This guide is a starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating materials in books, journal articles, and Internet sources appropriate to use in your paper to construct an argument and support your claim.  
 

If you need additional assistance, please contact
Mrs. Kathleen Lowe
Associate Professor, Reference and Instruction Librarian

Email: lowek@montevallo.edu
Facebook: Kathy Lowe

Support
Harbert Writing Center Useful Links

OWL from Purdue: Writing a Research  Paper
Helpful definition of an argument research paper

Grammar Girl
Quick & Dirty Tips to improve your writing

Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Citing the sources you find

 

I. Finding Books in the Library

The Library Catalog contains records for books that can be checked out and books in the Reference collection.  

The Library has two monographic series on contemporary topics with an emphasis on presenting different viewpoints. Add the title of the series to a keyword search on your topic.   

• Opposing Viewpoints
  Example of Catalog search :  Opposing Viewpoints and abortion

• Reference Shelf
  Example of Catalog search : Reference Shelf and  global warming 

II. Library Databases

The Library Databases provide the most efficient way to locate journal articles, newspaper articles and authoritative essays.  The Library subscribes to over 100 databases.  A full list of the Databases is available via the library webpage.   The following are suggested databases for your assignment. Please consult with a librarian in your research process if you need assistance locating sources.

           Journal Articles

• Academic Search Premier
  Access to over 4,500 journals with full text articles on a variety of topics of interest to the assignment
  
  Newspaper articles

• ProQuest Newspapers (Proquest)
  Full-text access to many major United States and international newspapers, regional newspapers, and wire services. Our collection includes the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times.

• Lexis Nexis
  Great choice for up to date information on topics of global interest

• Ethnic Newswatch
  Covers newspapers not always picked up in other databases. Newspapers psers form ethnic group, religious affiliation and immigrant cultures often present different viewpoints on a topic.
  
  Different Viewpoints

• CQResearcher
  Great place to search for a topic. CQ is an online journal that presents different viewpoints on contemporary topics. 

•     Opposing Viewpoints via Alabama Virtual Library
  
  III. Guides to Writing an Argumentative Paper
   

• Guide to writing an argumentative paper by Byron L. Stay
  PE1431 .S73 1996

• The Craft of research (see section on making good arguments)
  Q 180.55 .M4 B66 2003