Persuasive speeches/papers are a common assignment. It’s always good when students can stretch beyond the perennial favorites (like abortion and the death penalty) and find something that reflects current events. We recently refreshed our debate books section. Take a scan through and look for topics.
All of these titles are in our Debate collection. In Cedar Rapids these titles don’t check out, but can be used in the library and can be photocopied. The books in the Opposing Viewpoints below can be found by the individual chapter as Viewpoints within our Opposing Viewpoints database. Also find subjects with pro/con debates in CQ Researcher.
Debate Book Collection Close-Up
Are There Two Americas?: Current Controversies, Edited by Caleb Bissinger, Call Number: 306.209 A678
Bankruptcy: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Noah Berlatsky, Call Number: 332.75 B218
Border Wall with Mexico: Current Controversies, Edited by Martin Gitlin, Call Number: 325.73 B728
Campus Sexual Violence: At Issue, Edited by Elizabeth Schmermund, Call Number: 371.782 C199
Civil Disobedience: At Issue, Edited by Elizabeth Schmermund, Call Number: 303.61 C582
Confederate Flag: Current Controversies, Edited by Anne Cunningham, Call Number: 929.92 C748
Corporate Farming: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Avery Elizabeth Hurt, Call Number: 338.1 C822
Deep State: At Issue, Edited by Rita Santos, Call Number: 320.973 D311
Domestic Terrorism: At Issue, Edited by Elizabeth Schmermund, Call Number: 363.325 D668
Energy Industry: Current Controversies, Edited by Kristina Lyn Heitkamp, Call Number: 333.79 E568
Enhanced Interrogation and Torture: Current Controversies, Edited by Gary Wiener, Call Number: 327.127 E588
Ethics of Wikileaks: At Issue, Edited by Carrie Ann Taylor, Call Number: 172 E844
Evaluation Media Bias by Adam J. Schiffer, Call Number: 302.23 S333e (Circulating)
Executive Orders: Current Controversies, Edited by Marcia Amidon Lusted, Call Number: 352.23 E962
Federal Budget and Government Spending, Edited by Lisa idzikowski, Call Number: 336.39 F293
Feminism: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Avery Elizabeth Hurt, Call Number: 305.42 F329
Fifth Estate: Extreme Viewpoints from Alternative Media: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Kathryn Roberts, Call Number: 302.23 F469
Freedom of Speech on Campus: Current Controversies, Edited by Eamon Doyle, Call Number: 323.443 F853f
Gerrymandering and Voting Districts: At Issue, Edited by Rita Santos, Call Number: 328.73 G379
Hacking and Freedom of Information: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Marcia Amidon Lusted, Call Number: 364.168 H121a
Homelessness and Street Crime: Current Controversies, Edited by Peter Schauer, Call Number: 364.25 H765
Identity Politics: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Elizabeth Schmermund, Call Number: 306.2 I198
Media Bias and the Role of the Press: At Issue, Edited by Eamon Doyle, Call Number: 302.23 M489
Microaggressions, Safe Spaces, and Trigger Warnings: Current Controversies, Edited by Gary Wiener, Call Number: 305.8 M626
Online Filter Bubbles: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Paula Johnson, Call Number: 025.04 O589
Pipelines and Politics: At Issue, Edited by Lisa Idzikowski, Call Number: 388.509 P664
Police Training and Excessive Force: Current Controversies, Edited by Pete Schauer, Call Number: 363.232 P766
Political Correctness: Current Controversies, Edited by Rachel Bozek, Call Number: 306 P769
Politicians on Social Media: At Issue, Edited by Pete Schauer, Call Number: 324.73 P769
Political Correctness: Current Controversies, Edited by Rachel Bozek, Call Number: 306 P769
Political Elite and Special Interests: Current Controversies, Edited by Rachel Bozek, Call Number: 322.4 P769
The Politics of Water Scarcity: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Susan Nichols, Call Number: 333.91 P769
Returning Soldiers and PTSD: Current Controversies, Edited by Barbara Krasner, Call Number: 616.85 R439
Right to a Living Wage: At Issue, Edited by Matt Uhler, Call Number 331.23 R571
Sanctuary Cities: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Marcia Amidon Lüsted, Call Number: 325.73 S212
Space Exploration: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Michael Ruth, Call Number: 629.41 S732
States’ Rights and the Role of the Federal Government: Current Controversies, Edited by Marcia Amidon Lusted, Call Number: 320.473 S797
Student Loans: At Issue, Edited by Noel Merino, Call Number: 378.3 S933
Trial by Internet: At Issue, Edited by Avery Elizabeth Hurt, Call Number: 302.231 T819
Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, and the Sharing Economy: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Rachel Bozek, Call Number: 338.6 U14
Veterans: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Dedria Bryfonski, Call Number: 362.86 V586v
Video Game Addiction by David A. Olle and Jean Riescher Westcott, Call Number: 616.858 O496v (Circulating)
Violent Video Games and Society: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Gloria G. Adams, Call Number: 794.8 V795
Voting Rights and Voter ID Laws: At Issue, Edited by M.M. Eboch, Call Number: 342.73 V971
Western Democracy at Risk: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Avery Elizabeth Hurt, Call Number: 320.918 W527
When is Free Speech Hate Speech?: At Issue, Edited by Martin Gitlin, Call Number: 323.443 W567
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