Picking a Topic
Use Opposing Viewpoints!
It can be hard to know where to start! What counts as a social issue, and how do you know what the best topics are?
Use Opposing Viewpoints!
Opposing Viewpoints is a library database dedicated to social issues. You can find scholarly articles, news articles, and pro/con opinion articles on various, timely social issues.
Opposing Viewpoints
Opposing Viewpoints includes an extensive list of sample topics leading to gateways of full-text resources including: book chapters, viewpoint essays, news, magazine and academic journal articles as well as some statistical data. Watch the How to Use Opposing Viewpoints video.
Browse Issues
Start by selecting the "Browse Issues" icon. This will take you to a list of social issues you can use to start thinking about your topic.
Viewpoint articles
Each Issue has a topic page. Here, you will see articles separated by type: Academic Journals, Viewpoints, Images, Magazines, News, Statistics, etc.
Viewpoints are opinion articles. These will show pro/con arguments on certain aspects of your topic. Click on "Viewpoints" to read about all the sides of an issue, and to learn about proposed solutions. This will also help you decide what topic you would like to learn more about for your paper.
How to find articles
1. Create a Research statement
This can be in the form of a question or a sentence. Just think about what you want to research and write it down in one sentence.
2. Identify the Keywords
Look at your research statement. What are the main words or concepts? They will likely be nouns, and can include phrases. Highlight them.
3. Think of synonyms
Look at the words/phrases you highlighted and think of synonyms or alternate phrases to describe those concepts. Scholarly articles often use words that we wouldn’t use in ordinary life.
4. Search in the databases
Pick two or three words/phrases from your list. Put each concept in its own search box.
5. Search again!
Try different combinations of words to get different results. Add more words to narrow down your results. Look at the “Subject” headings for each article to see what keywords are being used the most.