LibGuides: ENG 1061/1070 English Composition/Effective Speaking: Personal Research Essay/Exploratory Essay

Browsing for topics

Browsing for topic ideas

For fresh ideas, see what's in the news

See the Most Popular recent stories.
Browse recent opinion pieces

Register for a NY Times.com account through the Castleton library. Once you have registered, you may access NYTimes.com directly, and sign in using the user name and password that you have created.

Browse National Public Radio (NPR) for news of interest nationally or British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for international news.

Browse debate topics

"Debatabase"
Includes points and counterpoints for both sides of debate topics, including sources for more info

Pros and cons of controversial issues. See additional sources for each topic at the bottom of the page.

Subscription resources for topics to browse and full-text sources. (Log-in required for off-campus access)

Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
Pro/con viewpoints, articles, audio and video on hot topics and social issues.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
In-depth reports on hot topics and newsworthy issues.
Science in Context This link opens in a new window
Background information on science topics.

Encyclopedias about social issues you can access online:

Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Social Issues
Recent reference book with very informative, extensive entries on a wide variety of controversial issues. You can browse the table of contents. (It can be "checked out," but please browse PDF full-text online instead of downloading to allow others to view it too.) (Subscription resource. Log-in required for off-campus access.)
Culture Wars in America: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
Click on the title to read this book online.

To help understand political polarization in the US

Red Blue Dictionary

From AllSides.com. Shows how people from across the political spectrum define, think or feel differently about the same term or issue. Provides multi-perspective analysis of controversial terms, from "abortion" to "Zionism."

See AllSides.com to see center, left, and right perspectives on topics in the news.