FCC Research Guides: ENGL 101: Food Theme: Discovering Background Sources

Best FCC Databases for Background Information

Gale Virtual Reference Library ("Gale Ebooks") This link opens in a new window
The Library's Wikipedia! Search a number of specialized encyclopedias in biography, law, business, substance abuse, multiculturalism, education and more.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Overviews of current controversies in public policy.

FCC Library Databases

Gale Opposing ViewPoints in Context This link opens in a new window
Arguments and position papers on both sides of a controversial issue.
Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window
Overviews of controversial issues with arguments and counter arguments for each issue. Recommend browsing issues rather than searching.

Websites

Pro-Con.org
Award winning nonpartisan site on controversial issues.
Public Agenda
A nonprofit, nonpartisan research and citizen education resource, founded by social scientist, Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Includes statistics, results of polls, policy proposals, and much more.
Wikipedia
If you want to use Wikipedia, make sure to watch the "Using Wikipedia for Academic Research" video.

Ebooks

Encyclopedia of Food and Culture
A three-volume survey of food and its place in human culture and society. Includes topics such as comfort food, ethnicity and food, medieval banquets, and nutrient composition, among many others.
Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia
Introduces food culture from numerous countries and cultures around the world, including some from remote and unexpected peoples and places.

Background Information Tutorial
Background research is what you do to get a handle on the next steps of your academic research process. This two part tutorial will teach you all about the role of background research, why doing it is important, and how to do it using one of our databases as an example.
Using Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) for Background Research
The GVRL tutorial applies what was learned in the previous tutorial by guiding you through the use of one of our most popular background information databases.
Using Wikipedia for Academic Research
This tutorial explains how to use Wikipedia as an exploratory tool and where it can appropriately fit in the research process.
Boolean Searching
Use boolean operators to maximize your searches.