Using SIRS Issues Researcher

Level 2 Tool

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This information last checked: 09/06/2019

Digital Content SNAPSHOT & SUPPORT RESOURCES

Overview

SIRS Issues Researcher delivers diverse perspectives on today’s complex social issues with relevant, credible information and tools that equip students to think critically about global controversies. Get right to the heart of an issue with special Leading Issues coverage. SIRS Issues Researcher provides not only the background information necessary to understanding an issue’s origins and key points of contention, but also the current analysis that illuminates how the issue affects politics, personal beliefs, current events, and more. ProQuest editors curate content from thousands of global sources to cover the pros, cons, and everything in between, on the most studied issues.

Target Audience: Grades 9-12   Content Connections:  All

Content & Features

SIRS® Issues Researcher offers balanced content selections from more than 2,000 international sources. Analysis and opinions cover the pros, cons, and everything in between of 360+ social, scientific, health, historic, economic, and political issues.

• Editorially curated and created content including engaging Essential Questions and viewpoint articles help build a solid foundation for understanding complex global issues. 
• Thousands of editor-reviewed, authoritative newspaper and magazine articles, graphics, charts, maps, primary sources, government documents, websites, multimedia, as well as critical thinking questions, and timelines broaden student comprehension of each topic.
• 360 Editorially-maintained Leading Issues topic pages 
• 2,100+ Sources, most as text+graphics
• 3000+ Interactives, maps, timelines & primary sources 
• Documents and graphics in SIRS Issues Researcher carefully selected according to strict SIRS criteria for content reliability, relevance, and age-appropriateness. Titles include: American History, The Christian Science Monitor, Economist, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Global Viewpoint, Maclean’s, National Geographic, and Newsweek. View Title List. 
• Subject coverage:
• Business & Economic
• Civil Rights & Liberties
• Communication & Technology
• Crime & Punishment
• Drugs, Health & Wellness
• Environment & Science
• Ethics
• School, Family & Youth
• World Cultures & Politics 
• A Research Guide is available to  organize a student’s research inquiry process. 
• Content is aligned to state, national, International Baccalaureate, and Common Core standards, visible within the product, saving teachers time in the lesson planning process, and ensuring that library resources correlate to learning benchmarks.

Learning Supports & Tools  

• Dictionary/Thesaurus:  Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus are available to assist users in defining words, checking spelling, choosing the perfect word and more.
• Read Aloud feature
• Translation
• Integration with Microsoft Office 365 
• Pre-formatted citations
• Lexile scores labeled at top of article. Use Advanced Search to narrow by Lexile Range.

Tutorials & Guides 

Select image above for Overview Module. See also accompanying handout.

• SIRS Issues Researcher Guide
• SIRS Issues Researcher (PPT)- Use this presentation to learn and teach about the newly designed Issues Researcher.
• The New SIRS - What to Expect- recorded module describing changes to SIRS databases effective August 2019 (run-time 32 minutes).  
• The New SIRS -- What to Expect (PPT) 

Educator Resources

• In SIRS Issues Researcher, select the Educator Resources link at the top right of the screen to access resources including curriculum guides, note-taking organizers for students, a blog, and newsletters.
• Direct Linking:  In SIRS Issues Researcher, copy the URL from the browser address bar to obtain a direct link to an article or resource. 
• Users may need to authenticate by clicking on the SIRS Issues Researcher icon on the Digital Content tile before accessing direct links.