February 2021

Gain a Balanced Perspective on Current Events and Issues

Writing a persuasive essay? Searching for a good debate topic? Look no further than Points of View Reference Center, a database from EBSCO that is available from NDSU Libraries. Containing resources that present diverse perspectives on important topics and events, this database has the information you need to better understand controversial issues and craft persuasive arguments – in speech and in writing.

Points of View Reference Center covers hundreds of topics, each with an overview (objective background / description), point (argument) and counterpoint (opposing argument).

Each topic features a Guide to Critical Analysis which helps the reader evaluate the controversy and enhances students’ ability to read critically, develop their own perspective on the issues, and write or debate an effective argument on the topic.

Points of View Reference Center provides a balance of materials from all viewpoints with:

• Leading political magazines from across the political spectrum
• Newspapers
• Radio and television news transcripts
• Primary source documents
• Reference books
• A video encyclopedia of the 20th century

With the database you can read background articles and position essays on 400 core topics in over 30 categories including:

• Arts and culture
• Citizens’ rights
• Earth and the environment
• Global issues
• Human rights
• The internet
• Medicine and ethics
• Race and culture
• Schools and education
• Substance abuse

With this resource, you can also find related images and supplementary research guides for writing position papers, developing arguments and debating. Find Points of View Reference Center in the Academic Databases list, under P or by clicking here. 

For questions about this database and other library resources and services, contact a subject librarian.