Search Options

Here's a summary of the search paths available in this collection. You will find links to each type of search on the search path bar.

Search Type Description Offers Optional Ways to Limit Your Search (if enabled by your library)? Displays Subject Guide Sidebar on Results page?

Basic Search
using the Subject option Searches for documents about a particular topic. This search is especially useful as you begin your research. Yes Yes

Basic Search
using the Keyword option Searches key fields, including titles, introductory text, authors, and subject terms. This option searches a broader range of fields than a search by Subject. Yes Yes

Basic Search
using the Entire document option Searches the complete text of all documents in the database(s) you are searching, as well as in the fields of information included in the Keyword search. This is a good search to use if you are looking for a particular line of text or an unusual phrase. Yes Yes

List of popular topics From the Basic Search page (also known as the "home page"), click on a hyperlinked "hot topic" term (such as Bioethics or Civil rights) and the system will perform a subject search. N/A Yes

Subject Guide Search Browses a hierarchical list of subject terms (known as the Subject Guide), allowing you to select topics, subdivisions, and related subjects. Yes Yes

Publication Search Searches for periodical titles, showing information about each publication and allowing you to drill down to select a specific volume or issue. Yes No

Advanced Search Allows you to build as simple or as complex a search expression as you want by selecting specific areas of the database to search, known as indexes. You can even build new searches based on previous searches. Yes May be displayed when searching certain indexes

CCL Advanced Search Offers an alternate way to build an Advanced Search expression by selecting an index from a drop-down menu or by typing one or more index abbreviations. Logical operators may be used. You can even build new searches based on previous searches. Yes No

Advanced Search using the enter a Document Number option Lets you enter a specific document number and display the corresponding document. N/A N/A

Curriculum Standards Lets you review national and state curriculum standards/objectives online and launch a Subject Search based on search topics associated with specific standards N/A After selecting a Related Subject link

Critical Thinking If your school or library has purchased the Critical Thinking add-on module that is available for Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, you can click the Critical Thinking link on the search path bar to view the most-studied and most-talked about issues of the day, while challenging you to analyze, evaluate and reflect on these topics through questions and assessments. N/A Yes

Search Type	Description	Offers Optional Ways to Limit Your Search (if enabled by your library)?	Displays Subject Guide Sidebar on Results page?
Basic Search using the Subject option	Searches for documents about a particular topic. This search is especially useful as you begin your research.	Yes	Yes
Basic Search using the Keyword option	Searches key fields, including titles, introductory text, authors, and subject terms. This option searches a broader range of fields than a search by Subject.	Yes	Yes
Basic Search using the Entire document option	Searches the complete text of all documents in the database(s) you are searching, as well as in the fields of information included in the Keyword search. This is a good search to use if you are looking for a particular line of text or an unusual phrase.	Yes	Yes
List of popular topics	From the Basic Search page (also known as the "home page"), click on a hyperlinked "hot topic" term (such as Bioethics or Civil rights) and the system will perform a subject search.	N/A	Yes
Subject Guide Search	Browses a hierarchical list of subject terms (known as the Subject Guide), allowing you to select topics, subdivisions, and related subjects.	Yes	Yes
Publication Search	Searches for periodical titles, showing information about each publication and allowing you to drill down to select a specific volume or issue.	Yes	No
Advanced Search	Allows you to build as simple or as complex a search expression as you want by selecting specific areas of the database to search, known as indexes. You can even build new searches based on previous searches.	Yes	May be displayed when searching certain indexes
CCL Advanced Search	Offers an alternate way to build an Advanced Search expression by selecting an index from a drop-down menu or by typing one or more index abbreviations. Logical operators may be used. You can even build new searches based on previous searches.	Yes	No
Advanced Search using the enter a Document Number option	Lets you enter a specific document number and display the corresponding document.	N/A	N/A
Curriculum Standards	Lets you review national and state curriculum standards/objectives online and launch a Subject Search based on search topics associated with specific standards	N/A	After selecting a Related Subject link
Critical Thinking	If your school or library has purchased the Critical Thinking add-on module that is available for Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, you can click the Critical Thinking link on the search path bar to view the most-studied and most-talked about issues of the day, while challenging you to analyze, evaluate and reflect on these topics through questions and assessments.	N/A	Yes

In addition you can search for dictionary definitions of words or terms using the Dictionary link from the toolbar.