Research and Course Guides: American Culture and Difference Library Guide: Background & Reference

Controversy & Debate Background Databases

Use the following to find reports, essays, opinion pieces, and other resources on debated topics in American culture.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
A one-stop source for information on a variety of social issues. Access viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, as well as full-text magazine and newspaper articles.
Issues & Controversies
In-depth articles on controversial topics such in areas like politics, government, business, education, and popular culture. Includes supporting resources like timelines, statistics, and pros/cons statements.
CQ Researcher
Original, non-partisan reports that are investigated and written by seasoned journalists and authors. Coverage ofsuch topics as health care, criminal justice, political and social trends, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the economy.

Selected Online Reference Resources (full-text):

A Companion to American Cultural History
This Companion offers a historiographic overview of the scholarship, with special attention to the major studies and debates that have shaped the field, and an assessment of where it is currently headed.
A Companion to African-American Studies
A groundbreaking reappraisal of the history and future of African-American Studies. Each original essay by an expert scholar in the field covers its topic with authority and clarity. This book is a definitive intervention at a critical time in the history of race relations and in the academic field of race and ethnic studies.
New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
A survey of the history of Western thought and culture, presented through 700 alphabetically arranged entries. Each entry explores the origin, cultural interpretations, and historical themes of such subjects as beauty, love, feminism, diversity, and social capital, among many others
A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies
This Companion offers an informed and comprehensive overview of contemporary debates and issues, at once surveying the status of race and ethnic studies and pointing out new directions.
A Companion to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies
This Companion provides a concise survey of current discussions taking place in this rapidly developing area of study.