The Research Process: A Step-By-Step Guide

Use the links in the table below to navigate the Step-By-Step Guide.

Choosing a Topic for Your Research Paper

Selecting a good topic is one of the most important components of the Research Process. The Library has a number of print and online sources which will help you choose a topic.

Books

10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, Reports and Speeches
This book provides over 10,000 thought-provoking and stimulating topics. The topics are categorized by subject and are coded by degree of difficulty. Three copies of the book are located at the Information Desk.

Hot Topics
As the subtitle of this book indicates, it provides everything you ever wanted to know about the fifty major controversies everyone pretends to know all about. The topics are categorized by subject and are presented in a question/answer format. Additional background information is given as well for each topic. Three copies of the book are located at the Information Desk.

CQ Researcher
This weekly magazine thoroughly analyzes one controversial topic per issue. In addition to providing analysis, charts, statistics, pro-con discussions, and an annotated bibliography, each issue also lists the topics covered in previous weeks . CQ Researcher is located on the Speech Table.

Contemporary World Issues
This series is designed to serve as a one-stop information source on a variety of topics. The series is located on the Speech Table.

Pro-Con Series
The following four series are set-up in a pro-con format. They deal with a variety of controversial, timely topics and the information is presented in a question/answer format. They are all located on the Speech Table.

• Congressional Digest
  
• Current Controversies
  
• Opposing Viewpoints
  
• Taking Sides: Clashing Views on . . . Issues

Subject-Specialized Encyclopedias
Ask a librarian to recommend an encyclopedia in your area of interest. For example, if you are interested in issues involving the family, marriage, children, divorce, and the like, the Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family would be an excellent source to browse and possible pick up some specific topic ideas.

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Databases

Issues and Controversies
Issues & Controversies provides detailed background articles on major controversial social issues. Browse the topics under Need A Research Topic? in the lower right pane to help narrow your search.

SIRS Knowledge Source - SIRS Researcher
Provides full text sources, overviews, useful research strategies and guidelines for writing research papers on a range of controversial issues.

Today's Science
Today's Science provides a list of current scientific topics covered by the database with links to related articles found throughout the site. In the upper right hand corner, click on the tab labeled Today's Science. Then select the Need a Research Topic? tab below on the right side to access the source.

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Web Sites

American Civil Liberties Union: The Issues
The ACLU Home Page provides links to documents and Internet sites on topics from "Criminal Justice" to "Workplace Rights."

Congressional Research Service Reports
This site contains congressional reports on environmental topics.

FRONTLINE Online
This PBS series examines a variety of worldwide controversial issues. Transcripts are provided for the programs as well as links to related sites.

Hot Paper Topics
This site provides links to various WWW locations where information on popular research paper topics can be found.

Online NewsHour from PBS
This site contains the transcripts of PBS/NPR reports on controversial issues from Africa to Youth.

Public Agenda Online
Public Agenda provides discussion of political and social issues highlighted with results of public opinion polls.

Science in the Headlines
Current "scientific" topics are listed in this web site sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences.

Subject Guides
These guides, prepared by West Campus Librarians contain topic suggestions, along with relevant items located at the library and search strategies.

Yahoo: Society and Culture
Yahoo is both a hierarchical index to WWW sites and a search engine for locating material on the WWW. By navigating Yahoo's hierarchical structure, and moving from a broad category of interest to increasingly more specific categories, topic ideas can be generated. The Society and Culture hierarchy deals with current controversial issues.

Next: Background Information

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