The following controversial topics databases may be a helpful place to start for your assignment(s).
Especially useful in gathering in-depth information on topics of current social, economic, environmental, and political interest, this database is a collection of the issues of the CQ Researcher from 1991 to the present. The CQ Researcher is published each week and each publication, usually some 20+ pages in length, provides an comprehensive and objective overview of a single topic as well as a detailed analysis, a pro-con argument, and an annotated bibliography suggesting further research.
This database draws on the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as other reference content. This resource examines social issues and provides access to a large collection of viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, full-text magazine and newspaper articles, biographies, court-case overviews, links to websites, podcasts, and image galleries.
Current issues database that provides objective analysis of opposing points of view on topics of current and historical interest. Articles are full text and searchable by keyword. More than 300 topics are included with coverage beginning in Sept. 1995. The database can be searched by subject and all articles may be printed from the computer screen or e-mailed.
These websites list a number of helpful links for topic selection and pro/con perspectives:
Google News collects up-to-date headlines from thousands of news publications.
Opinion or editorial pieces may be especially useful when you are preparing a topic for your persuasive speeches.
Take a spin on our wheel to get started on brainstorming ideas!