Library News Blog

Immigration? Gun Control? Read both sides.

U.S. opinion is highly polarized on a number of different political and social issues.  These opinions are often based on a person’s individual biases without having been researched thoroughly, or many factors having been taken into consideration.  Critical thinking and civil political discourse, however, demand that we actively explore and consider alternative perspectives.

Whether you are researching a topic out of personal interest, or required to include an opposing perspective in an academic paper, the UI&U Library’s Opposing Viewpoints in Context database can help you find the information necessary to provide a sound basis for the perspective that you are investigating.  The database includes topic pages on a variety of issues such as gun control, abortion, same-sex marriage, capital punishment, nuclear energy, immigration, and more.  Each topic page includes opposing viewpoints, reference materials, historical background information, journal articles, and statistics that you can use to begin your research.

Protest Against “Race Mixing”  and U.S. Marshals Escort Bridges

The Opposing Viewpoints database can be accessed from the UI&U Library’s all databases page (go to: library homepage > databases link > scroll to the Opposing Viewpoints in Context database).