Background Information

Research Starters

We all use Wikipedia, but if you want something authoritative and reliable, Britannica® Academic is a great option. Like all encyclopedias, this source is a good way to find background information on a topic. 

Widget - oswego - ovic
Opposing Viewpoints is a great source for information about current events, especially controversial ones. They provide a wide variety of sources on each topic - everything from opinion essays to scholarly articles. We recommend this source when you're having difficulty coming up with a topic. It's also a good tool if you already have an idea, but aren't sure what direction to take.
Search POV Reference Source

This source is very similar to Opposing Viewpoints in Context - it's a good place to look for information on controversial issues.

Google Scholar with Find It @ Penfield

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