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Controversial Issues and Viewpoints

A guide to sources for argumentative papers and persuasive speeches

TOPIC GENERATORS

So, you were assigned to write an essay for class, but first you have to come up with a topic for it.

 

Choosing the topic for a research paper can be very challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many great topic generators available online and you are just a few clicks away from a list of brilliant essay topic ideas for various  subjects. 

 

There are many good "general" topic generators available online. 

ProQuest Research Companion:  TopicAid

For topics for your English literature classes:

Gale Literary Resources: Artemis Topic Finder

Essay Topic Generator

Old Dominion University: Idea Generator

For topics that concern Computer Science, Purdue University has created a topic generator related to CS:

A CS Research Topic Generator from Purdue

Technology and Society: Positive and Negative Effects of Technology on Society

"From the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel until the modern incorporation of computers into nearly every aspect of life, technology has had widespread effects on the development of human societies. Many technologies have had an impact on humanity in a positive way, making it easier to perform a task or improving overall quality of life. At the same time, these advances sometimes have negative consequences, and they have forced heated debates about whether or not humanity was better off before the new technology was introduced. The issue of technological advancement and its effects on society is also infused into every part of the human experience, from universal applications that have the potential to save or destroy large populations to more personal technologies that can radically alter the way each individual lives his or her daily life." -- from Opposing Viewpoints Gale

Click here for full article:  "Technology and Society." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 

Topic Ideas for Positive & Negative Effects of Technology

Drones: Local and Global Issues

Drone Warfare                                                      

Online Social Networking

Biomedical Ethics                                                      

Ethical Issues in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Reasoning

Nanotechnology                                                                          

Singularity

Synthetic Body Parts: Prosthetics to Electronics 

Electric Vehicles

Loss of Privacy Due to Ubiquitous Digital Records​

Online Anonymity

Cyberbullying

Topic Ideas for Positive & Negative Effects of Technology

Human Genetic Enhancement                                                  

Data Mining

Technology and Privacy Issues        

Freedom of Speech and Online Incivility

Smartphones                                                                           

RFID Chips

Biometric Identification

GPS Technology                                      

Autonomous Robotic Technology

Handling of waste from computers and electronics

Cell Phones and Driving                  

Technology and Loneliness/Isolation

Databases for Information on Positive & Negative Effects of Technology on Society

Books

Library Instruction Assessment

 

Please use the tools we’ve covered in class today to complete this brief Library Instruction Assessment. To begin click here.