Let’s Go (Topic) Shopping!!
Advanced Composition | Objectives | Get Opinionated
Narrow the Search | Revision Checklist | Research Rubric
| The key to doing well on the research project is to choose a topic you can live with! Use the links below to find lists of potential topics. Look for issues that not only interest you but also have some value for you in the future. Make the project worth your time. |
| Start
gathering and reading information about the topic. The topics will narrow as
you read more and learn more about them.
As you become familiar with the vocabulary associated with the issue,
use those words to build a Boolean search using “quote marks” around whole
phrases you want to appear in the text; + for all the words the search must
include; - for words the search must exclude. |
| Use
at least three search engines. |
In the News
Shop for ideas on standard news sites:
|
Time http://www.time.com |
|
Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com |
|
U.S. News and World Report http://usnews.com |
|
Newsday http://www.newsday.com |
|
Wall Street Journal http://www.online.wsj.com |
Or try this directory with links to a number of political magazines:
Or this one to the top ten U.S. newspapers by circulation:
http://www.newspapers.com/top10.html
And don't forget major network and cable news sites:
|
Fox News http://www.foxnews.com |
| |
| |
| |
|
Project Vote Smart
· Links to government offices, from the city to national levels, including legislative, executive, and judicial offices. Select Issues and Legislation to find an Issue Organizations link for gathering information on 50 high-interest topics. Use the Political Resources bar to find additional links to news media outlets and think tanks.
Center for Defense Information
· Offers a number of topic links related to military, peacekeeping, nuclear, and security issues.
Research Matters
· Sponsored by Harvard University, this site specializes in science and engineering topics, as they relate to a number of areas, including culture and society.
http://www.researchmatters.harvard.edu/
Documents in the News: Current Events Research
· Primary texts for significant events from 1995 to the present.
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/docnews.html
FindLaw.com
· A searchable source of legal issues, including current news and commentary.
Frontline: Online
· Examines a variety of worldwide controversial issues.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/
Hot Paper Topics
· This St. Ambrose University site features links to various locations where information on popular research paper topics can be found.
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/hot/hotindex.htm
Idea Generator
· Old Dominion University features a site designed to help students browse a number to areas, then generate a more specific topic. Check out the Resources and Research Assistance bars, too.
http://www.lib.odu.edu/libassist/idea/index.php
For a Liberal View:
· Visit the website of the American Civil Liberties Union.
For a Conservative View
· Visit the website of the Family Research Council.
Most universities offer a campus writing center; many now offer an online version, known as an OWL (Online Writing Lab). Check out Colorado State University’s site to get a feel for what an online center is like (and pick up a few tips along with way!)
Another great site is maintained by Purdue University. Check it out:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/owl/
The Writing Center at Harvard University offers a number of helpful materials online. The link to Writing Tools is especially helpful.
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/
Advanced Composition | Objectives | Get Opinionated
Narrow the Search | Revision Checklist | Research Rubric