Initial Research
These resources will give many student researchers a solid foundation of background and opinion on many issues. Starting with these resources is strongly recommended. (Scroll to last heading for additional topic selection suggestions if needed.)
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Sooth.fyi
Sooth’s human-curated search index comprises billions of pages of the web’s most credible and diverse sources of news, research, data, and insights without distractions from ads, dubious sources, or AI-generated content.
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Infobase Credo
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Online reference library and research platform designed as a starting place for deeper research. This site currently requires a log-in to access resources:</br>
Username - <b>geneseeVB</b></br>
Password - <b>resource</b></br>
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Gale: Opposing Viewpoints
Begin your research with articles from the "Reference" tab for background info and the "Viewpoints" section for pros and cons.
NOTE: CLICK "Reference", "Viewpoints", etc. for additional items in each category.
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ProCon.org
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Pros and cons of controversial issues. Arguments for and against more than 50 social issue topics.
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McLennan Guide to Current & Controversial Issues
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McLennan Community College directory of resources on selected controversial issues topics
More Starting Points AND Deeper Research
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Gale in Context: High School
Full-text reference articles, magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, etc, and links to vetted websites compiled specifically for students.
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Gale PowerSearch
Includes Student Resources, Opposing Viewpoints, and more. Search encyclopedias, other reference sources, business journals, magazines, newspapers, etc. for all Gale databases provided by NOVEL NY subscription.
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Just Facts: Resource for Independent Thinkers
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Deep factual research on a limited number of critical public policy issues of our time.
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CQ Researcher Online
In-depth coverage of topical issues written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Choose most current, most relevant posting and scan headings for specific information
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Our World in Data
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Hundreds of topics from nutrition, to education, economics, lifespan, alcohol use, domestic violence, and more measured over time and across the globe. A great resource to see how our country and our world is changing. Research by topic - Use tabs to jump to specific data. . .
News and Public Information Resources
There are many resources available on the internet and in print and on TV that provide us with news, and comment upon or interpretation of the news and current events. Some treat information relatively objectively (without bias) but many sources skew toward left or right.
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AllSides Media Bias Chart (Basic / Static)
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Consider this Media Bias chart when using popular news sources.
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Ad Fontes Media Interactive Media Bias Chart
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Intense, searchable, navigable resource that plots general bias of many different news and information resources.
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AllSides - News & Research Website
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Don’t be fooled by media bias and fake news. We display the day’s top news stories from the Left, Center and Right of the political spectrum — side-by-side so you can decide the truth for yourself. -- Use search bar to focus on your topic
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The Week - Newsmagazine and Website
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The Week reports and explains issues from all angles, providing news and editorial commentary with a center bias. </br><b>Ask teacher or librarian to access via WCSDGuest@warsawcsd.org using Google SSO.</b>
Lobbyists & Advocacy Groups
By definition these groups support an agenda and promote their views through lobbying, advertising, news, and their websites.
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Open Secrets -- Lobbying summary and data
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Use tabs on the left to learn more about the volume of lobbying, invested interests, and politicians who profit.
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Open Secrets Issues Profiles - and the effects of lobbying
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Explanations about certain issues and how the effects of olbbying hae contributed to change or lack of change through the years.
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OpenSecrets : Influence & Lobbying
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OpenSecrets's Influence & Lobbying section shows the money trail and more about Washington's influence industry and its most powerful players. Site also focuses on specific issues and elected officials in other tabs.
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Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
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A lobbying organization that claims to be a "coalition of more than 200 organizations fighting to protect, defend, and expand the rights of every single person in the United States."
Public Opinion
By nature, public opinion sources are biased and possibly inaccurate. Polls conducted by major companies tend to provide accurate analysis but represent the views of specific cohorts.
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Gallup.Com
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Gallup.Com provides data-driven news based on U.S. and world polls, daily tracking and public opinion research. Articles and videos cover news, politics, economy, behavioral economics, wellbeing, world issues, management, and employee engagement.
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Pew Research Center
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A nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling,
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I Side With ... Current views on issues
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We receive over a million unique answers to our political issues survey per day. Check out the most popular political polls on social, domestic, academic, economic, electoral, criminal, environmental, health care, science, foreign policy, national security, and other issues.
Government Actions - Current Laws
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FindLaw
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To learn about existing laws on the books, FindLaw's 'Learn About the Law' section is a very useful starting point with informational articles about a wide variety of legal topics. Use the directory menu or the "Search FindLaw" box at upper right corner.
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USA.gov - Commonly Requested U.S. Laws and Regulations
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Quick links to info on some of the most commonly requested U.S. laws & regulations.
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USA Search - USA.gov
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The U.S. government's official web portal; USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. [Search just like Google, using the same type of keywords and narrowing tools you would with Google]
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Google Scholar - Case Law
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Choose "Case Law" under search bar in Google Scholar to search actual U.S. Federal and state laws around the nation.
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Google Search -- "current laws on ____"
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Use Google Google to search current laws on your topic. Remember that Wikipedia may not be used as a source. Also recognize that some information providers will be very biased in reporting. Look for the best quality resources available.
Government Actions - Legislative Actions
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Congress.gov | Library of Congress
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U.S. Congress legislation, Congressional Record debates, Members of Congress, legislative process educational resources presented by the Library of Congress
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Bills and Resolutions -- GovTrack.us
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Private / Non government aligned repository and search for legislation (bills and resolutions) in the U.S. Congress.
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NYS Assembly | Bills and Legislative Search
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Full Text of all New York State Bills since 1999. [Search can only be conducted one legislative year at a time (For all bills in last five years, must conduct five separate searches.) Search by "Bill Number" if you know it, but change to "Keyword" search for all bills on a topic.]
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State Legislature Websites
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Links to legislative information for each of the U.S. states and territories.
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National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on state issues. [Use this site to compare laws and policies of multiple states. Use tabs to find in-depth analysis on key topics. Use the Search Bar, and specifically Advanced Search to narrow keyword search results to manageable levels.]
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The White House | whitehouse.gov
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Search for the President's initiatives or orders on many policies. Use the search bar to locate your topic.
Topic Selection
Check out resources below for ideas about possible topics. Some resources include guiding questions or reference information on the topics.
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Gale: Opposing Viewpoints
List of potential social issue topics with links to facts and arguments about each
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ProCon.org
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Topic List - includes links to reference and opinion describing both sides of each issue
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Topic List
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List of topics sorted by category, (e.g. environment, education, law, etc). Includes sample research questions for some topics.
- Questia -- Use for topic selection only! (opens in new window) Hundreds of topics sorted by category (e.g. education, law, politics, etc). Click on "Sociology and Anthropology" and then scroll down and click "Social Issues" to limit specifically to topics considered social issues. (NOTE: LINKED RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE WITHOUT SUBSCRIPTION)
Research Organizer / Works Cited
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Research Source & Citation Expectations
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+ Ensure that all citations are accurate and complete, regardless of how they were created</br>
+ Format all citations consistently according to the required style</br>
+ Use in-text citations to clearly connect information in the paper to its source
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MyBib - Citation Generator -- APA 7
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Citation tools are helpful, but they do not replace your responsibility as a researcher.
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NoodleTools Notecards and Citations
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Use this great tool to create, organize, and print Works Cited. Can also be used to organize project notes, create outlines, and more
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Purdue Owl : APA Formatting and Style Guide
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Answers to any questions about APA formatting for research papers and citations