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 topics on many subjects. Located at the Information Desk.
Hot Topics
Yes/No answers to questions raised by important social issues. Additional background information is given as well for each topic. Located at the Information Desk.
Speech Table
A separate area in the library for books that consider social issues from multiple viewpoints. Includes these series:
- Congressional Digest
- Current Controversies
- Opposing Viewpoints
- Taking Sides: Clashing Views on . . . Issues
- CQ Researcher
- Contemporary World Issues
Subject-Specialized Encyclopedias
Ask a librarian to recommend an encyclopedia in your area of interest.
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Electronic Sources
Databases
Databases are library subscribed collections of essays and articles. Use your Borrower ID and PIN to access:
Issues and Controversies
Use this database to find background information on many important social issues. Click NEED A RESEARCH TOPIC? to narrow a topic from broad to specific.
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
Use this database to find viewpoint essays, journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles and more on various controversial issues.
Need something else? See all Controversial Issues Databases.
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Web Sites
These web sites are available outside of the Valencia site, for additional ideas.
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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Research Tools
Research Tools