Research Guides: Select a Research Topic: Current Events and Controversial Issues

Food for Thought

When writing on controversial issues, exercise caution when considering a topic that has the potential to be overdone. Issues such as gun control, abortion, corporal punishment, etc. have been written about so much for so long that it may be difficult to find something new to add to the conversation. Here are a few databases that have extensive browse for topic features:

Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window
- Why search here? The place to go to prepare for a debate, discussion, research paper, or persuasive writing assignment.
- What's included? Explores more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture..
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
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- Why search here? This database centers on the key social issues of our time.
- What's included? Opposing Viewpoints is a rich resource for debaters and includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, news, images, video, audio, and more.
Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
- Why search here? Contains resources that present multiple sides of an issue.
- What's included? Points of View Reference Center contains many topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument) and counterpoint (opposing argument). For each topic, this database also offers a Guide to Critical Analysis, which helps the reader evaluate the controversial topics.