Influential Supreme Court Cases
DeProspo, Chatham Molly
Ingredients for a Good Research Paper:
- Reference (for background and context)
- Books (for depth)
- Primary Sources (for evidence)
- Scholarly or Peer-Reviewed Articles (for analysis)
- Your own ORIGINAL writing, thought, and analysis (including a STRONG thesis). Clearly Stated Position or Angle (as appropriate) + Specific supporting arguments/statements = Thesis
Finding Original Text of Supreme Court Opinions
Most cases may be found in the SIRS Government Reporter database (listed below).
OR: Google "Find Law [your case]" for full text of court cases.
OR: Search by party name on either FindLaw.com or the Legal Information Institute at Cornell University.
Suggested Databases
Questia School
Password: imgacademy
Use for: finding books, articles, and reference
JSTOR
Use JSTOR to find scholarly journal articles (best for advanced students, AP students, and college-bound seniors). Password not required for on-campus access.
Use for: finding scholarly journal articles
eLibrary
Password: ascenders
Use for: finding articles, news coverage, and reference
SIRS Knowledge Source/Issues Researcher
Password: ascenders
Use for: finding articles, news coverage, and reference.
SIRS Government Reporter
Password: ascenders
Use for: finding government documents and court cases (primary sources).
History Study Center
Password: ascenders
Use for: historical resources, including articles, reference, maps, and primary sources.
EBSCOHost
Pin: 1234
Use for: finding books, articles, reference, and news coverage.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Pin: 1234
Use for: reference (encyclopedias)