An Overview of Opposing Viewpoints

Opposing Viewpoints: Getting Started

Opposing Viewpoints is a great place to start your research. In this tutorial, you'll learn to:

• Browse topics of interest
• Find a variety of information sources
• Explore multiple sides of an issue

Use the arrows below to navigate through the tutorial, or click the Contents button at the top of the column to skip to another section.

Opposing Viewpoints: Getting Started

Accessing Opposing Viewpoints

We recommend using Chrome or Firefox to view this tutorial.

If you are in Chrome, you'll need to click on the small shield at the far-right of the address bar and select "Load unsafe script" in order for the tutorial to work.

If you are using Firefox, you'll need to click on the small lock on the far-left of the address bar and adjust those settings for the tutorial to work.

Don't worry. These tutorials are safe to navigate on your computer.

Opposing Viewpoints: Getting Started

Accessing Opposing Viewpoints

From the UNM Libraries home page on your right:

1. Click on the O in the Databases by Title box.

2. Scroll down and click on Opposing Viewpoints in Context

• NOTE: This often triggers the "Load unsafe script" shield, which may push you back to the beginning of the tutorial, but you can get back to this step in a couple clicks.

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Researching in Opposing View Points

What is Opposing Viewpoints?

This database:

• Explains multiple perspectives on a topic.
• Covers a variety of social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana.
• Contains reference articles, scholarly journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles, statistics, videos, and more.

Before you search:

• Think about the information formats you will need
• Be general about your keywords, opposing view points works better with more general term like "GMOs" as opposed to "Bt corn"

Researching in Opposing View Points

Starting without a Topic

One of the pluses of the Opposing View Points database is the Browse Issues page, which can be accessed under the search bar.

The Browse Issues page includes a complete list of topics that feature "Viewpoints" articles, which take a stance on one side of an issue.

Many of the topics are broad, so it's a great place to begin developing your topic.

• For example, if you wanted to learn about genetically modified organisms, you could scroll down to the "G" section and choose between "Genetic Engineering" or "Genetically Modified Food".

Researching in Opposing View Points

Starting Your Research with Topic Pages

When you click on one of the topics listed in the Browse Issues list, it takes you to a topic page.

In the topic page there are links to full-text resources, and most importantly, access to "Viewpoints" articles that can give you insight on arguments for and against a topic. 

1. Click on Genetically Modified Food.

2. Scroll down to view the Featured Viewpoints. These essays quickly allow you to explore both sides of an issue.

Researching in Opposing View Points

Getting Started with a Search

Opposing Viewpoints is also useful for those who have a topic. You can start with a simple search in the quick search box at the top of the page.

1. Type in GMOs AND safety into the search bar

Hint: If you have more than one keyword, separate them using "AND" so the results will need to include both keywords to appear.

2. Click on the search button.

Researching in Opposing View Points

Tools in Opposing Viewpoints

Once you have found a source you want to use for your research, it may be a good idea to save it or find out how to cite it. 

Opposing Viewpoints has a variety of tools that can assist in collecting information, building a bibliography, or printing text.

1. Scroll down and click on the Magazines link at the bottom.

2. Click on the article  title "Ukraine: After BSE and GMOs -- Where is food safety?"

3. Notice the tool bar at the top right of the page. Click the Citation Tools button to cite the source in a variety of formats. Make sure to double check auto citations since these tools aren't perfect, but they do save you some time!

4. Click the E-mail button to send a link of the page to your e-mail for further reference.

Researching in Opposing View Points

If you have more in depth questions about this database, don't hesitate to contact a librarian.

Ask a Librarian!

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