Help
with Research
For
assistance in choosing topics and organizing research papers try some of these
Web sites.
Also, contact a librarian for assistance and suggestions. Stop by, email
or call us at 804-862-6227.
Adobe® reader is required to view many of the documents on this web site. You can download a free copy.
Paper
Topics | RBC Library Guides to Research (handouts)| Research Paper: Tips & Techniques | APA
& MLA Citations | Plagiarism | Evaluating Web Sites
Selecting
a Paper Topic:
- Argumentative
Essay Topics —
This site provides
a list of topics, web sites, and questions for further study.
- Debatabase:
The Online Debate Topic Database
— This site includes a list of controversial topics along with pros
& cons for each topic.
- Hot
Paper Topics
— This site called "Best Information on the Net" is from O'Keefe
Library at St. Ambrose University. It is very helpful for choosing a topic
and also for locating evaluated Web sites on many topics. Particularly useful
for current events.
- Hot
Paper Topics —
This site from the Northwest Missouri State Library provides a list of topics
and rudimentary thesis statements.
- "Hot"
Religious Topics — This site provides a list of current religious
and moral controversies.
- Hot
Topics — This site from the University of Louisville Libraries provides
an extensive list of paper topics and accompanying web links.
- Idea
Generator — This site is from Old Dominion University Libraries.
It is strictly a site to help you generate topic ideas. It does not provide
Web links. Topics are arranged by broad category. A great way to brain storm
topics.
- Possible Research Topics and Questions — This list was compiled by RBC student Christine Woodman in Ms. Duckworth's English 200 class.
- Sample
Research Topics — This site provides a list of research topics for
students.
RBC Library Guides to Research — Guides/handouts with colorful screen shots created by the RBC library staff:
Research Paper—Tips & Techniqes:
Evaluating Web Sites:
Web Site Evaluation in a Nutshell
(read on for more info!) |
|
Quality web sites contain accurate and reliable information from a trustworthy source. |
|
Questionnable web sites may contain inaccurate information perhaps with an overly biased slant from an unknown or unreliable source. |
To appreciate the importance of web site evaluation, compare these two web sites on Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: A True Historical Examination available at: http://www.martinlutherking.org/ — Despite its professional look and fancy title, the tone and content of this web page suggests a very strong racial bias and further investigation indicates that this web page was created by the Stormfront White Nationalist Group. Note that this site comes up as the third entry in a Google search for "Martin Luther King."
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at: http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/ — This comprehensive web site devoted to the life and works of Dr. King is made available by Stanford University, a very reputable educational institution.
Remember that the Internet provides anyone a computer and Internet access the opportunity to create a web page. Just how factual is this web page of AIDS Facts? http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm
Page
updated
September 25, 2007
Questions/Comments dvroman@rbc.edu