Argumentative Essay: Research your topic
Do your research
- You now have a topic, gained some general knowledge of the topic, and have decided on a position or thesis statement for the essay.
Use the resources on this page to gather the research materials needed to support your thesis.
Evaluating sources
Some guidelines to help evaluate your research materials for accuracy and usefulness
Search the Catalogs
Research Databases
Off Campus access username and password can be found in Blackboard on the
Institution Page. Students: look for Student Tools to Stay Connected at Atlantic Cape. Faculty: look for Key information about Libraries and Tutoring. Or you can contact the library for username and password.
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center This link opens in a new window
A full-text databases providing differing points of view on current social issues, such as affirmative action, censorship, ecology, mental health, and many more. For best results, use the Browse Topics feature. All content requires critical thinking.
- Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Covers controversial issues of many descriptions. Contains many core topics, each with an overview (objective background / description), point (argument), and counterpoint (opposing argument). Links to additional full-text articles. For best results, use the Browse Topics feature.
- Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new windowLarge interdisciplinary database that contains articles from over 17,000 scholarly journals, trade magazines, and popular magazines
- ProQuest Science Database This link opens in a new windowAn applied and general science database, with many full text articles
Internet sources
Use these Internet resources to find additional research materials.
- Google Scholar
- This specialized Google search page focuses it searching to scholarly books, articles and documents from academic publishers, professional societies and universities.
- ProCon.org
- ProCon is a non-profit organization that operates an online resource for research on controversial issues.
- Pew Research Center
- Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American fact tank that provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world.
- Public Agenda
- Public Agenda is a non-partisan non-profit research organization dedicated to strengthing democracy and expanding opportunity in America.