SIRS Issues Researcher User's Guide

1. 9th grade English Argument Writing The SIRS Issues Researcher database is a useful resource for argument research. The following guide addresses basic and advanced database features and offers search options that yield quality results. Exploring the database will simplify and enhance your argument writing experience and provide essential practice for future argument research. SIRS Issues Researcher offers:  quality sources—300+ topics from a wide range of controversial issues  a variety of formats—articles, newspapers, magazines, and multi-media  basic and advanced searching tools—specific searching=specific results  unique features—address information needs and Common Core standards
Browsing the internet for a particular topic is similar to searching the ocean for a certain kind of fish. However, exploring a specific database narrows the research quest and provides a pond of quality resources.
TOP TEN—LEADING ISSUES
This primary feature provides quick access to leading issues that are relevant and offers current research from credible sources.
A-Z AND PULL-DOWN MENU
The A-Z menu offers quick access to particular topics as does the pull- down option. Each provides fast retrieval of pertinent data.
TOPIC BROWSER—GROUPS
This feature is useful to researchers who are choosing topics, as a user can browse categories and then narrow choices from selected groups.
BASIC: provides a search box that accommodates single and grouped search terms, such as texting. The feature also accommodates grouped terms, such as texting AND driving. This feature is effective for most research requests.
ADVANCED: provides additional tools and for more specific research combinations (Boolean operators), such as texting AND driving AND danger OR risk. The advanced tools allow users to choose from Title, Subject, and Author terms, and offer truncation options (*) for plural terms: danger* OR risk*. Researchers may exclude particular search terms by utilizing the NOT feature, as well. With practice, these advanced tools add specificity to searching, which reaps more specific results.
NARROWED Searching = Narrowed RESULTS: Search results are listed numerically by information categories: articles, newspapers, magazines, websites, and multi-media resources. Users may save selected sources for future reference. Don’t fish the internet ocean! Search the argument research database pond: SIRS Issues Researcher