quality results. Exploring the database will simplify and enhance your argument writing experience and provide essential practice for future argument research.

SIRS Issues Researcher offers:

quality sources—300+ topics from a wide range of controversial issues

a variety of formats—articles, newspapers, magazines, and multi-media

basic and advanced searching tools—specific searching=specific results

unique features—address information needs and Common Core standards

Browsing the internet for a

particular topic is similar to

searching the ocean for a certain

kind of fish. However, exploring a

specific database narrows the

research quest and provides a

pond of quality resources.

TOP TEN—LEADING ISSUES

This primary feature provides quick

access to leading issues that are

relevant and offers current research

from credible sources.

A-Z AND PULL-DOWN MENU

The A-Z menu offers quick access to

particular topics as does the pull-

down option. Each provides fast

retrieval of pertinent data.

TOPIC BROWSER—GROUPS

This feature is useful to researchers

who are choosing topics, as a user

can browse categories and then

narrow choices from selected groups.

BASIC: provides a search box that

accommodates single and

grouped search terms, such as

texting. The feature also

accommodates grouped terms,

such as texting AND driving. This

feature is effective for most

research requests.

ADVANCED: provides additional tools and for more specific research

combinations (Boolean operators), such as texting AND driving AND danger OR

risk. The advanced tools allow users to choose from Title, Subject, and Author

terms, and offer truncation options (*) for plural terms: danger* OR risk*.

Researchers may exclude particular search terms by utilizing the NOT feature, as

well. With practice, these advanced tools add specificity to searching, which reaps

more specific results.

NARROWED Searching = Narrowed RESULTS: Search

results are listed numerically by information categories: articles, newspapers,

magazines, websites, and multi-media resources. Users may save selected

sources for future reference. Don’t fish the internet ocean! Search

the argument research database pond: SIRS Issues Researcher