Opposing Viewpoints Help Guide

The following is a description of how to search for pro/con views on popular social issues in Opposing Viewpoints.
Access our printable handout for sample screen images that correspond with the explanation.

Getting Started

Here are four ways to find information on current topics in Opposing Viewpoints.

If you know what topic you'd like to research, you can look for articles by entering in the text entry box on the top right the keywords of your topic. Try to include only one word or two word phrases. Then hit the "Search" button.
If you click on the "Issues" tab, you get a complete list of popular topics that you can search.
On the right side is "Featured News" where you can find some current event news articles and opinion pieces.
If you scroll down the page, you can find articles on current topics organized by broad headings such as "Business and Economics," "Energy and Environmentalism," "Society and Culture," "Health and Medicine," etc.

More Information

Within any subject heading you choose, Opposing Viewpoints provides the following types of information: Introduction, Viewpoints, Reference, News Magazines, Academic Journals, Statistics, Primary Sources, and Websites. These sources of information can be found by scrolling farther down the page. Here is a brief description about what each of these types of information provide.

Viewpoints: Essays that express a particular point of view, pro or con. These are not usually journal or magazine articles, but are rather position papers written by an expert.
Reference: An encyclopedia-like article that provides an overview.
News: An article from a newspaper.
Magazines: An article from a magazine. Written for a general audience by a journalist.
Academic Journals: An article from an academic journal. Written for a knowledgeable audience by an expert.
Statistics: Raw data, charts, and/or graphs.
Primary Sources: Information recorded from a first-hand perspective. Sources are not analytical.
Statistics: Raw data, charts, and/or graphs.
Websites: Reliable websites selected by the makers of Opposing Viewpoints.

General Tips for Searching

Opposing Viewpoints works best when using the predetermined subject headings, but you can find material with other keywords.
Viewpoints essays are not usually academic journal or magazine articles, but are opinion pieces written by experts in the field.
Choose to “View All” of any type of source. Then you can further refine your search. Don’t rely on using the few articles that are visible.