How Do I 

English 102  Dr. Glenda Conway
Research Guide
Locating Editorials, Opinion Articles, and Editorial Cartoons
 

Compiled by Kathleen Lowe MLS, Reference and Instruction Librarian

This  guide is a starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating materials in editorial, opinion articles, and / or editorial cartoons on an issue of current interest to the students enrolled in Dr. Conway's English 102. 
If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian or contact Mrs. Kathleen Lowe, Reference and Instruction Librarian, at lowek@montevallo.edu or 665-6109.

 

Terms to Know

Editorial: an opinion piece written by the editorial page editor or members of the editorial board, generally appearing on the editorial page in a newspaper or a magazine. The editorial authority of a publication results from its integrity, objectivity, and accuracy.

Op ed:  [newspapers] the page adjacent to-opposite-the editorial page, used for columns and opinion articles, including those by outsiders (non-staffers). In some cases, bylined op-ed articles and letters to the editor appear on the editorial page itself rather than opposite to it or near it.

 Weiner, Richard.  Webster’s New World Dictionary of Media and Communications.  New York:  Macmillan, 1996.

 Choosing and developing a topic of interest for your report

• Discuss your ideas with Dr. Conway

• Discuss your ideas with a reference librarian.

• Browse the Internet sites and databases listed below for current topics. 

• The Library has the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Birmingham News in print. Browse through recent  issues to locate issues and editorials of interest to you.  

Finding editorials and opinion pieces in newspapers 

Electronic access to editorials and opinion pieces in newspapers is available from specific databases on the Library Databases page. 

The Library newspaper databases can efficiently locate current editorial and opinion pieces in newspapers.  

• ProQuest Newspapers
  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.
  
  To locate just Editorials, open the More Search Options tab
  open the Document Type selection box and choose Editorial

• LexisNexis
  Full-text access to many major United States and international newspapers, regional newspapers, and wire services
  
  Editorials are fully searchable. Refer to the print handout for details.

Editorials and opinion pieces on the Internet

•  Editorials and Commentary from the nation's leading liberal arts colleges

• Arts & Letters Daily

Editorial cartoons on the Internet

• Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC)

• Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonist Index
  Extensive daily compilation of editorial cartoons from around the world covering current issues and figures

• National Press Foundation Editorial Cartoon Winners

• Pulitzer Prize Winners of Editorial Cartooning 

• United Media Editorial Cartoons

• Slate.com Political Humor and cartoons

• Washington Post editorial cartoons

• Witty World International Cartoon Center

• CNN Political Cartoons
     

Finding books about or containing editorials and political cartoons

The first resource to locate books is the Library Catalog. 

Several examples of Library of Congress Subject Headings and keywords appropriate for use in the catalog when searching for books containing editorials and editorial cartoons :

• Editorial cartoons

• Political cartoons

• American wit and humor

• Caricatures and cartoons 

• Editorials 

Additional Library Catalogs

• BACHE Libraries (UM, Samford University, UAB Stearne Library, Birmingham Southern and Miles College)
  The Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education (BACHE) offers students, faculty, and staff at BACHE institutions access to the resources of all the member libraries in person by simply presenting their valid I.D. cards. It is best for students to first discuss research projects with the faculty and reference staff at their home institution's library before using member libraries.

• WorldCat
  Provides access to the citations for millions of books and other materials in our library and libraries around the world.  Search in this database if the materials you are looking for are not available in this Library and see Interlibrary Loan.

Citing the sources you find

MLA Citation Research Advice

Frequently Asked Questions About MLA 

The Library owns several print copies of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 6th ed.
(Ref. PN 160 .G53 2003)

The following entries describe how to cite An Editorial in a list of works cited.

5.7.10 If you are citing a signed editorial, begin with the author's name, give the title, and then add the descriptive label Editorial, neither underlined nor enclosed in quotation marks. Conclude with the appropriate publication information. If the editorial is unsigned, begin with the title and continue in the  same way.

"Death of a Writer."  Editorial.  New York Times 20 Apr. 1994, late ed.: A18.

Gergen, David.  "A Question of  Values."  Editorial.  US News and World Report  11 Feb. 2002: 72.

      MLA Handbook p. 190

    The following entries describe how to cite a Cartoon or Comic Strip in a list of works cited.
    5.8.9  To cite a cartoon or comic strip, sate the artist's name; the title of the cartoon or comic strip (if any), in quotation marks; and the descriptive label Cartoon or Comic strip, neither underlined nor enclosed in quotation marks.  Conclude with the  usual publication information.

Chast, Roz.  Cartoon.  New Yorker 4 Feb. 2002: 53.

Trudeau, Garry.   "Doonesbury."  Comic strip.  Star-Ledger  [Newark]  4 May 2002: 26.

            MLA Handbook  p. 203