English 101: Writing About The Natural World

Ethical Controversies: What are they saying? Who is saying what?

Search Stragegy:

Find articles in newspapers

Lexis/Nexis searches approximately 20 years worth of newspapers, providing the full text of most articles.
Access: Library home page -->Electronic Resources -->Lexis/Nexis

Select General News as the news category.
Select Major Papers as the news source.
Type your search term(s) in the supplied box(es), selecting the field in which your term(s) should appear. Choose the appropriate Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) if you are using more than one box.
The truncation symbol is the exclamation point (!).
Select date range.
Enter publication if you want to limit your results to a specific paper or newswire.
Special Tip For Finding Editorials or OpEd Pieces! Add to your search: "AND section(editorial or op ed or oped)." Pull down "Full Text."

The New York Times Online 1999+ searches the text of the newspaper from 1999 to the present.
Access: Library home page -->Electronic Resources --> New York Times Online 1999+

Click on Advanced Search button near the top of the screen.
Click on More Search Options. This allows you to select the Document Type you want to find, such as Editorial or Letter.
Enter your search terms, combined with AND, OR, AND NOT. Truncation symbol is the asterisk (*).
Select the field in which you want each term to be located. If you select Citation and Abstract, your search results will be more specific. If you select Document Text, your terms will appear anywhere in the article, not limited to the main theme. You will get more, but less specific results.
Select a date range.
Select Document Type.

Find articles in journals and magazines

Expanded Academic ASAP is a multi-disciplinary index to articles in journals, magazines and newspapers, from approximately 1980 - the present, many with full text.
Access: Library home page -->Electronic Resources -->InfoTrac -->Expanded Academic ASAP

In Keyword Search, enter search terms, connected with AND, OR, NOT.
Use truncation symbol, the asterisk (*), to include all endings.
If appropriate,limit to articles with full text, to refereed publications, by year(s) of publication, or by journal name. It is not necessary to select any limits.
In Subject Search, enter search term or phrase (capital punishment, abortion, nuclear weapons, etc.), and select "Narrow by subdivision."

Search Strategy, Part Two

Understanding Bias

Do you always seem to know what position specific newspapers or magazines will take on issues? Do you want to learn about editorial bias? Take a look at several web sites dedicated to monitoring bias in reporting the news:

The State of the News Media
Try selecting Content Analysis under Newspapers. Scroll down to Presence of Multiple Viewpoints.

Media Research Center: America's Media Watchdog
Scroll down until you see MRC Information in the left margin of the screen. Select About the MRC. What do you learn about the producers of this site?

Moving Ideas: The Electronic Policy Network
Notice the heading: A Project of the American Prospect. Click on that phrase. Now click the ABOUT US button. What do you learn about the producers of this web site?

The Pew Research Center For the People & The Press
Click on the button About the Center. What do you learn about the producers of this site? Select the button Survey Reports. Enter your search term(s) in Search Questionnaires. You will be led to raw data that include your term(s).

Questions? Need help? Do you want to set up an appointment? Call me at extension 3703, or e-mail: jaaron@wheatoncollege.edu. My hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (I'm not at Wheaton on Wednesdays), from 10 to 4.

This page is maintained by Judith Aaron. Last updated on 8/25/08.
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