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. Or check out our last list.
Most of these titles are in our Debate collection. (Learn a little bit more about how to use the Debate Collection). In Cedar Rapids these titles NOW check out, but can also be used in the library and can be photocopied. The books in the Opposing Viewpoints series 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.
The rest of the titles are in our circulating collection on the second floor, but are on popular topics. If there is a topic you’d like to see information on that isn’t covered, please let us know.
Aging in the Family by George E. Dickinson and Brenda S. Sanders, Call Number: 305.26 D553a
America’s Infrastructure: At Issue by Lisa Idzikowski, Call Number: DEBATE 363.609 A512
Athletes, Ethics, and Morality: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Martin Gitlin, Call Number: DEBATE 796.01 A871
Campaign Finance: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Kathryn Roberts, Call Number: DEBATE 324.78 C186c
Charter Schools and School Vouchers: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Pete Schauer, Call Number: DEBATE 379.1 C486
Classified Intelligence and Leaks:Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Lisa Idzikowski, Call Number: DEBATE 327.127 H498c
Commercial Space Exploration: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by M.M. Eboch, Call Number: DEBATE 338.099 C734
Debating Genocide by Lisa Pine, Call Number: 304.663 P649d
Eating Disorders in America: Contemporary World Issues by David E. Newton, Call Number: 362.196 N562e
The Economics of Clean Energy: Current Controversies, Edited by Kathryn Roberts, Call Number: DEBATE 333.79 E197e
Ethical Pet Ownership: Puppy Mills, Rescue Pets, and Exotic Animal Trade: At Issue by Lisa Idzikowski, Call Number: DEBATE 636.088 E842
Gentrification and the Housing Crisis: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Marcia Amidon Lusted, Call Number: DEBATE 307.34 G339
Globalization: Current Controversies, Edited by Yea Jee Bae, Call Number: DEBATE 303.48 G562
Harm Reduction: Public Health Strategies: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Barbara Krasner, Call Number: 362.29 H287
The Harm in Hate Speech by Jeremy Waldron, Call Number: 345.73 W167h
Hate: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship by Nadine Strossen Call Number: 342.73 S924h
Homeschooling: The History and Philosophy of a Controversial Practice by James G. Dwyer and Shawn F. Peters, Call Number: 371.042 D993h
Interference in Elections: Current Controversies, Edited by Kristina Lyn Heitkamp, Call Number: 324.973 I611
Learned Helplessness, Welfare, and the Poverty Cycle: Current Controversies, Edited by Kristina Lyn Heitkamp, Call Number: 362.509 L438
Masculinity in the Twenty-First Century: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by M.M. Eboch, Call Number: 305.31 M395
Meat Planet: Artificial Flesh and the Future of Food by Benjamin Aldes Wurgaft, Call Number: 664.929 W967m
Migrant Crossings: Witnessing Human Trafficking in the U.S. by Annie Isabel, Fukushima, Call Number: 306.362
The NFL National Anthem Protests by Margaret Haerens, Call Number; 796.332 H136n
Pesticides and GMOs: Opposing Viewpoints by Yea Jee Bae, Call Number: 628.5 P476
Politics and Journalism in a Post-Truth World: Opposing Viewpoints by Martin Gitlin, Call Number: 070.4 P769
The Role of Religion in Public Policy: At Issue by Eamon Doyle, Call Number: Debate 322.109 R745r
School Shootings and the Never Again Movement: 21st Century Turning Points by Laurie Collier Hillstrom, Call Number: 371.782 H655s
Self-Driving Cars: Opposing Viewpoints, Edited by Lisa Idzikowski and Pete Schauer, Call Number: DEBATE 388.342 S465
Sex and Gender in the 2016 Presidential Election by Caroline Heldman, Meredith Conroy, and Alissa R. Ackerman, Call Number: 324.973 H474s
Troll Factories: Russia’s Web Brigades: At Issue by Andrew Karpan, Call Number: DEBATE 005.8 T846t
The Two-Party System in the United States, Edited by Barbara Kasner, Call Number: DEBATE 324.273 T974t
Vegetarianism and Veganism: Contemporary World Issues by David E. Newton, Call Number: 613.262 n562v
Violence Against Women: Global Viewpoints, Edited by Kathryn Roberts, Call Number: DEBATE 362.88 V795a
We the People: The 500-Year Battle Over Who is American by Ben Railton, Call Number: 305.8 R152w
Sarah Uthoff is a reference library at Kirkwood Community College. LIKE the Kirkwood Community College Library on Facebook and find links to Sarah all over the web at her About Me Profile.