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
Old Dominion University: Idea Generator
For topics that concern Computer Science, Purdue University has created a topic generator related to CS:
"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
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
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
(Gale) - online experience for those seeking contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Drawing on the acclaimed Greenhaven Press series, the new solution features continuously updated viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience.
(Sage Publications) - Explores a single "hot" issue each week, ranging from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, and science. 44 reports produced each year, including four expanded reports. Includes charts, graphs and sidebar articles. Also contains the complete archive of Editorial Research Reports—the venerable precursor to CQ Researcher—dating back to 1923 which includes over 3,000 in-depth reports
(Infobase Publishing) - Offers a wealth of current topics research information, including pro/con discussions of hot issues, newspaper editorials, numerical snapshots of key topics, photos and graphics, and selected historical source documents.
(Bloomsbury) - From terrorism to climate change, current events are an immutable part of our culture. But news sound bites and traditional databases often only scratch the surface in guiding us through a thoughtful examination of the issues. Now, from the publisher with over 45 major educational technology awards, comes Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society, a rich online resource that offers a more thorough, informative path to studying enduring issues: one that not only provides clear answers but also helps users frame their questions.
(Gale) - Provides national and international news, opinion and commentary; published in a national and a New York metropolitan edition. Includes local, and state news, science, sports, arts and entertainment, and business and finance news. Covers January 1, 1985 - Current
(Films Media Group) - Streaming video from large and small production companies covering a wide range of subjects to enhance college courses. These videos include public performance rights that allow them to be used in the educational setting.
America Identified: Biometric Technology and Society by
The use of biometric technology for identification has gone from Orwellian fantasy to everyday reality. This technology, which verifies or recognizes a person's identity based on physiological, anatomical, or behavioral patterns (including fingerprints, retina, handwriting, and keystrokes) has been deployed for such purposes as combating welfare fraud, screening airplane passengers, and identifying terrorists. The accompanying controversy has pitted those who praise the technology's accuracy and efficiency against advocates for privacy and civil liberties. In America Identified, Lisa Nelson investigates the complex public responses to biometric technology. She uses societal perceptions of this particular identification technology to explore the values, beliefs, and ideologies that influence public acceptance of technology. Drawing on her own extensive research with focus groups and a national survey, Nelson finds that considerations of privacy, anonymity, trust and confidence in institutions, and the legitimacy of paternalistic government interventions are extremely important to users and potential users of the technology. She examines the long history of government systems of identification and the controversies they have inspired; the effect of the information technology revolution and the events of September 11, 2001; the normative value of privacy (as opposed to its merely legal definition); the place of surveillance technologies in a civil society; trust in government and distrust in the expanded role of government; and the balance between the need for government to act to prevent harm and the possible threat to liberty in government's actions.
Internet and the Law by
The world of Internet law is constantly changing and is difficult to follow, even for those for whom doing so is a full-time job. This updated, everything-you-need-to-know reference removes the uncertainty. * Explains complex legal and technical concepts clearly and understandably through entries that range from 500 to 5,000 words * Covers a wide range of topics, including censorship, copyright, domain name disputes, file-sharing, hacking, patents, spam, malware, international law, tax issues, trademarks, and viruses * Features an introductory guide to the U.S. legal system, including how to find, read, and understand sources of law * Includes cases, statutes, and international treaties relevant to the law of information technology and the Internet
Please use the tools we’ve covered in class today to complete this brief Library Instruction Assessment. To begin click here.
