SIRS Database

SIRS® Issues Researcher provides background and current analysis necessary for the research and understanding of 368+ current and pervasive Leading Issues. Analysis and opinions cover the pros, cons, and everything in between on the most researched and debated social issues. Issues are organized from major topical areas into Leading Issues, and then broken down to Pro/Con subtopics. Each Pro/Con subtopic provides a brief overview, critical thinking questions, timeline, and an instructional research guide. Critical Thinking and Information Literacy skills are promoted through engaging Essential Questions with answers and viewpoint articles. All articles, websites, videos, multimedia graphics, charts, maps, statistics, primary sources and government documents are hand-selected from thousands of national and international sources.

SIRS is provided by Heartland AEA and requires the username and password provided by the LMC. If you need access to any resource from Heartland AEA, please see Miss Watson in the LMC.

Permalink:

A permalink is a web address or URL which allows users to access a resource without the need to provide a password.

SIRS does not provide a permalink for any of the resources within the database.

Recommendation to access resources located in SIRS:

  • Save resources to your Google Drive
  • Email resources to yourself
  • Print shorter resources in the LMC
  • Add citation information to NoodleTools for all resources

View the sections of the video below:

  • Leading Issues
  • Basic Search
  • Advanced Search

Recommend speeding up the pace of the video under Settings menu ⚙to shorten view time needed to complete the tutorial.

Practice locating an article on one the following topics:

  • Driverless Vehicles
  • J.F.K. or John Fitzgerald Kennedy
  • Ethics topic (ex. Campaign Funds)

Link to LMC Website: http://lmc.urbandaleschools.com/resources/

Reflection:

  • After doing a few practice searches, what was most helpful to you in accessing the desired information?

Works Cited

ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher Full Training. ProQuest, 2019. Screebcast, TechSmith Corporation, www.screencast.com/t/swmk7DWJ. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.

"SIRS Issues Researcher: About." ProQuest LibGuides, ProQuest, 21 Jan. 2019, proquest.libguides.com/IssuesResearcher. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.