The death penalty has existed in Western civilization for thousands of years, and its use has remained controversial throughout that time. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to the death penalty. Topics include: Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime? Is the Death Penalty Fairly Imposed? Is the Death Penalty Ethical? Does the Death Penalty Serve Justice?
The police hold an extremely powerful role in society, but in recent years there has been increased scrutiny of how they use their power. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by relevant facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to police powers. Topics include: Is Abuse of Police Power a Problem in the United States? Can the Use of Excessive Force by the Police Be Reduced? Are Racial Issues the Key to Reducing Conflicts Over Police Power? Do US Police Departments Need Reforms?
Obesity rates in the United States are higher than ever before, with about 37 percent of adults, and 17 percent of young people ages 2 to 19 currently classified as obese. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by relevant facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to obesity. Topics include: Does Obesity Pose a Serious Health Threat? Is Obesity a Matter of Personal Responsibility? Is the Food Industry to Blame for Obesity? Can the United States Reduce the Problem of Obesity?
Students start writing research papers at a young age and continue to do so throughout the course of their education, but writing a research paper may not be as easy as it seems. Through easy-to follow instructions, examples, and clear text, student will learn how to write a research paper and cite their sources. Quick facts, activities, and sidebars help make the concept of research clearer for the reader. The glossary reinforces new vocabulary, while Further Reading encourages further exploration into the topic.
Debates about animal rights affect industries as diverse as entertainment, biomedical research, and food. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to animal rights debates. Topics include: Should Animals Have Similar Rights As Humans? Is It Moral To Eat Animals? Should Animals Be Used for Entertainment? Is It Ethical To Experiment On Animals?
There are few issues as divisive and emotionally charged as abortion. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by relevant facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to abortion. Topics include: Is a Fetus a Person with a Right to Life? Is Abortion Harmful to Women? Is Abortion Harmful to Society? Are Laws Regulating Abortion Adequate?
The Thinking Critically series introduces students to the complex issues that dominate public discourse and challenges them to become discerning readers, to think independently, and to engage and develop their skills as critical thinkers. Chapters are organized in a pro/con format, in which a single author synthesizes predominant arguments for and against an issue into clear, accessible discussions supported by details and evidence including relevant facts, direct quotes, current examples, and statistical illustrations. All volumes include focus questions to guide students as they read each pro/con discussion, a list of key facts, source notes, and an annotated list of related organizations and websites for conducting further research.
In 2013 the Pew Research Center conducted a poll of more than 37,000 people in 39 countries and found that more than half believe climate change is a major threat. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by relevant facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to climate change. Topics include: Is Climate Change Caused by Human Activity? Has the Extent of Climate Change Been Overstated? Will Climate Change be Harmful to Society? and Should Society Try to Reduce Climate Change?
All successful people are effective communicators. This series forms a complete set of how-to-references that gives young people a solid grounding and practical pointers in all areas of spoken and written communications.
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal? -- Should society allow genetic testing? -- Is embryonic stem cell research ethical? -- Should the United States change its organ donation policies?
The Thinking Critically series introduces students to the complex issues that dominate public discourse and challenges them to become discerning readers, to think independently, and to engage and develop their skills as critical thinkers. Chapter are organized in a pro/con format, in which a single author synthesizes the predominant arguments for and against an issue into clear, accessible discussions supported by details and evidence including relevant facts, direct quotes, current examples, and statistic illustrations.
In The Research Paper and How to Write It, Ralph Berry sets out in clear and concise terms the main tasks involved, in the order in which a student will encounter them, such as: choosing a topic, using the library, taking notes, shaping and composing the project, and writing cross-references and bibliography. Starting from first principles, the author shows students how to get the most out of their library and guides them through the numerous cataloguing systems, including on-line databases, which they are likely to encounter. For handy reference, the book includes an example of a well-researched and well-written paper, with full bibliography and notes. Throughout, common errors and how to avoid them are discussed in detail.
The Thinking Critically series introduces students to the complex issues that dominate public discourse and challenges them to become discerning readers, to think independently, and to engage and develop their skills as critical thinkers. Chapters are organized in a pro/con format, in which a single author synthesizes the predominant arguments for and against an issue into clear, accessible discussions supported by details and evidence including relevant facts, direct quotes, current examples, and statistical illustrations.
Human stem cells were have been known as a promising avenue for research and medicine since the late 1990s, but stem cell research had has been engulfed in controversy. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format supported by facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines issues related to stem cell research. Topics include: Is Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethical? Is Embryonic Stem Cell Research Still Necessary? Should Government Place Restrictions on Stem Cell Research Funding? Should Government Closely Regulate Stem Cell Medical Treatments?
The first step to any successful research paper is to make sure you understand the assignment and its requirements. Here are some questions to consider when you receive the assignment from your teacher. If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may want to talk to your teacher about what you are missing.
Choosing a topic is one of the most difficult parts of writing a research paper. There are so many topics you could research, where do you even begin? Even if your teacher assigns you a topic, it might be too broad to actually research in the time you have to complete the assignment. These brainstorming tips can help you narrow your focus. Also, depending on what subject this assignment is for, you might ask yourself different questions. For instance, a research paper for history class will differ than a research paper on current events. These tips focus on writing an argumentative paper on a current event or issue.
Here are some tips for initial brainstorming of a research paper topic:
Once you know your research topic, it is time to formulate your research question. Your research question will later become your thesis statement, which will be your guide in finding sources that support your argument. Here are some tips to help you formulate a research question.
A Thesis Statement is not the same thing as your research topic. One your have chosen a topic and formulated your research question, it is time to begin thinking about the thesis of your research assignment. A topic is general idea or subject that you would like to research, while a thesis is a an argument for a specific angle on that topic supported by research.
Your thesis statement is the answer to your Research Question and the basis for the rest of your research, as well as, your paper's argument.
The thesis statement is your paper in a nutshell. It informs your audience of idea that you are going to develop and support throughout the paper. It not only aids your audience's understanding of your topic, but it also gives you something to consult in order to make sure all of your points support the central claim of your argument.
Consider what kind of paper are you writing:
A thesis statement should be:
Adapted from: Purdue OWL, Berea College
Databases and other library research tools aren't only for when you already know what you want to research, they are also useful for helping you find a topic you would be interested in researching. This tutorial will show you a few tips for using the Opposing Viewpoints in Context database to find a topic for your research.
This is the homepage for Opposing Viewpoints in Context. It highlights timely, featured topics in the middle of the page and categories that you can browse. You can also type search terms in the search bar at the top of the page, or click the Browse all Topics button.
On the "Browse Issues" page you can scroll through an alphabetical list of issues this database has topic pages for. Use the "Choose a Category" drop-down menu to browse issues by category. If an issue says "New" or "Updated" next to it, the information on that page has been updated within the last 30 days. You can see an overview of a topic page on the last slide of this tutorial.
If you know what you would like to research, type your search terms in the Search Bar at the top of the page. Don't forget to consider the suggestions in Thesaurus below. Unlike a web search where this box would show you other common searches, these suggestions are subject terms and headings, which librarians use to organize information and make it searchable. In this database, suggestions in Bold/Italics are subjects that have Topic Pages. Click to the next slide for an overview of what is included on a topic page.
In Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Topic Pages collect many sources surrounding one issue for easy browsing. There is a topic overview at the top of the page, a breakdown of what kinds of sources are included in the topic page on the upper-right, and the viewpoints section where authors argue for different sides of an issue. The viewpoints section can be a great to find out how you feel about an issue in order to further your research.
