Topics & Background Info - English 110 - Stotter - Protest - Research Guides at Santa Barbara City College

Choosing a Topic

Pro/Con databases and websites are great places to get ideas about current, controversial environmental and social issues.

Recommended Database

Explore the Browse Issues section of this database for topic ideas (you'll be prompted to log in with your Pipeline information from off campus):

Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window An excellent source of pro/con information, providing opinions and other information on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Includes continuously updated viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.

Recommended Website

This website is freely available and won't require a login:

ProCon.org Provides nonpartisan, professionally-researched pro, con, and related information on more than 50 controversial issues from gun control and death penalty to illegal immigration and alternative energy.

Narrowing a Topic

Finding Background Information

Library reference sources are a great place to get unbiased background information on controversial topics. They can also help you narrow your topic and discover keywords for further searching.

Online Reference Sources

To access this reference database from off campus, you will be prompted to log in with your Pipeline username and password.

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window Contains the full text of over 1,000 encyclopedias, dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, and other reference books covering all major subject areas. Thousands of Topics Pages provide articles from different reference sources, arranged by subject. Includes “gadgets” for finding images, definitions, people, pronunciations, quotations, and measurement conversations, as well as a concept map feature for help identifying keywords and broadening or narrowing a topic. Additional features include videos, maps, and animations.

Print Reference Sources

These reference books are available in the Luria Library. Stop at the Reference and Information desk for help finding them, or to ask a librarian to recommend other reference sources for your topic.

Revolts, Protests, Demonstrations, and Rebellions in American History: An Encyclopedia -- R 303.484 D196r 2011
Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society -- R 305.8 S294e
Encyclopedia of Racism in the United States -- R 305.800973 M663e
Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Social Issues -- R306.0973 S528e 2011
Encyclopedia of Social Problems -- R 361.1 P261e
African Americans and Criminal Justice: An Encyclopedia -- R 364.089 J76a 2014

English 110 - Stotter - Protest: Topics & Background Info