Current Issues: Introduction to Current Issues

Use this guide to help you find where to look for information about current and controversial issues. This guide also features hints and tips for using research sources when writing persuasive or argumentative essays about current and controversial issues.

• Articles and databases -- where to look for news articles, academic journal articles, and more.
• Books / eBooks -- some suggestions for books and eBooks at CSM that cover controversial topics.
• Citation Resources -- how to cite your sources in MLA or APA style.
• Web Resources -- sources on the Internet that focus on current and controversial issues.
• Using Sources in Argumentative Essays -- hints and tips for writing persuasive or argumentative assignments.

There are two main parts of getting to know your information need:

• Understand your end goal (what is your professor asking of you? what is required to successfully complete the assignment?)
• Identify your topic and primary research concepts (what are you going to write about? what are important related concepts, people, and events? what other language can be used to express similar ideas?) 

Katherine Becvar
It has been significantly revised in 2015 by Stephanie Roach.