Walker Library: ENGL 1010: Expository Writing: Background

Choosing a Topic -- Looking for Ideas

Specialized databases and websites explain issues within broader contexts and from differing viewpoints. This helps with understanding the "big picture" and can often help with forming ideas for narrowing topics.

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)
Resource covering today's most relevant social issues in multiple media formats. Includes opinion pieces.
CQ Researcher
In-depth reports on popular national and global policy issues from 1991-present. Written by experienced journalists, footnoted, and professionally fact-checked.
Health and Wellness (Gale)
Physical and mental health topics. Use the "Browse Topics" button.

ProCon.org
Pros & Cons of 50+ controversial issues.
Writing/Speech Prompts from the New York Times
Current topics for writing inspiration. Suitable for an argumentative project and a wide variety of genres.

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Also see https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/learning/175-writing-prompts-to-spark-discussion-and-reflection.html. Create a personal NYTimes account using your MTSU email https://nytimesineducation.com/access-nyt/.
"What's Your Opinion" -- New York Times
Daily questions to encourage conversations about current issues.

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Create a personal account using your MTSU email https://nytimesineducation.com/access-nyt/
Popular Magazines Topic Finder
Topic Finder Visualization Tool helps you find new topics or keywords and discover new connections found in top search results from popular magazine articles.
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
The Congressional Research Service, a component of the Library of Congress, conducts research and analysis for Congress on a broad range of national policy issues.

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Browse or search recent reports and other documents. The documents under the "resources" content type may be especially useful (see the filters on the left of the search results screen).
Ideabate (International Debate Education Association)
Browse by theme. Arguments use the word "House" to describe a viewpoint. Global perspectives on controversial issues.

Background Information -- Reference Collections

Need to look up a term, name, place, or event? Reference collections are great places to START the research process. Results are authoritative and trustworthy. Bonus--most include formatted citations at the bottom of each entry!

World Book Advanced
All subjects
Gale Health & Wellness
Physical and mental health
Biography In Context (Gale)
People and their accomplishments
AtoZ the World
Countries and cultures
Ballotpedia
Digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections
Opposing Viewpoints In Context
Books and other background materials for current issues.
Youth Cultures in America
Expressive genres of American youth and the way they have shaped public tastes and trends, such as music, dance, fashion, tattooing, body piercing, social media, and more.
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture
Genres and topics in major areas of popular culture: film, music, print culture, social life, sports, television and radio, and art and performance (including theater, dance, stand-up comedy, and other live performance).

FREE New York Times Digital Subscription

Thanks to a university-wide subscription, you have access to all the articles, breaking news, blogs, multimedia and more from The New York Times. Create a personal digital account using your MTSU email. Follow instructions in the confirmation email you receive (MTSU employees, make sure Microsoft didn't quarantine the confirmation email).

Writing Center

The Writing Center is located in Walker Library, room 362. Visit or call 615-904-8237 to schedule an appointment.

Course Reserves

Textbooks, assigned readings, practice tests, etc. Items are for use within the library for short check-out periods. You can scan or photocopy important pages!

ENGLISH 1010 -- All Professors

Group Study Rooms

Need to Reserve a Group Study Room? Just use online booking!

Credits

Many thanks to Karen Dearing for creating this guide.