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Staying Cool on a Hot Planet: Environmental Rhetoric for a Changing World

PWR 1KMC - Fall 2013 - Instructor: Moekle, K
Last Updated: 23-Sep-2014

A guide to resources for PWR 1KMC Staying Cool on a Hot Planet. Topics include the rhetoric and ethics of environmental problems -- from the installment of a specific sustainable energy project, or a public policy issue concerning carbon emissions regulation through a "cap and trade" system, for example.  

Subject Librarians

Hannah Winkler Hamalainen
Earth Sciences Librarian
Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections (Branner)
(650) 724-6242
Live chat with librarians requires JavaScript.

Getting Started

Class textbook (available online!)

Moral ground : ethical action for a planet in peril / edited by Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael P. Nelson ; foreword by Desmond Tutu.
San Antonio, Tex. : Trinity University Press, c2010.
Green Library » Stacks » GE42 .M65 2010

Selected Searchworks Subject Terms

Find Books, Journal Titles and Media in Stanford's Online Catalog, SearchWorks. Here are some "controlled vocabulary" subject terms for climate change and environmental philosophy-related topics. There are many others. Don't find what you are looking for? Ask your librarian for help.

 
 

The following are some reference sources that you can use to find background information on your topic as well as other references.

An online collection of articles, bibliographies, study guides, dictionaries, etc. serving as a searchable encyclopedia of science and technology.
Gale Virtual reference library [electronic resource].
Farmington Hills, MI : Thomson Gale, [200-?]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Gale Virtual Reference Library is an online eBook reference collection on many topics including the Environment. You can direct link to environmental topics.
Global resources : opposing viewpoints / Helen Cothran, book editor.
San Diego : Greenhaven Press, c2003.
Green Library » Information Center » HD75.6 .G555 2003

Databases, Encyclopedias, Newspapers and More

Key Databases

Note: Stanford subscribes to over 1000 databases that index articles and books on various topics. Since there are so many databases we recommend a select subset of databases which will give you access to articles in a wide variety of subject areas. The following are some databases that focus on environmental topics.

Academic search premier [electronic resource].
Ipswich, MA : EBSCO Pub.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
A multidisciplinary database which provides full-text for over 4,650 scholarly publications. A great place to start your research.
Environmental sciences & pollution management [electronic resource].
[S.l.] : Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, [199-]-
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Covers environmental sciences topics, including ecology, energy resources, and pollution issues. Coverage: 1967 - present
GeoRef [electronic resource].
Alexandria, Va. : American Geological Institute,
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Covers worldwide technical literature on geology and geophysics. Coverage: 1785 - present
GreenFILE [electronic resource].
[Ipswich, Mass.] : EBSCO Pub.
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
Topics covered include global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more.

Major Reference Works and Encyclopedias

Encyclopedia of global change : environmental change and human society / Andrew S. Goudie, editor in chief ; David J. Cuff, associate editor.
Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002.
Green Library » Information Center » GE149 .E47 2002 V.1
This encyclopedia captures the current knowledge of natural and anthropogenic changes in the physical, chemical, and biological systems and resources, and explores the effects of those on changes on human society.
Encyclopedia of earth sciences.
New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1966-
Earth Sciences Library (Branner) » Reference » QE501 .E56
The Springer Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series provides comprehensive and authoritative coverage of all the main areas in the Earth Sciences.
The encyclopedia of earth [electronic resource].
Washington, D.C. : NCSE
Stanford University Libraries » Online resource » eResource
The Encyclopedia of Earth is a reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. EoE is a free, expert-reviewed collection of content presented in a style intended to be useful to students, educators, scholars, professionals, as well as to the general public.
Access World News
Current (1995/2000-) U.S. and international sources, mostly in English
NYTimes.com Academic passes
The New York Times just launched NYTimes.com Academic passes, which provide full access for 24 hours to the digital newspaper. You must have a Stanford email address to participate and there is a limit of 500 simultaneous users. The 24 hours begin at the time of claiming the pass and also allow access on most devices** to the NYTimes apps.
Google News
Searchable timely and relevant news aggregated
How to find Stanford articles written by Stanford professors?
An archive of Stanford news stories from 1997 to present
SearchWorks listing of newspapers owned by Stanford
Stanford is fortunate to have print, online, and microfilm of current and historical newspapers from around the world. Approximately 190 newspaper titles are held in Green Library's Information Center, including international and North American titles. Older issues and additional titles behind the IC-Display of current periodicals. Other libraries on campus have more subject specific newspapers. For titles in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, see the East Asia Library.
World News headlines (with treemap visualization)
Google map of world newspapers

Opinion Sources & Blogs

Find Both Sides of an Issue (Opposing Viewpoints)

There are several solid resources that can help you find both sides of an issue. Here are some places to go to find background data and references for more information used in debating many topics:

Suggested resources for finding popular opinion content.

Debate.org Science Topics
Online debate website for people to challenge each other intellectually via debates and open forum communication.
Science Blogs
Aggregation of a number blogs on science topics. Check out the Environment channel.
Worldwatch Institute
Independent research institute devoted to global environmental concerns
United Nations Climate Change Portal
Blogs, reports and news on climate change.
Google Blog Search
Many blogs written by experts and activists include viewpoints on different controversies. Google allows you to limit a web search to blogs only.

Writing Help

A list of resources to assist with writing and publishing for Earth Sciences.

The art of scientific writing : from student reports to professional publications in chemistry and related fields / Hans F. Ebel, Claus Bliefert and William E. Russey.
2nd, comp. rev. ed. Weinheim ; Cambridge : Wiley-VCH, 2004.
Chemistry & ChemEng Library (Swain) » Stacks » QD9.15 .E23 2004
PRINT ONLY. Coming to the aid of all those wishing to improve the quality of their scientific writing -- established researchers and aspiring students alike -- three experienced authors/scientists from differing backgrounds and cultures have compiled this classic guide.
Communicating rocks : writing, speaking, and thinking about geology / by Peter Copeland.
Boston : Pearson, c2012.
Earth Sciences Library (Branner) » On reserve: Ask at circulation desk » QE48.85 .C67 2012
PRINT ONLY. Instruction concerning the rules and styles of writing and speaking are addressed in relation to technical concerns specific to the Earth sciences, illustrating the importance of effective communication in geologic investigations. The book includes guidance on how to write an effective research paper, and the creation of PowerPoints, posters, a thesis, funding proposals, and more is covered in detail.
Geowriting : a guide to writing, editing, and printing in earth science / edited by Robert L. Bates, Marla D. Adkins-Heljeson, and Rex C. Buchanan.
5th ed. Alexandria, Va. : American Geological Institute, c1995.
Earth Sciences Library (Branner) » Stacks » QE48.85 .G46 1995
PRINT ONLY. This introduction to writing, editing, and printing will help students and scientists cope with a process that many dread - the process that starts with a decision to write something for publication.
A scientific approach to scientific writing / John Blackwell, Jan Martin.
New York : Springer, c2011.
SAL3 (off-campus storage) » Stacks » T11 .B543 2011
ONLINE. This guide provides a framework, starting from simple statements, for writing papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals.