Contemporary Issues: A Research Guide
Many times students are asked to write position papers that refute or support particular viewpoints about issues relevant in today’s society. Not only students, but others interested in contemporary issues and the various complex policies surrounding them will find the resources below to be helpful. Issues like abortion, cloning, death penalty, euthanasia, and full-day kindergarten pose challenges to people who want to fully understand the major issues at hand. The materials below will help beginning researchers as well as those looking for more comprehensive coverage. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library’s catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.
Web Sites
Some of these web sites are external to CFCC. The owners of these web sites are responsible for their content, including their links to other sites on the World Wide Web. CFCC has not necessarily reviewed this site and assumes no responsibility for the Contents, nor does this “Link” imply endorsement of the site.
Debatabase, International Debate Education Association — www.debatabase.org
Includes arguments for and against hundreds of debating topics. Written by expert debaters, judges, and coaches. Also included are background summaries, links to Web sites of interest, and recommended books, example motions, and user comments. Sponsored by the International Debate Education Association.
Justice Talking — www.justicetalking.org
Tackles current hot topics with reports from the field, polling analysis, and compelling debate between the nation’s leading advocates and political opposites. Sponsored by National Public Radio.
Public Agenda — www.publicagenda.org
Explains and clarifies public attitudes about complex policy issues. Provides research studies and issue guides on topics like the right to die, illegal drugs, America’s global role, and more.
International Debate Education Association (IDEA) — www.idebate.org
IDEA is an independent membership organization of national debate programs and associations and other organizations and individuals that support debate. IDEA provides assistance to national debate associations and organizes an annual international summer camp.
Databases – Go to http://www.linccweb.org
News and Current Events:
Americas Newspapers (NewsBank) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=amnews3
CQ Researcher (CQ Press) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=CQRes
Custom Newspapers InfoTrac (Gale) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=GaleNEWS
Issues and Controversies (Facts on File) —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=FactsIssues2
New York Times - Historical (ProQuest) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=ProQuestNYTH
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (Gale) —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=GaleOVRC
Regional Business News (EBSCO) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=EBSCOBWN
SIRS Researcher (SIRS) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=researcher
Electronic Books:
Digital Collection (Greenwood Electronic Media) — http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=greenbooks
eBooks (NetLibrary) —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=EBOOKS
NetLibrary eBooks —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=EBOOKS
Virtual Reference Library (Gale) —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=GaleVRL
xreferplus (xrefer) —http://www.linccweb.org/FAQs/DBDesc.asp?DB=xreferplus
Topics to Explore
The topics listed below include some of the most highly debated topics in contemporary times. Students can search the library catalog, informational databases, and search engines using the terms listed below with keywords like position papers, pro and con with the topic name. (For example: abortion and “position paper”).
Abortion
Adoption
Affirmative action
AIDS (disease)
Alcoholism
Animal rights
Arranged marriages
Assisted suicide (euthanasia)
Banning of Confederate flag
Beauty contests
Bioethics
Biological weapons
Birth control
Cameras in courtrooms
Capital punishment
Censorship
Chemical weapons
Child abuse
Child curfews
Church and state
Compulsory voting
Condoms in schools
Conservation
Creationism vs. evolution
Divorce
Drinking (alcoholic beverages)
Driving while intoxicated
Drugs and athletes
Election of judges
Emigration and immigration
Endangered species
Environmentalism
Faith schools
Feminism
Flag burning
Gambling
Gangs
Gay marriages
Gays in the military |
Genocide
Global warming
Gun control
Health care reform
Homelessness
Homeschooling
Homosexuality
Human cloning
Identity cards
Internet censorship
Invasion of Iraq
Islamic fundamentalism
Juvenile alcoholism
Juvenile drug abuse
Juvenile offenders
Legalization of marijuana
Mandatory retirement
Media violence
Medical care
Medical ethics
Mental disorders
Mental health
Middle East
Minimum wage
Narcotics control
Narcotics legalization
National security
Nuclear weapons
Nutrition
Oceans
Political corruption
Pollution
Population growth
Pornography
Poverty
Prisons
Prohibition of school prayer
Public assistance
Race relations
Racism
Rape
Religion
|
Renewable energy
Right of privacy
School violence
Sex education
Sexual behavior
Single-sex schools
Smoking
Stem cell research
Suicide
Sunday entertainment
Teenage pregnancy
Teenage sexual behavior
Terrorism
United States foreign relations
Use of mobile telephones in cars
Violence
War crimes
Water pollution
Welfare reform
Women’s rights
Working women
Youth
Zero tolerance
Zoos |
