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Hot Topics and Controversial Issues

This guide provides recommended resources and search strategies for information on hot topics, controversial issues, and pro/con arguments.

Controversial Issues and Hot Topics Databases

Perhaps you have to write a paper or do a speech about a current news item, a social issue, a controversial topic, etc.  The Alkek Library provides several resources to help you:

  • Decide on a paper or speech topic
  • Get background information
  • Find good keywords to use for your search
  • Discover context
  • Find pro & con arguments about a position
  • Point you to websites, books, and scholarly articles.

Controversial Issues Databases and Sources

The Alkek Library provides access to many Pro/Con and Hot Topic Databases.

Here are several different websites and databases to get background information on various controversial issues or hot topics. 

You can access these by choosing Pro/Con Issues & Hot Topics from the dropdown menu under Browse Databases by Type:

Pro/Con Databases

Alt-Press Watch from ProQuest  

 

Multi-subject articles from approximately 200 alternative and independent presses.

Alternative Press Index from Ebsco 

 

Cultural, economic, political & social change. Alternative, radical, & left viewpoints from over 300 international periodicals & newspapers.
   

Congressional Digest Pro & Con Online from Congressional Digest Corp. 

 

Online searchable version of the Congressional Digest, an authoritative impartial source for information on controversial topics. Subscription does not include Supreme Court Debates and International Debates.
   

CQ Researcher from CQ Press 

 

In-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, economy, and global affairs.

Gallup Brain from The Gallup Poll 

 

The Gallup Brain is a searchable, living record of more than 70 years of public opinion that includes the answers to more than 125,000 questions and responses from more than 3.5 million people interviewed by The Gallup Poll since 1935.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context from Gale -Cengage Learning 

 

Current social issues presented in topic pages with a variety of data on differing points of view.
 

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