Persuasive Essay

DATABASES:

Big Chalk E-Library.
In the dropdown menu under "Select a Database," choose "eLibrary" and click on "Go." Check your printed Resources Sheet for Ma. Library Card Number to enter in the space provided for access to the database. Then click "Go," then "BigChalk E-Library" on the next page. Key in your search term in quotation marks.

Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. Check your printed Resources Sheet for username and password. There are two ways to use this site for this project. #1: Click on the Issues tab. This will give you a list of general topics: Society, Gender/Ethnicity, Criminal Justice, Government/Law/Politics, Environment, and Science/Technology. Click on one of these general topics that you think will be related to your specific topic. This will bring you to a list of more detailed topics. Click on any of these to find articles and links related to your topic. #2: Key your topic into the search box on the Home page and click "GO." If you are looking for an exact phrase, enclose your phrase in quotation marks. Remember to use related keywords if necessary, i. e. book banning = censorship = "free speech" = "Bill of Rights" = public school book banning = parents' rights public school books.

NewsBank
NewsBank's Comprehensive Newspapers is an online resource that provides instant full-text access to individual newspaper titles. With Comprehensive newspapers, you will receive the full text of all staff-written news features, special interest stories, editorials, daily columns, letters to the editor, sports reports, and much more. Under "Select a Database," choose "NewsBank, Inc." Key in your MA Library Card Number (or see Resources Sheet) and click "GO." Click on "NewsBank" and then choose "Massachusetts Newspapers." Click in all 4 boxes beside the newspaper titles. In the first space, key in "editorial" and choose "in Section" from the dropdown menu. Then key in your topic keywords in the next space, choosing "in All Text."

UXL American Decades
Some of you will find information related to topic in this E-book. Key in the ID in the space provided. You will find the correct ID on your printed Resources Sheet. Key in your author's name and click in the box labeled "within this publication." Try searching with and without the boolean operator, "and," as in "drug abuse" and drug abuse.

FREE WEB:

Multnomah County Homework Site Social Issues
Many links here: abortion, censorship, drugs and drug abuse, environmental protection, euthanasia and assisted suicide, global warming, same sex marriage, violence in schools, and much more. Click on the link that matches your topic and you will be brought to many more links.

The White House
Explore this site by clicking on topics in the menu on the left-hand side. Examples: Education, Energy, Renewal in Iraq, Current News (which includes speeches by President Bush), and Major Speeches, including the subtopic on School Safety. Check for related links on each page on the right-hand side.

ACLU: Students' Rights
"Press releases, legal documents, fact sheets, and other resources from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on constitutional rights topics pertaining to students and young people. Includes sections on discrimination, dress codes and uniforms, drug testing, zero-tolerance policy, freedom of expression, off-campus conduct, privacy, religion, and sexuality." (lii.org) Click on "Issues" in the top right to get a list of issues that match some of your topics. If you don't see your topic, go to the url noted under "More Issues" at the bottom of the page.

Euthanasia and the Right To Die
"Legal, medical, and ethical issues involved in palliative care, assisted suicide, and euthanasia." (lii.org)

Israel's Security Fence
"This is the official site from the State of Israel about the security fence between certain sections of Israel and the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, including areas in the West Bank. The site features information about the purpose of the fence, its route and construction, and news updates. Includes a map and images. Also available in Hebrew." (lii.org)

American Rhetoric
Click on "Top 100 Speeches" in the left-hand menu, then "All Speeches by Rank" on the right side to find a list of famous speeches you can listen to.