Chapin LibGuides: Debate: starting points

Welcome to the Debate Research Guide!

Linked throughout are resources that will help you move through the research process, find evidence, and develop your argument.

You can find information related to the current debate resolution on the third tab.

Don't know your library number? Send an email to Ms. Oldham!
Need help finding OR figuring out a source? Send an email to Ms. Oldham!
Confused about citations? Send an email to Ms. Oldham!

Image: Pete Souza. President Obama editing a speech. Photograph, 2009.

define your terms

Oxford English Dictionary This link opens in a new window
The unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.

Routledge Dictionary of Economics by Donald Rutherford
Call Number: eBook

pro/con databases

Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window
Explore hundreds of contemporary hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture.

Opposing Viewpoints (NOVEL) This link opens in a new window
This cross-curricular research database supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes, and includes pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more.

NOTE: access to this database is provided to the Chapin community through NOVEL (New York Online Virtual Electronic Library). It is accessible to New Yorkers through geoIP authentication (also referred to as geolocation), meaning you must be within the state of New York to use it.

background info

Congressional Research Reports
The Congressional Research Service prepares these reports for members of Congress. Typically, the topics are related to current events or legislation and present both sides to an issue.
CRF Backgrounders
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Their Backgrounders series is a collection of authoritative, accessible, and regularly updated primers on hundreds of foreign policy topics.
IMF Reports
Reports and publications of the International Monetary Fund arranged, by country name.
Pew Research Center
A nonpartisan fact tank that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.