Ready Reference Opposing Viewpoints
Position Papers Resources
The resources on this page were collected with the intent that undergraduate students would have a place to look for topics and information when they have "opposing viewpoints", "position", "for-or-against", "hot-topic", and/or "debate" style term papers to write for any class. The resources included will be free web-based resources and selected in-print sources.- Web-Based Sources
- American Civil Liberties Union
- The American Civil Liberties Union is an organization that provides information on 21 issues. This site provides excellent sources of information but the group itself is thought to be controversial at times.
- bbc
- The bbc presents hot topics but discusses the science behind those topics.
- Books for Understanding
- Books for Understanding is a free, easy-to-use resource to help you find books on current events. New bibliographies are compiled when a major news story breaks or public debate heats up.
- CQ Researcher
- The CQ Researcher covers research on current and controversial topics, including complete summaries, bibliographies, and viewpoints from all sides of an issue. Able to browse 28 Subjects by Topic or Browse Issue Trackers for All Related Reports (over 270 issues). Must log into LSU Library's CQ Researcher Database (link will take you there).
- The Democratic Party
- Current issues that the Democratic party believes to be important.
- dtoz: Open Directory Project
- A collection of issues sorted by 42 subjects, by region, and/or languages (over 30). It also provides various links to other sites, non-profit and private orgnaizations.
- Go to Google and type in "Position papers" and your keyword to find position papers on a particular topic.
- Government Information: Jean and Alexander Heard Library - Vanderbilt Library
- Provides almost 100 issues for opposing viewpoints by Vanderbilt University. Information provided for each group/issue are: Educational and Research Center Sites, Government Sites, Indexes and Directories, and Interest-Groups and Other Political Sites.
- The Heritage Foundation
- Divided into Domestic and Foreign Issues, The Heritage Foundation provides many areas of interests, such as: Agriculture, Crime, Economy, Family and Marriage, Health Care, Labor, and much more. The archives are searchable by date, issue, or by type (reports, testimonies, etc. from Heritage).
- Human Rights Watch: Defending Human Rights Worldwide
- Providing 27 world issues, the Human Rights Watch offers up-to-date information about current events on a global level.
- The Interfaith Alliance
- The Interfaith Alliance's goal is "promoting the positive and healing role of religion in public life by encouraging civic participation, facilitating community activism, and challenging religious political extremism." An excellent source of information presented from Congress, locally, and the media.
- International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
- A wonderful site that provides not only a database of topics but also provides debate rules and guidelines, teaching resources, and much more about debating. Each topic goes into further detail providing the following: introduction, context, arguments (pros and cons), motions, useful sites, useful books, themes, and a view of the full discussion.
- Issue Lab
- The Issue Lab is a nonprofit that provides research on 35 different issues. They are searchable by issue or keyword.
- J. M. Dawson Institute of Churce-State Studies: Baylor University
- A collection of religious and political sites that talk about various religions. "The list includes both 'liberal' and 'conservative,' 'separationist' and 'accomodationist' organization and perspectives. While most of the sites are of interest to American religion and politics, a few international ones are included as well."
- LexisNexis: Hot Bills and Hot Topics
- A list of bills (enacted and considered), as well as, topics. Clicking on the name of the issue will bring up up-to-date articles in LexisNexis.
- Michigan State University Library
- Lists a series entitled "Opposing Viewpoint" by Greenhaven Press. The collection has over 100 titles of hot-topic issues that are argued from both sides of the debate. Many of these titles (or more) are found up-to-date in our catalog.
- LSU Libraries
- Search using "title" search for the words "opposing viewpoints", the result is over 150 titles. To find a particular topic simply add the keyword you are researching.
- Moving Ideas: The Electric Policy Network
- Provides a collection of 22 issues that further break into subcategories. Each issue provides the following information: Reports and Analyses, Action Alerts, Press Releases and Newsletters, Events, Organizations, Articles, and Commentary.
- National Organization for Women (NOW)
- Now provides information about issues that impact not only women but all humans. Their key list is broken into: Top Priority Issues and Other Important Issues.
- On The Issues: Every Political Leader on Every Issue
- With pages such as "Political Leaders on the Issues", this site allows the public to see where political leaders focus on issues such as: International, Domestic, Economic, and Social. Includes topics currently in the news, opposing viewpoints, and background information on topics and issues.
- One World
- One World provides information on global hot-issues. This website combines government and non-government websites to provide a more complete view of the current issues.
- OpinionJournal
- From the Wall Street Journal. Editorials and opinions about current events in the world.
- ProCon.org
- Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues- Facts, news, and thousands of diverse pro and con opinions on controversial topics. Issues are listed alphabetical order or can be searched by level of education: Elementary and Middle School, High School, or Colleges and Universities. Also provides a rate of theoretical credibility to help determine if the information is credible or provided in a credible manner.
- Public Agenda
- A research organization that provides issue guides "used by journalists, policy makers, teachers, students and citizens who want to better understand controversial topics". Groups information (by topic) into three main categories: Understanding the Issue, Public Opinion, and Additional Resources.
- RAND
- A nonprofit institution that provides in-depth research on hot-topics. Includes an archive and further information in their Research Areas, a site specifically for the areas in which the company takes pride to share openly with the public.
- Republican National Committee
- Current issues that the Republican party believes to be important.
- Speakout
- Speakout.com covers 15 major subject areas that allows further research on current hot-topics, providing both pros and cons. It also provides a section called "Activism Centers" which provide further information on the following issues: Abortion, Animal Rights, Death Penalty,The Economy, Education, Environment, Gay Rights, Gun Control, Napster, Race Relations, Religion & Morality, and Technology.
- StateLine
- Issues searchable by state or by topic. Information available are the following: Top Stories, More Stories, What You Should Know, Useful Links, and Commentary. Each article gives keywords for issues and topics at the bottom of the page. Public service that published online every weekday (except holidays). Also provides the publication "State of the States" for download.
- Townhall: Where Your Opinion Counts
- With 18 topics, Townhall.com offers varies issues for research. For example: Energy & Environment, Health Care, Immigration, Jobs & Economy, Social Security, and Tax Relief.
- United Nations
- The United Nations provides links to international organizations. It also provides individual pages devoted to Peace & Security, Economic & Social Development, Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs, and International Law.
- United Nations Studies: Internet Access to UN Information by Research Topic
- Presented by Yale University's Library. This site, along with the United Nations general website, is an excellent source of issues focused by the U.N.
- U.S. Department of State
- The Department of State provides the following features: Issues, Country Information, Popular Topics; Press, Transcripts, Other Resources, General; Diplomacy & Public Affairs; and Highlights. Also provides various methods of information; websites, blogs, podcasts, photo gallery, major publications, and audio and video.
- University of Louisville: List of Hot Topics
- An excellent source when trying to decide what topic to research. Gives further insight into the topic, giving a more specific view of the issue.
- University of Washington
- The University of Washington offers a page entitled, Single Issue Sites- Human Rights. This is an excellent source of information, however, other pages in the Opposing Views section do not work as well due to broken links.
Newspapers
To find a newspaper anywhere in the world - http://www.newspapers.com/
Chicago Tribune - http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/
New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/
The Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/public/us
The Washington Times - http://www.washingtontimes.com/
USA Today - http://www.usatoday.com/
Searching for Books
Keyword Anywhere (keyword) - debate; 'for or against'; issues; opposing viewpoints.
Subject (Keyword) - debate; debates and debating; Issues; opposition.
Title - Debate; 'for or against'; opposing viewpoints; taking sides: clashing views on controversial.
